U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 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

(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.

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