Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2026
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (5 Aug 2026): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
What this bill does
S. 5254 (Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2026) would amend the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to change how the Export-Import Bank handles financing for civil nuclear energy exports. It would carve out an exception to the Bank's existing prohibition on financing nuclear facilities, allowing purchases permitted under a Section 123 agreement (the standard U.S. framework for civilian nuclear cooperation with other countries) or other applicable U.S. law. It would also add civil nuclear energy technologies, materials, services, and related infrastructure to the Bank's "Program on China and Transformational Exports," raise the amount the Bank can lend beyond its normal cap for that program (up to an additional $50 billion) and the associated reserve requirement (from 2% to 4%), and let the Bank exclude Program on China and Transformational Exports financing from certain default-rate calculations, subject to Board approval.
The bill primarily affects the Export-Import Bank's lending authority and, in turn, U.S. companies seeking financing to export civil nuclear technology, equipment, and services abroad, as well as foreign purchasers of those exports under approved nuclear cooperation agreements.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 5, 2026, by Senator James Risch (R-ID), with Senator Warner as a cosponsor, and was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It would need to be reported out of committee and pass both chambers before being sent to the President.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2026
This bill provides the Export-Import Bank with certain authorities to finance civil nuclear energy exports.
Specifically, the bill allows the Export-Import Bank to provide financing for the purchase of liquid metal fast breeder nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities if the purchase is otherwise permitted by law.
Additionally, the bill expands the China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP) by making civil nuclear energy eligible for financing under the program. Currently, the bank may extend loans, guarantees, and insurance to advance the comparative leadership of the United States with respect to China in specified export areas (e.g., artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and wireless communications equipment). This bill expands those areas to include civil nuclear energy technologies, materials, services, and related infrastructure and goods.
The bill also revises the financial limitation on the outstanding aggregate amount of all of the bank's loans, guarantees, and insurance. In particular, the bill exempts those amounts attributed by the bank to CTEP, as long as that financing does not exceed a specified amount.
The bill also increases from 2% to 4% the bank's default rate cap. Further, the bill allows the bank to exclude financing under CTEP from this default rate, subject to approval of the bank's board of directors.
Timeline
5 Aug 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Common questions
- What does S. 5254 do?
- S. 5254 (Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2026) would amend the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to change how the Export-Import Bank handles financing for civil nuclear energy exports. It would carve out an exception to the Bank's existing prohibition on financing nuclear facilities, allowing purchases permitted under a Section 123 agreement (the standard U.S. framework for civilian nuclear cooperation with other countries) or other applicable U.S. law. It would also add civil nuclear energy technologies, materials, services, and related infrastructure to the Bank's "Program on China and Transformational Exports," raise the amount the Bank can lend beyond its normal cap for that program (up to an additional $50 billion) and the associated reserve requirement (from 2% to 4%), and let the Bank exclude Program on China and Transformational Exports financing from certain default-rate calculations, subject to Board approval. The bill primarily affects the Export-Import Bank's lending authority and, in turn, U.S. companies seeking financing to export civil nuclear technology, equipment, and services abroad, as well as foreign purchasers of those exports under approved nuclear cooperation agreements. The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 5, 2026, by Senator James Risch (R-ID), with Senator Warner as a cosponsor, and was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It would need to be reported out of committee and pass both chambers before being sent to the President.
- Has S. 5254 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 5254. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 5254?
- S. 5254 was sponsored by Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID] (R-ID), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on S. 5254?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (5 Aug 2026).
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