International civil nuclear program support

(a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Assistant (if appointed), shall launch an international initiative (referred to in this section as the initiative) to provide financial assistance to, and facilitate the building of technical capacities by, in accordance with this section, embarking civil nuclear nations for activities relating to the development of civil nuclear energy programs. (b) Financial assistance (1) In general In carrying out the initiative, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Assistant (if appointed), is authorized to award grants of financial assistance in amounts not greater than $5,500,000 to embarking civil nuclear nations in accordance with this subsection— (A) for activities relating to the development of civil nuclear energy programs; and (B) to facilitate the building of technical capacities for those activities. (2) Limitations The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Assistant (if appointed), may award— (A) not more than 1 grant of financial assistance under paragraph (1) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation each fiscal year; and (B) not more than a total of 5 grants of financial assistance under paragraph (1) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation. (c) Senior advisors (1) In general In carrying out the initiative, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and the Assistant (if appointed), is authorized to provide financial assistance to an embarking civil nuclear nation for the purpose of contracting with a U.S. nuclear energy company to hire 1 or more senior advisors to assist the embarking civil nuclear nation in establishing a civil nuclear program. (2) Requirement A senior advisor described in paragraph (1) shall have relevant experience and qualifications to advise the embarking civil nuclear nation on, and facilitate on behalf of the embarking civil nuclear nation, 1 or more of the following activities: (A) The development of financing relationships. (B) The development of a standardized financing and project management framework for the construction of nuclear power plants. (C) The development of a standardized licensing framework for— (i) light water civil nuclear technologies; and (ii) non-light water civil nuclear technologies and advanced nuclear reactors. (D) The identification of qualified organizations and service providers. (E) The identification of funds to support payment for services required to develop a civil nuclear program. (F) Market analysis. (G) The identification of the safety, security, safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program. (H) Risk allocation, risk management, and nuclear liability. (I) Technical assessments of nuclear reactors and technologies. (J) The identification of actions necessary to participate in a global nuclear liability regime based on the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, with Annex, done at Vienna September 12, 1997 (TIAS 15–415). (K) Stakeholder engagement. (L) Management of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. (M) Any other major activities to support the establishment of a civil nuclear program, such as the establishment of export, financing, construction, training, operations, and education requirements. (3) Clarification Financial assistance under this subsection is authorized to be provided to an embarking civil nuclear nation in addition to any financial assistance provided to that embarking civil nuclear nation under subsection (b). (d) Limitation on assistance to embarking civil nuclear nations Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Offices of the Inspectors General for the Department of State and the Department of Energy shall coordinate— (1) to establish and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a joint strategic plan to conduct comprehensive oversight of activities authorized under this section to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and (2) to engage in independent and effective oversight of activities authorized under this section through joint or individual audits, inspections, investigations, or evaluations. (e) Authorization of appropriations Of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Secretary of State to carry out the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) in fiscal years 2026 through 2030, the Secretary of State may use $50,000,000 to carry out this section.