ANS Nuclear Policy Wire December 21, 2020 FY 2021 Appropriations Provisions Released

ANS Nuclear Policy Wire December 21, 2020 FY 2021 Appropriations Provisions Released Today, Congress released text of its funding bill and bipartisan Covid-19 stimulus plan. For FY 2021, the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy would be issued 1.5 billion, an increase of $14.2 million above the FY 2020 level and $328 million above the request. This funding invests in activities to further improve the safety and economic viability of our current reactor fleet, develop the next generation of clean and safe reactors, and supports the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. For a division-by-division summary of all appropriations provisions click HERE. You can access the entire bill text HERE. What happens next? The House will vote first to approve the rule governing floor debate. That rule will also include a seven-day stopgap to keep the government open for another week. This will give Congress time to get the necessary paperwork to the White House without risking a government shutdown. The Senate then would have to approve the seven-day stopgap. Under the rules, the massive spending-relief package will be divided in two. There will be one floor vote on funding for Commerce-Justice-Science, Financial Services, Defense and Homeland Security. Then there will be another floor vote to approve the rest of the spending package that will include funding for Covid-19 relief. After the two bills are passed by the House, they will be tied together in one giant package and sent to the Senate for final passage.