NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act

The "NRC Staff Pay Alignment Act" proposes to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, specifically Section 161B, to grant the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) enhanced authority regarding employee compensation. This legislation introduces a new provision allowing the Chairman to fix the annual basic pay for career appointees at a rate not exceeding 110 percent of the maximum annual rate for Senior Executive Service (SES) positions within the Commission. This compensation authority applies to all career appointees, regardless of their appointment date, ensuring flexibility in talent management. The bill clarifies that the exercise of this authority will not impact the certification of the Commission's performance appraisal system and includes conforming amendments to existing reporting requirements. These amendments mandate the inclusion of the total number of career appointees whose compensation is adjusted under this new provision. Additionally, the legislation makes a conforming amendment to the ADVANCE Act of 2024, ensuring that the new compensation authority is considered in relevant Government Accountability Office reports. Overall, the bill aims to provide the NRC with greater flexibility to attract and retain highly qualified career staff by offering competitive compensation packages.