# 119-hr-3978: Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act

119-hr-3978, Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] (R-OH); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3978
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3978
- Congress: 119
- Title: Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-06-12
- Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5] (R-OH)
- Cosponsors: 28
- Policy area: Energy
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Excludes certain spent-nuclear-fuel reprocessing from the Atomic Energy Act's definition of a "production facility."** It would apply when reprocessing keeps plutonium mixed with other transuranic elements rather than separating plutonium out. - Operators and technology developers: Equipment or devices that reprocess spent fuel without separating plutonium would be removed from the Act's "production facility" definition, potentially taking those machines out of that specific licensing category. - Regulators and licensing: The scope of what counts as a production facility would change, which could shift how such reprocessing technologies are regulated and reviewed under existing law. - Budget and programs: The text does not create new funding, program authorizations, penalties, or enforcement mechanisms.

## Cosponsors (28)

- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2025-06-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24] (R-NY), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6] (R-AL), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14] (R-TX), 2025-06-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19] (R-FL), 2025-06-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23] (R-CA), 2025-06-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11] (R-TX), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] (R-IA), 2025-08-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2025-08-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2025-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX), 2025-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12] (R-OH), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1] (R-KS), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3] (R-TN), 2025-10-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6] (R-IN), 2025-11-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2026-01-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large] (R-ND), 2026-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3] (D-WA), 2026-05-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-GA), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1] (R-TN), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2026-05-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5] (R-VA), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3] (R-MO), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8] (R-CO), 2026-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9] (R-IN), 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41] (R-CA), 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Easier rules for nuclear reprocessing businesses: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would change how some nuclear fuel reprocessing equipment is regulated. It would amend the Atomic Energy Act to exclude reprocessing that does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements from the definition of a "production facility." Equipment used for such non-plu…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-4382: America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act
- 119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-3978 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3978)

## Related
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hr-1502: North Platte Canteen Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1502)
- [119-hr-4382: America’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4382)
- [119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-452)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3978 (as of 2026-09-21).