Heinrich Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Advance Responsible, International Nuclear Energy Cooperation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, along with Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.), introduced the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Act to codify the U.S. State Department's FIRST program advocating for the responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy around the world.

"Nuclear energy is an important part of our clean energy future, and the United States should lead in advancing its safe and responsible deployment around the world. By working with our allies and partners through the FIRST program, we can strengthen energy security, support American innovation, and promote the highest standards for nuclear safety and nonproliferation," said Heinrich.

"Nuclear energy is a source of clean and abundant power, and its growth in the U.S. and around the world will lower costs for consumers and combat climate change," said Coons. "Right now, too many nations that want to embrace nuclear power need to buy Chinese and Russian technology at huge cost, trapping them in debt. The United States should offer an alternative that keeps us on the cutting edge, strengthens our relationships around the world and keeps Americans safe."

"The responsible development of civil nuclear energy, on an international scale, contributes to U.S. national security and bolsters our economy. The FIRST program has been a productive way for our nation to partner with good-faith actors who are building their nuclear arsenals, and continuing to leverage these public and private partnerships will help us advance our own energy dominance. Since North Carolina is a leader in next-generation nuclear technology, I am proud to partner with Senator Coons to bring this bipartisan solution forward and codify this program that will expand markets for our great innovators into law," said Budd.

Launched in 2019, the FIRST program has worked to leverage U.S. public-private partnerships and expand our nuclear energy programs to bolster the United States' position as a nuclear energy industry leader with partner countries. Currently, the State Department's FIRST program partners with over 50 countries that are working towards exploring civil nuclear energy solutions and looking to achieve energy security through small modular reactors. The program also helps establish sustainable financial partnerships that support reactor financing to avoid debt-trap influence. This bill will solidify the goals of the FIRST program as a priority for the Department of State to build a better, safer, and cleaner infrastructure for nuclear energy.

The FIRST ACT would:

• Promote responsible deployment of civil nuclear energy internationally
• Advocate bilateral and multilateral diplomatic engagements and forums for civil nuclear energy projects
• Engage in diplomacy with partner governments prioritizing the highest safety, security, and nonproliferation standards
• Provide consultation to partner countries regarding best practices of licensing, legal, and regulatory frameworks
• Supply early-stage commercial project development support critical to launching United States commercial civil nuclear projects abroad
• Cooperate with partner countries in the areas of training programs, technical resource sharing, and potential coordination of codes and standards

The legislation is led by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Ted Budd (R-N.C.). Alongside Heinrich, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).

The FIRST Act is endorsed by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), ClearPath, Breakthrough Institute (BTI), and Third Way.

The full text of the bill here.

Additional Background on Heinrich's Efforts to Develop Nuclear Energy Responsibly:

Heinrich has long championed policies that develop nuclear energy responsibly, modernize and improve facilities that handle nuclear waste, and provide compensation and support for communities and workers harmed by radiation exposure.

In April, Heinrich pressed National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) officials on addressing the housing shortage around Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), accelerating cleanup of the hexavalent chromium plume near the Lab, strengthening public-private partnerships to advance America's fusion capabilities, and modernizing critical nuclear security infrastructure at Sandia National Laboratories.

In April, Heinrich cosponsored legislation to amend the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act to ensure sustained, inflation-adjusted funding for New Mexico communities to maintain vital infrastructure projects, such as road maintenance and repairs, for the duration of WIPP's operation.

In January, Heinrich secured $10 million in the FY2026 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill to improve roads leading to and from WIPP through recommended payments from the DOE to the State of New Mexico. This investment was the first time that funds had been appropriated for this purpose since 2014.

Last November, Heinrich introduced the No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act, legislation to ensure that no president can unilaterally resume explosive nuclear testing in response to President Trump announcing that the United States would resume testing nuclear weapons, a practice that the U.S. abandoned in 1992.

Last November, Heinrich and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) led Senate Democrats in urging President Trump to reverse course on resuming explosive nuclear weapons testing, warning that restarting tests would endanger public health, undermine global nonproliferation efforts, and needlessly increase national security risks.

After more than a decade of advocacy, Heinrich helped secure the expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) into law last July, finally providing compensation to New Mexico's Trinity Downwinders, uranium workers, and other communities harmed by radiation exposure. Heinrich reintroduced legislation to extend and expand RECA since his first Senate term, starting in 2013.

###