The time to forge America’s nuclear energy future is now

OPINION:

America and the world need more energy.

Revolutionary advancements in artificial intelligence, the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies, the explosive growth of new industries, and surging electrification of everyday life are propelling our nation and the globe toward a situation where demand far exceeds the supply that utility companies can provide. An energy shortage in the United States or among our allies would not only compromise our energy independence but also jeopardize our national security and destabilize the global economy. We must take decisive action to prevent this. To stop a potentially catastrophic energy crisis, I am working every day as chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations to unleash American-made energy, especially new nuclear power, and collaborate closely with President Trump’s administration to make America energy abundant again to protect our future.

We are at a pivotal moment in energy production that will define our nation and the world for the remainder of the 21st century. Investment and support for nuclear power have reached levels we haven’t seen in decades, and now is the time to seize the opportunity to forge America’s New Nuclear Future.

Whenever I’m asked, “What do you do as Chairman of Energy and Water Appropriations?” I clearly state: “I lead the charge to fund federal investments in energy projects and expand new nuclear initiatives across the country.” Under my subcommittee chairmanship, we have secured historic investments in new and advanced nuclear energy and bringing back our industrial base. We are revitalizing our domestic nuclear industry through strong public-private partnerships after decades of decline and poor policy decisions.

During the aftermath of the Cold War, for instance, we wrongly decided to export our ability to domestically enrich uranium to Russia, a massive national security and economic blunder. Decades later, we see the absurdity of outsourcing the production of enriched uranium to an adversarial and authoritarian nation as we struggle with an increasingly difficult supply chain. Enriched uranium is an essential component for modernizing our nuclear deterrent and powering nuclear reactors. This is why effective public-private partnerships between the federal government and private sector companies are crucial to rebuilding our defense industrial base, reshoring critical material supply chains, and winning the global race to generate more affordable, reliable power.

We are facing tight fiscal times, and it’s crucial to act decisively. The Biden administration’s unchecked spending resulted in trillions of dollars wasted without yielding real benefits for the American people and contributing to record-high inflation rates. As part of President Donald Trump’s plan to steer our country back on course, the conservative majority on the House Appropriations Committee is resolutely focused on ensuring that every dollar is strategically invested in projects that have the best chance of success rather than squandered on lofty clean energy targets that assume a different energy reality than the one we must confront today. As I prepare to draft the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, I am confident in my strong partnerships with outstanding leaders like Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to identify energy projects that warrant public support and will help our nation.

To usher in America’s new Golden Age, we must have abundant, affordable, and reliable power. I am committed to ensuring that the United States leads in new nuclear and power generation so America’s future prosperity, energy independence, and national security are secured for generations to come. The time to act is now.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann is the Chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of Appropriations and also serves on the Energy Subcommittee of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. As Chairman of Energy and Water, Fleischmann leads the charge to provide funding for the federal agencies and programs responsible for the United States’ national laboratories, water and energy infrastructure, nuclear security, and energy independence.