"During a March 25 Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine the latest developments in the nuclear energy sector, Manchin noted the importance of maintaining the United States’ position as a global leader in nuclear energy. "Without new construction or the preservation of the existing nuclear fleet in the U.S., achieving a sustainable energy system will be more challenging and expensive," he said.

Manchin, along with then Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), also championed the Energy Act of 2020. Enacted last year, the bill was the first modernization of U.S. energy policies in over a decade and provided investments in advanced nuclear technologies.

According to Manchin, the Energy Act’s nuclear title emphasized research, design, and development programs that will continue to modernize the existing nuclear fleet, train the next generation of professionals, and develop advanced nuclear technologies to reduce emissions in the industrial and transportation sectors."