SJM8007 – Senate Joint Memorial urging the Federal government to move forward with steps to manage and permanently store spent fuel from commercial nuclear plants.
Prime Sponsor – Senator Brown (R; 8th District; Tri-Cities & Benton County)
Current status – Referred to Environment, Energy & Technology.
Next step would be – Scheduling a hearing.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.

Summary –
The bill would urge Congress and the Secretary of Energy to implement the recommendations of a 2021 study by the Government Accountability Office on commercial spent nuclear fuel.

That recommended Congress consider:
(1) Amending the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to authorize the Department of Energy to initiate a new consent-based process for siting, developing, and constructing new consolidated interim storage and permanent repository facilities;
(2) Creating an independent board to ensure the long-term continuity of leadership for managing spent nuclear fuel;
(3) Restructuring the Nuclear Waste Fund so funds used to develop, construct, and operate a permanent repository are based on the spent nuclear fuel program’s life-cycle costs; and
(4) Directing the Department of Energy to develop and implement an integrated waste management strategy.