H.R. 4136

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4136 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4136

To establish an Office of Public Engagement and Participation within 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 25, 2025

Mr. Levin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish an Office of Public Engagement and Participation within 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``NRC Office of Public Engagement and 
Participation Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION.

(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Commission an 
office to be known as the Office of Public Engagement and 
Participation.
(b) Director.--
(1) In general.--The Office shall be administered by a 
Director.
(2) Appointment.--Subject to the approval of the 
Commission, the Chairman shall appoint the Director.
(3) Term.--Subject to paragraph (7), the Director shall 
serve for--
(A) a term of five years; and
(B) no more than two terms.
(4) Duties.--The Director--
(A) shall be responsible for the discharge of the 
functions of the Office; and
(B) may appoint, and assign the duties of, staff of 
the Office as necessary to carry out the functions of 
the Office.
(5) Compensation.--The Director shall be compensated at a 
rate of pay not greater than the maximum rate of pay prescribed 
for a senior executive in the Senior Executive Service under 
section 5382 of title 5, United States Code.
(6) Removal.--
(A) In general.--Subject to the approval of the 
Commission to initiate an action, the Chairman or a 
member of the Commission may initiate an action for 
removal of the Director.
(B) Removal limitations.--The Commission may remove 
the Director for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or 
malfeasance in office but for no other cause.
(7) Expiration of term.--A Director may continue to serve 
after the expiration of the term of such Director until a 
successor is appointed.
(c) Functions of the Office.--
(1) In general.--The functions of the Office shall be to--
(A) support public participation in proceedings 
before the Commission;
(B) advocate for the public interest within the 
jurisdiction of the Commission;
(C) provide educational, legal, and technical 
guidance and assistance to members of the public with 
respect to participating in proceedings before the 
Commission, including guidance on submitting comments, 
contentions, and hearing requests;
(D) coordinate assistance available to persons 
participating or proposing to participate in 
proceedings before the Commission; and
(E) coordinate assistance to the public with 
respect to authorities exercised by the Commission.
(2) Compensation of fees.--Notwithstanding section 502 of 
the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1993 (5 
U.S.C. 504 note; Public Law 102-377), the Commission may, under 
rules promulgated by the Commission, provide compensation for 
reasonable attorney's fees, expert witness fees, and other 
costs of participating in any proceeding before the Commission 
to any person whose participation substantially contributed to 
the approval, in whole or in part, of a position advocated by 
such person, if the Commission determines that--
(A) the proceeding is significant; and
(B) the participation of such person in such 
proceeding without receipt of compensation constitutes 
a significant financial hardship to such person.
(d) Independent Office.--The Chairman shall take appropriate 
actions to ensure the independence of the Office within the Commission, 
including independence from other officers and employees of the 
Commission.
(e) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director 
shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the 
Office.
(2) Requirements.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall 
include--
(A) the number and types of requests for assistance 
received by the Office during the preceding year; and
(B) an assessment of the most common difficulties 
encountered by members of the public with participating 
or proposing to participate in proceedings before the 
Commission in the preceding year.
(f) No Effect on Existing Public Engagement Standards.--Nothing in 
this Act shall be interpreted as reducing the standards for the 
Commission to engage the public in any proceedings or decisions.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Chairman.--The term ``Chairman'' means the Chairman of 
the Commission.
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission.
(3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of Public 
Engagement and Participation established under subsection (a).
<all>