WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition (NENSC) congratulates Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) and Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) on today’s reintroduction of the Accelerating Reliable Capacity (ARC) Act of 2026, which would provide billions of dollars in federal backing for nuclear reactors.
Previously introduced in 2024, the ARC Act would authorize up to $3.6 billion to accelerate investment in and encourage completion of new commercial nuclear reactors. The bill offers an essential part of the solution to address the financial barriers that can prevent the deployment of new advanced nuclear technology.
The ARC Act is a national security bill as much as an energy bill. By helping to bring more nuclear capacity to construction and completion in the U.S, it strengthens domestic energy security—reliable, around-the-clock power for a growing electricity system, critical infrastructure, and the defense industrial base—while reducing exposure to fuel-price shocks and supply disruptions.
Just as important, a stronger U.S. build program restores credibility and scale for American vendors and suppliers abroad, where Russia and China are using state-backed financing and reactor exports to lock in decades-long leverage over partner countries’ energy systems, industrial development, and strategic choices. The ARC Act helps ensure the U.S. competes from a position of strength: deploying at home, exporting abroad, and setting the safety, security, and nonproliferation standards that follow U.S.-led nuclear projects.
NENSC looks forward to working with Senators Risch and Gallego as the ARC Act moves through the legislative process.
The Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition (NENSC) is an independent organization of leading national security experts dedicated to leveraging U.S. nuclear energy to advance U.S. national security interests. NENSC is dedicated to expanding recognition of this interdependence among policymakers at all levels and promoting policies that ensure a robust U.S. nuclear energy enterprise.
