S. 4495

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4495 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4495

To require reports on the dangers posed by nuclear reactors in areas 
that might experience armed conflict.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 12, 2026

Mr. Markey (for himself and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require reports on the dangers posed by nuclear reactors in areas 
that might experience armed conflict.

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 ``Reactors at Risk Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON DANGERS POSED BY NUCLEAR REACTORS IN AREAS THAT MIGHT 
EXPERIENCE ARMED CONFLICT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary 
of Energy for Nuclear Security shall jointly submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report assessing the following:
(1) The dangers posed to the national security of the 
United States, to the interests of allies and partners of the 
United States, and to the safety and security of civilian 
populations, by nuclear reactors in existence as of such date 
of enactment or scheduled to be completed during the 10-year 
period beginning on such date of enactment and located in the 
following areas:
(A) Regions that have experienced armed conflict in 
the 25 years preceding such date of enactment, 
including the following conflicts:
(i) Attacks by the Russian Federation on 
Ukraine.
(ii) Conflict in the Middle East, including 
between Israel and Iran.
(B) Areas that are contested or likely to 
experience armed conflict during the life span of those 
reactors.
(C) Areas that would be involved in any of the 
following possible conflicts:
(i) An attack by the Russian Federation on 
the eastern European countries of Estonia, 
Latvia, Belarus, Lithuania, or Poland.
(ii) A conflict between India and Pakistan.
(iii) A conflict over Taiwan.
(iv) An attack by North Korea on South 
Korea.
(2) Steps the United States or allies and partners of the 
United States can take to prevent, prepare for, and mitigate 
the risks to the national security of the United States, to the 
interests of allies and partners of the United States, and to 
the safety and security of civilian populations, posed by 
nuclear reactors in places that may experience armed conflict.
(b) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
(c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives.
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