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119-hr-7796119th CongressWALLET

Economic Recovery for Nuclear-Affected Communities Act

Sponsored By: Representative Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

In Committee

Summary

Direct federal aid for communities left with stranded nuclear waste. This bill creates targeted support for towns hosting on-site spent fuel through a new homebuyer tax credit, grant payments tied to stored fuel and lost tax revenue, and an innovation prize to fund local redevelopment and workforce ideas.

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  • Families and first-time homebuyers: Residents of defined nuclear-affected communities can claim a new first-time homebuyer tax credit for purchases of a principal residence after enactment.
  • Local governments and host communities: Noncompetitive Economic Impact Grants pay $15 per kilogram of spent nuclear fuel stored on site or help replace lost tax revenue, with grants capped at $10.0 million per award.
  • Innovators and local planners: An Innovative Solutions Prize awards $500,000 to winners and reserves $500,000 to fund a pilot project to test winning proposals.

*Authorizes $110.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2031 and $120.0 million per year for fiscal years 2032–2036 with no offsets, increasing federal spending and likely adding to the deficit.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Grants for nuclear-affected communities

If enacted, the bill would require the Administration to set up an Economic Impact Grants program within 120 days. One grant track would pay $15 per kilogram of spent nuclear fuel stored at an eligible plant, with at most one such grant per local government per fiscal year. A second track would pay communities that prove a qualifying lost-tax year (a year after 2014 and before 2026 with at least a 20% drop versus the prior 5-year average); lost-tax payments would be spread over eight years and each year would equal the lesser of $10,000,000 or a set percent of the loss (year 1 = 80%, then 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%). Payments would be subject to available appropriations. The bill would also authorize $110 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2031 and $120 million per year for fiscal years 2032–2036, and it would bar using these funds to offset other federal programs.

Homebuyer credit for nuclear areas

If enacted, the bill would change the first-time homebuyer tax credit so it only applies to purchases of a main home located in a designated "nuclear affected community." The change would apply to purchases made after the date of enactment. Buyers who buy inside a designated nuclear community and meet the rules would still be able to claim the credit. Buyers who buy outside those designated communities would no longer be eligible under this credit.

Prizes for nuclear site reuse

If enacted, the bill would require the Administrator to run a competitive prize for ideas to reuse or replace nuclear sites, with an advisory Board of at least nine experts. Each winning proposal would get a $500,000 award. The Administrator could use $500,000 of authorized funds to build a pilot project from a winning idea. The agency would have to report to Congress about the winning proposal within 60 days of an award.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

NY • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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