§ 2574. Enhancing nuclear forensics capabilities

(a) Research and development plan for nuclear forensics and attribution

(1) Research and development The Secretary of Energy shall prepare and implement a research and development plan to improve nuclear forensics capabilities in the Department of Energy and at the national laboratories overseen by the Department of Energy. The plan shall focus on improving the technical capabilities required—

(A) to enable a robust and timely nuclear forensic response to a nuclear explosion or to the interdiction of nuclear material or a nuclear weapon anywhere in the world; and

(B) to develop an international database that can attribute nuclear material or a nuclear weapon to its source.

(2) Reports

(A) The Secretary of Energy shall submit to the congressional defense committees—

(i) not later than 6 months after October 14, 2008, a report on the contents of the research and development plan described in paragraph (1), and any legislative changes required to implement the plan; and

(ii) not later than 18 months after October 14, 2008, a report on the status of implementing the plan.

(B) The Secretary shall submit each report required by this subsection in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex with such report.

(b) Omitted

(c) Presidential report

(1) In general

Not later than 90 days after October 14, 2008, the President shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the involvement of senior-level executive branch leadership in nuclear terrorism preparedness exercises that include nuclear forensics analysis.

(2) Appropriate committees of Congress In this subsection, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; and

(B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 110–417, div. C, title XXXI, § 3114, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4756.)

Codification

Codification

Section is comprised of section 3114 of Pub. L. 110–417. Subsec. (b) of section 3114 of Pub. L. 110–417 amended section 3129(b) of Pub. L. 110–181, div. C, title XXXI, Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 585.

Section was enacted as part of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, and not as part of the Atomic Energy Defense Act which comprises this chapter.

Miscellaneous

“Congressional Defense Committees” Defined

Congressional defense committees has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of Title 10, Armed Forces, see section 3 of Pub. L. 110–417, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4372. See note under section 101 of Title 10.