Press Release of Senator Lugar U.S. Contributes $50 million to establish International Nuclear Fuel Bank Tuesday, August 5, 2008 The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a $50 million donation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the purpose of establishing an International Nuclear Fuel Bank.   The funding was authorized late last year in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. U.S. Sens. Dick Lugar and Evan Bayh worked with the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services to include the funding and Statement of Managers recognizing the need for the Lugar-Bayh legislation, S. 1133, The Nuclear Safeguards and Supply Act of 2007.   “This is an important step in the U.S. promotion of an International Nuclear Fuel Bank. We will continue to work to advance this critical new component of nuclear nonproliferation,” said Lugar, the Republican leader of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.      “We must ensure that technology and resources are in place to manage the expansion of civilian nuclear power abroad.  An International Nuclear Fuel Bank will provide safeguards against rogue nations who would use civilian nuclear energy programs as a cover for nuclear weapons development,” said Bayh, a Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.   Link to the press release on the funding authorization: http://lugar.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=289073.     Link to the Department of Energy announcement: http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/2090.htm.   # # #