James Risch (R-ID)
Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Civil Nuclear Export Act of 2026. It makes changes to how the Export-Import Bank of the United States can finance civil nuclear energy. Specifically, it modifies a prohibition on financing nuclear facilities to allow certain purchases permitted by law. The bill also expands the Bank's Program on China and Transformational Exports to include civil nuclear energy technologies, materials, services, and related infrastructure and goods. Additionally, it modifies the Bank's lending cap and updates rules for monitoring default rates.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +4
Does this make trade with other countries easier?
The bill facilitates expanded trade opportunities for U.S. nuclear energy technologies.
- Scored +4
Is this likely to grow the economy?
The bill promotes economic growth by facilitating large-scale international trade and export financing in the nuclear sector.
- Scored +3
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
Expanding civil nuclear energy can contribute to a transition toward lower-carbon energy sources.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The increased lending cap and modified default rate monitoring may introduce higher financial risk to the Bank.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2: This section modifies the prohibition on financing nuclear facilities by allowing purchases that are permitted under an agreement made in accordance with section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 or other applicable United States law. This might be considered positive because it allows for financing under specific, legally permitted agreements.
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Section 3: This section expands the Program on China and Transformational Exports to include civil nuclear energy technologies, materials, services, and related infrastructure and goods. This could be viewed as a benefit by adding these specific civil nuclear items to the program.
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Section 4: This section modifies the lending cap by allowing certain amounts in excess of the applicable amount if attributed to the Program on China and Transformational Exports, up to $50,000,000,000, and changes certain percentages from 2 percent to 4 percent. This might be considered positive as it adjusts the financial limits and authorities for the Bank's programs.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Expanding civil nuclear energy can contribute to a transition toward lower-carbon energy sources. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Nuclear energy is often included in broader low-carbon energy investment strategies. Does this reduce how much oil, gas and coal is produced? — Increased nuclear capacity may indirectly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this make trade with other countries easier? — The bill facilitates expanded trade opportunities for U.S. nuclear energy technologies. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The focus on nuclear technology exports may strengthen strategic energy alliances.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Energy and industrial business owners may benefit from expanded export financing. Would union members be better off under this? — Increased activity in the nuclear sector may benefit related industrial labor unions.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill promotes economic growth by facilitating large-scale international trade and export financing in the nuclear sector. Is this likely to create jobs? — Expanding nuclear energy exports and financing capacity may stimulate job growth in the energy and manufacturing sectors. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The increased lending cap and modified default rate monitoring may introduce higher financial risk to the Bank.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the authority and lending capacity of a federal institution, the Export-Import Bank.
- 8/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia