119-HR-8648 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary

Headline Summary: The FORGE Act would write the State Department’s SMR support effort (the “FIRST” program) into law, directing it to help countries evaluate and deploy small modular reactors responsibly while advancing U.S. commercial participation. (govinfo.gov)

What It Does: The bill formally establishes the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program at the State Department. It tasks the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security to manage efforts that: promote responsible civil nuclear deployment abroad; advocate for U.S.-sourced projects and products; advise partner governments on licensing, legal, and regulatory frameworks; fund early-stage project work like feasibility and engineering studies; and support training, technical exchanges, and standards coordination for SMR fleets. It also requires an initial report to Congress within 120 days, ongoing briefings three times a year, and includes a sunset on June 8, 2034. (govinfo.gov)

Why It Matters: Supporters say codifying FIRST could help U.S. firms compete with state-backed rivals while tying exports to top-tier safety, security, and nonproliferation norms; the program has been running as a capacity-building effort since it was announced in 2021. SMRs are often pitched as flexible, lower‑carbon power that can pair with renewables or replace retiring plants—potentially affecting energy costs, reliability, and climate goals in partner countries. (govinfo.gov)

• Sponsors: Rep. Jim Baird (IN) introduced the bill with Rep. William Keating (MA) as an original cosponsor, signaling bipartisan interest in export‑oriented nuclear diplomacy. (govinfo.gov)
• What backers say: Locking FIRST into statute would add oversight and predictability, help open markets for U.S. vendors, and align assistance with IAEA‑style best practices on safety, security, and nonproliferation. (govinfo.gov)
• Broader context from U.S. agencies: DOE highlights potential SMR benefits—smaller footprints, modular construction, and passive safety features—that advocates believe can support clean, reliable power. (energy.gov)

Who’s For It:

• Critics of expanding SMR exports argue that real‑world projects have struggled with costs and schedules—the high‑profile NuScale/UAMPS project was canceled—so funneling more support abroad could risk taxpayer funds or partner expectations. (ucs.org)
• Nonproliferation analysts warn some designs or fuel choices could complicate safeguards; they urge strict controls to prevent the spread of sensitive technologies alongside any export push. (congress.gov)

Who’s Against It (or raising concerns):

What’s Next: As of May 6, 2026, H.R. 8648 has been introduced and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Next steps would be a committee hearing and/or markup, a House floor vote, and then consideration in the Senate before it could reach the President. (govinfo.gov)