A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the agreement for civilian nuclear cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pursuant to section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

SJRES221, introduced by Sen. Merkley (D-OR) and cosponsored by Sen. Markey (D-MA), is a resolution of disapproval under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act. It states that Congress does not favor the nuclear cooperation agreement transmitted by the President on September 14, 2026. The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on October 15, 2026. As a joint resolution, it would require passage by both chambers and either presidential signature or a veto override to take effect.

The bill authorizes no funding; it is a legislative veto mechanism. If enacted, it would prevent the executive branch from proceeding with the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. This agreement would have allowed US companies to export nuclear technology, reactors, and fuel services to Saudi Arabia. The primary beneficiaries would have been US nuclear reactor vendors and engineering firms, including Westinghouse (private), NuScale (if public), and component suppliers like BWX Technologies. However, the bill is in early stage and faces significant procedural hurdles, including committee markup and floor votes in both chambers. Given the partisan sponsorship and the current Congress's composition, passage is unlikely in the near term.

No convergence signals are present in the provided data. The bill stands alone as a procedural objection to a specific executive action. Structural winners and losers are not clearly defined at this stage, as no contracts have been signed and the agreement itself is not yet in force. The primary loser would be the US nuclear export industry, but the impact is contingent on the bill's passage, which is improbable.

The timeline for this bill is uncertain. It must clear the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, then pass the full Senate and House, and then be presented to the President. Given the early stage and the lack of bipartisan support, the bill is unlikely to advance further in the 119th Congress.