# 119-s-2161: NRC Office of Public Engagement and Participation Act of 2025

119-s-2161, NRC Office of Public Engagement and Participation Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA); status introduced (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2161
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2161
- Congress: 119
- Title: NRC Office of Public Engagement and Participation Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-06-25
- Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Office of Public Engagement and Participation** would be created inside the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand public access to NRC hearings and make participation clearer and fairer. It would use plain-language guidance, more virtual access, and a new fund to help people pay attorney and expert costs. - Communities and participants: Would get plain-language help on how to submit comments, hearing requests, and contentions. They could request compensation for reasonable participation costs, including attorney and expert fees, if they show significant financial hardship and a likely substantial contribution, and they may receive up-front grants when approved as a party. - NRC structure and process: Would establish a Director with up to two five-year terms who reports to the Commission but is protected from supervision by individual Commissioners for specified functions. The Office must be set up within 180 days of enactment, issue rules on compensation and concurrent eligibility checks, and publish determinations online. - Funding and oversight: Would create an Intervenor Trust Fund to pay compensation, allow transfers from existing appropriations, and authorize appropriations that remain available until expended. The Director must report annually to Congress on assistance requests, payments, and environmental justice activities.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2025-07-17T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Grants to pay NRC participant costs: benefit, medium. If enacted, participants in NRC proceedings would be able to get grants or reimbursements for reasonable attorney, expert, and other participation costs. Grants would be available only when the Panel finds participation would cause significant financial hardship and the Office finds the participant…
- New NRC public engagement office: benefit, low. If enacted, the NRC would have to create an Office of Public Engagement and Participation within 180 days. The Office would give plain-language guides, act as a liaison to public-interest advocates, increase virtual participation options, and help implement certain environmental justice recommendat…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-1507: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025
- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-2161 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2161)

## Related
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-1507: Agriculture Resilience Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1507)
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2161 (as of 2026-09-10).