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RepublicanAmendment · S.Amdt. 6569· Senate(119-SAMDT-6569)

S.Amdt. 6569

Rep. Cotton
Age: 49 years
Arkansas
Introduced
7/13/2026
Sponsored by
Tom Cotton
Cosponsors
None
Changes bill
119-S-4784 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Cotton, aims to add a new section to bill S. 4784 to create the Operational Energy Deployable Nuclear Power Program.

The purpose of this addition is to have the Secretary of Defense start a program to deploy, operate, and evaluate a transportable nuclear microreactor—defined as a reactor with a capacity of no more than 50 megawatts—within the area of responsibility of the United States Indo-Pacific Command.

Key Goals and Changes

  • Objective: The goal is to deploy and operate the reactor by January 1, 2030, to support expeditionary and distributed operations in contested logistics environments, specifically prioritizing the Western Pacific area.

  • Leadership: The Secretary of Defense must appoint a military department Secretary as the executive agent to handle the program and budget. This agent will coordinate with the Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, and as needed, the Secretary of Energy and the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

  • Required Actions: The program must validate operational requirements, create a test and evaluation plan covering safety and security, and conduct joint operational demonstrations during at least one major exercise.

  • Funding: Starting in fiscal year 2028, the Secretary of Defense must set up a dedicated budget mechanism to support the program and the transition from demonstration to operational use.