Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Legislation to ban uranium imports from Russia won't be included in the second minibus package, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The uranium supply chain money Congress has already passed into law — $2.7 billion — is contingent on limiting imports from Russia.
Driving the news: Committee leaders and outside groups had been pushing to attach the ban to the second spending bill.
- But it was left out of the final package, which is expected to include few policy provisions of any kind, according to a Senate aide who spoke on condition of anonymity.
- The ban bill passed the House but has been stymied in the Senate by an unrelated dispute with Sen. Ted Cruz.
Context: The first minibus, signed into law earlier this month, included the $2.7 billion in reprogrammed money for enriched uranium supply and to implement the Nuclear Fuel Security Act.
- But the money can't be used "until a law is enacted or administrative action is taken to prohibit or limit importation" of Russian enriched uranium.
What's next: Leadership has a deal on spending, but we're still waiting to see final text.
- Supporters of the ban will likely need to find another legislative vehicle if they can't solve the dispute with Cruz.
