Latta-Backed Bills Would Speed Nuclear Reactor Construction
Lawmakers look to nuclear energy to power data centers sought by AI companies.
WASHINGTON, June 10, 2026 — Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, is pushing a slate of nuclear licensing bills he says will speed reactor construction without weakening safety rules.
At a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing Tuesday, Latta argued the six proposals would modernize reviews and clear bottlenecks that slow new nuclear projects.
“The permitting process can be more efficient, while safety is protected and transparency for the public is assured,” the Ohio Republican said.
Latta did not mention AI or data centers in his remarks, but Nuclear Energy Institute CEO Maria Korsnick testified that the 94 nuclear reactors in the U.S. provide nearly one fifth of the country’s electricity and 40 percent of its clean energy supply, a one-time priority of major data center developers.
Democrats countered that the Trump administration has eroded nuclear oversight, citing staff losses and reduced transparency at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
“The Trump administration’s reckless and heavy-handed approach has taken us backwards,” said Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., citing the firings and voluntary resignations of nuclear scientists and other senior officials. “The NRC has lost nearly 500 professional staff since the President took office.”
House Democrats accused the Trump administration of endangering nuclear safety procedures by reducing transparency and agency oversight.
“President Trump has completely jeopardized these decades of work in just 18 months,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J.
House Energy and Commerce Republicans say the bills would speed up review times while keeping safeguards intact.
“As with other federal permitting processes, the nuclear licensing process itself should not be the major impediment to building worthy projects,” Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., said.
Industry witnesses largely backed faster timelines but warned the NRC must remain independent and bipartisan to support long‑term reactor development.
ClearPath CEO Jeremy Harrell said mandatory hearing requirements have cost developers more than $500,000 in fees and delayed projects by an average of six months. ClearPath is a conservative clean energy think tank which backs nuclear power and advanced carbon capture systems, among other positions.
At the same time, the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council’s Jeffrey Merrifield and Illinois University professor Kathryn Hall cautioned that the NRC should be kept independent and bipartisan, saying political stability is key for nuclear buildouts.
The USNIC includes leaders of the nuclear industry and former government officials. Merrifield and Harrell both serve on USNIC’s board of directors.
