Text of Senate Amendment 5987

On 2026-06-23, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5987" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 5987

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3121] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5987. Mr. BUDD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle G of title X, add the following: SEC. 1094. ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUNDATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RESPONSIBLE USE OF SMALL MODULAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. (a) In General.--There is established within the Department of State a Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology program (hereafter in this section referred to as the ``FIRST program''). (b) Program Functions.--The Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, or the designee of the Under Secretary, shall manage the FIRST program, which shall-- (1) promote responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy internationally that benefits United States economic and national security interests; (2) advocate, through relevant bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements and forums, for civil nuclear energy projects, technology, and products sourced or exported from United States businesses; (3) engage in diplomacy with partner governments on prioritizing the highest safety, security, and nonproliferation standards as requirements for civil nuclear reactor deployment decisions, including with regard to small modular reactor infrastructure, technology, and products; (4) provide consultation to partner countries regarding best practices in the field of licensing, legal, and regulatory frameworks for the importation or adoption of United States nuclear reactor infrastructure, technology, or products; (5) provide early-stage commercial project development support, including feasibility and engineering studies, that are critical to launching United States commercial civil nuclear projects abroad and ensure fair market access for United States businesses relative to state-backed competitors; and (6) cooperate with partner countries in the areas of training programs, technical resource sharing, and potential coordination of codes and standards to support the facilitation of small modular reactor fleet deployment. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, or the designee of such Under Secretary, shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes-- (A) details on the implementation of the FIRST program; (B) a description of FIRST program diplomatic outreach and activities, including bilateral and multilateral engagements that promote activities described in subsection (b); (C) the list of current contributing partners of the FIRST program; (D) details relating to potential or ongoing cooperation with contributing partners of the FIRST program related to program activities described in subsection (b); (E) a description of engagements and activities conducted by the Department of State to promote and expand the FIRST program to additional potential contributing partners; (F) a description of FIRST program-related engagements with United States businesses in the civil nuclear sector; and (G) a description of funds expended on FIRST program- related activities, including programming that uses funds from Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs and related funding sources within the Department. (2) Form.--The report required by this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex submitted separately from the unclassified portion. (d) Briefing.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and on a triannual basis thereafter, the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, or the designee of the Under Secretary, shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing that includes the information required in subsection (c). (e) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of the Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. (2) United states business.--The term ``United States business'' has the meaning given such term in section 2304 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4724). (f) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on June 8, 2034. ______