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119-hr-4136119th Congress

NRC Office of Public Engagement and Participation Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

Introduced

Summary

Creates an Office of Public Engagement and Participation at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to help the public take part in NRC proceedings. The office would give people legal, technical, and educational help, advocate the public interest inside the agency, and allow limited fee compensation in some significant cases.

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  • Members of the public: Would get guidance on submitting comments, contentions, and hearing requests, plus help coordinating other assistance when they seek to participate in NRC proceedings.
  • People facing hardship: The NRC could pay reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other participation costs if a person's involvement substantially contributed to an approved position, the proceeding is significant, and participation without payment would cause significant financial hardship.
  • NRC operations: Establishes a Director appointed by the Chairman with Commission approval who would serve five-year terms and be limited to two terms, with pay capped at the Senior Executive Service rate and removal actions requiring Commission initiation and approval. The Director would also be required to report to Congress within one year and annually thereafter on office activities and common public participation difficulties.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Repayment for legal costs in Nuclear Regulatory Commission cases

If enacted, the Commission could repay reasonable lawyer, expert, and other participation costs in significant cases. You could qualify only if your input substantially helped approve a position you argued for. The Commission would also need to find that taking part without help would cause you significant financial hardship. The Commission would set rules before payments start.

New office to help public in nuclear proceedings

If enacted, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would create an Office to help people take part in its cases. It would offer educational, legal, and technical guidance on comments, contentions, and hearing requests, and coordinate help. The Chairman would appoint a Director, with Commission approval, to five-year terms, up to two. The Director could hire staff; pay would be capped at the top Senior Executive Service rate. Removal would be only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, and the Chairman would act to keep the office independent. The Director would report to Congress within one year, and then yearly, on requests for help and common hurdles; this would not lower current public engagement standards.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/30/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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