U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have introduced the Advancing Research in Nuclear Fuel Recycling Act of 2025. The proposed legislation directs the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a study on the costs, benefits, and risks of recycling spent nuclear fuel in the United States, with a focus on comparing recycling to interim storage options.
Sen. Cruz stated, “Spent nuclear fuel has the potential to dramatically increase America’s energy, economic, and national security. Domestic recycling can reduce the space we need for spent nuclear fuel, enhance energy independence, reduce our dependence on imports, and broaden the supply of rare elements and isotopes used in medicine and advanced technologies. Recycling solutions will also reduce the burden on individual states from nuclear waste accumulation, and accelerate progress on nuclear energy, which is our nation’s cleanest baseload energy source. I’m proud to work with Sen. Heinrich on this legislation and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill.”
The bill has received endorsements from several organizations in the nuclear energy sector, including Curio, Oklo, and the Nuclear Energy Institute.
Ed McGinnis, CEO of Curio, said, “We appreciate Senators Cruz and Heinrich for their bipartisan leadership in keeping nuclear waste recycling on the national agenda. What we call ‘waste’ is, in fact, a valuable energy resource that can help strengthen America’s energy security, reduce long-term environmental burdens, and support advanced nuclear technologies. Thoughtful, science-driven approaches to recycling spent fuel are critical to unlocking that potential and ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of nuclear innovation.”
Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo, said, “Oklo greatly appreciates Congress’s leadership in advancing commercial recycling of used nuclear fuel. The proposed legislation reflects growing recognition of fuel recycling as a strategic pathway to strengthen U.S. energy security and enhance domestic supply chains. Oklo is continuing to advance its own recycling initiatives, including plans for a commercial fuel recycling facility aimed at turning waste into a reliable domestic fuel source for its Aurora powerhouses.”
Doug True, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of Nuclear Energy Institute, said, “The U.S. nuclear industry supports efforts by Congress to advance used nuclear fuel recycling for its potential to enhance the sustainability and economics of existing and advanced reactors, to improve U.S. energy security, and to convert used fuel into waste forms that can be more easily disposed of in a permanent geologic repository.”
The DOE study mandated by the bill would examine past and current challenges related to nuclear fuel recycling in the U.S., identify obstacles to new recycling projects, and offer policy recommendations to address remaining issues. Sen. Cruz previously introduced similar legislation in 2024 during the 118th Congress.
Sen. Cruz has a history of electoral success in Texas. In 2024, he won re-election against Colin Allred with 53.1% of the vote. He also won previous elections in 2018 against Beto O'Rourke and in 2012 against Paul Sadler.
