House Passes Menendez Legislation to Strengthen Nuclear Regulatory Workforce

Since President Trump took office, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has lost over 400 expert staff, significantly impacting the teams that handle safety.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Staff Pay Alignment Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) to help recruit and retain top safety experts at the nation's nuclear watchdog agency.

Speaking on the House Floor during debate ahead of the vote, Congressman Menendez called on his colleagues to pass the measure, highlighting the critical role nuclear regulatory oversight plays in protecting communities across the country.

Watch Congressman Menendez's full House Floor remarks here.

"Nuclear safety demands the most qualified experts on the job, which is why I am proud to see this legislation pass the House," said Congressman Menendez. "With nuclear energy expanding across the country to meet our growing energy demands, this legislation gives our nation's nuclear watchdog the competitive edge it needs to stay strong, independent, and fully staffed."

Building on the bipartisan ADVANCE Act of 2024, the bill directly addresses severe workforce strains at a time when the nuclear energy sector is rapidly expanding.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Staff Pay Alignment Act would:

• Authorize a 10 percent pay increase to help the NRC retain top safety experts and compete with private sector compensation for specialized nuclear engineers and inspectors.
• Rebuilds core agency capacity following recent losses of key expert personnel.
• Ensures reactor deployments receive rigorous safety oversight.

Congressman Menendez, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has consistently advocated for stringent safety standards and community protections across domestic energy infrastructure.

The NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act now advances to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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