Title 22Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§3201 Congressional declaration of policy

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 47— - NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION › § 3201

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The United States will work to stop the spread of nuclear bombs and the ability to make them. It will push for international plans that guarantee nuclear fuel supplies and tighten controls on the transfer and use of nuclear materials, equipment, and technology for peaceful purposes, including shared international penalties for violations. The United States will also speed up how it processes requests to sell reactors or fuel to countries that follow strong non‑proliferation rules. It will strongly urge countries that have not joined the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to ratify it quickly. It will help other nations find and adapt energy technologies and safe alternatives to nuclear power that fit their resources and protect the environment.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §3201

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Congress finds and declares that the proliferation of nuclear explosive devices or of the direct capability to manufacture or otherwise acquire such devices poses a grave threat to the security interests of the United States and to continued international progress toward world peace and development. Recent events emphasize the urgency of this threat and the imperative need to increase the effectiveness of international safeguards and controls on peaceful nuclear activities to prevent proliferation. Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States to—
(a)actively pursue through international initiatives mechanisms for fuel supply assurances and the establishment of more effective international controls over the transfer and use of nuclear materials and equipment and nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in order to prevent proliferation, including the establishment of common international sanctions;
(b)take such actions as are required to confirm the reliability of the United States in meeting its commitments to supply nuclear reactors and fuel to nations which adhere to effective non-proliferation policies by establishing procedures to facilitate the timely processing of requests for subsequent arrangements and export licenses;
(c)strongly encourage nations which have not ratified the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to do so at the earliest possible date; and
(d)cooperate with foreign nations in identifying and adapting suitable technologies for energy production and, in particular, to identify alternative options to nuclear power in aiding such nations to meet their energy needs, consistent with the economic and material resources of those nations and environmental protection.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 95–242, title VI, § 603(c), Mar. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 152, provided that: “Except where otherwise provided, the provisions of this Act [see

Short Title

note below] shall take effect immediately upon enactment [Mar. 10, 1978] regardless of any requirement for the promulgation of

Regulations

to implement such provisions.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 95–242, § 1, Mar. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 120, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter and section 2139a, 2141, 2153a to 2153e, 2153f, and 2155 to 2160a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, amending section 2074, 2075, 2077, 2094, 2139, and 2153 of Title 42, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 3201, 3222, and 3262 of this title and section 2139 of Title 42] may be cited as the ‘Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978’.” Nuclear Proliferation Prevention; Effective and Termination Dates of 1994 AmendmentTitle VIII of Pub. L. 103–236, Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 507, known as the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1994, was amended by Pub. L. 104–164, title I, § 157, July 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1440. As so amended, title VIII has been primarily transferred to chapter 72 (§ 6301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of title VIII to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6301 of this title and Tables. Advocacy and Encouragement by United States of Nonparties to Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons To Become Signatories; Report to Congress Pub. L. 96–53, title V, § 507, Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 378, as amended by Pub. L. 97–113, title VII, § 734(a)(3), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1560, provided that: “(a) In accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 [see

Short Title

note above], the Congress strongly urges all nations which are not parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to become parties to that treaty. “(b) [Repealed. Pub. L. 97–113, title VII, § 734(a)(3), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1560.]”

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 12058. Functions Relating to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Ex. Ord. No. 12058, May 11, 1978, 43 F.R. 20947, provided: By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 (Public Law 95–242, 92 Stat. 120, 22 U.S.C. 3201) [see

Short Title

note above] and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, and as President of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: section 1. Department of Energy. The following functions vested in the President by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978 (92 Stat. 120, 22 U.S.C. 3201), hereinafter referred to as the Act, and by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), hereinafter referred to as the 1954 Act, are delegated or assigned to the Secretary of Energy: (a) That function vested by section 402(b) of the Act (92 Stat. 145, 42 U.S.C. 2153a). (b) Those functions vested by section 131a(2)(G), 131b(1), and 131f(2) of the 1954 Act (92 Stat. 127, 42 U.S.C. 2160). (c) That function vested by section 131f(1)(A)(ii) of the 1954 Act [42 U.S.C. 2160(f)(1)(A)(ii)], to the extent it relates to the preparation of a detailed generic plan. Sec. 2. Department of State. The Secretary of State shall be responsible for performing the following functions vested in the President: (a) Those functions vested by section 104(a), 104(d), 105, 403, 404, 407, and 501 of the Act (92 Stat. 122, 123, 123, 146, 147, 148, and 148, 22 U.S.C. 3223(a), 3223(d), 3224, and 42 U.S.C. 2153b, 2153c, 2153e, and 22 U.S.C. 3261). (b) That function vested by section 128a(2) of the 1954 Act (92 Stat. 137, 42 U.S.C. 2157(a)(2)). (c) That function vested by section 601 of the Act [section 3281 of this title] to the extent it relates to the preparation of an annual report. (d) The preparation of timely information and recommendations related to the President’s functions vested by section 126, 128b, and 129 of the 1954 Act (92 Stat. 131, 137, and 138, 42 U.S.C. 2155, 2157, and 2158). (e) That function vested by section 131c of the 1954 Act (92 Stat. 129, 42 U.S.C. 2160(c)); except that, the Secretary shall not waive the 60-day requirement for the preparation of a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Assessment Statement for more than 60 days without the approval of the President. Sec. 3. Department of Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce shall be responsible for performing the function vested in the President by section 309(c) of the Act (92 Stat. 141, 42 U.S.C. 2139a). Sec. 4. Coordination. In performing the functions assigned to them by this Order, the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of State shall consult and coordinate their actions with each other and with the heads of other concerned agencies. Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Executive Order No. 11902 of February 2, 1976, entitled “Procedures for an Export Licensing Policy as to Nuclear Materials and Equipment,” is revoked. (b) The performance of functions under either the Act or the 1954 Act shall not be delayed pending the development of procedures, even though as many as 120 days are allowed for establishing them. Except where it would be inconsistent to do so, such functions shall be carried out in accordance with procedures similar to those in effect immediately prior to the

Effective Date

of the Act. Jimmy Carter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 3201

Title 22Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73