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Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-102

§1519 Lethal Binary Chemical Munitions

Title 50 › CHAPTER 32 — CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE PROGRAM › § 1519

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

No federal money can be used to make lethal binary chemical munitions unless the President says in writing to Congress that making them is essential to the country's interests. The President must also send a full report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House as early as is practical before production starts. "Lethal binary chemical munitions" means two things: toxic chemicals (solid, liquid, or gas) meant to hurt or kill people, and any special device, part, or tool made to spread those chemicals.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §1519

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this or any other Act shall be used for the purpose of production of lethal binary chemical munitions unless the President certifies to Congress that the production of such munitions is essential to the national interest and submits a full report thereon to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as far in advance of the production of such munitions as is practicable.
(b)For purposes of this section the term “lethal binary chemical munitions” means (1) any toxic chemical (solid, liquid, or gas) which, through its chemical properties, is intended to be used to produce injury or death to human beings, and (2) any unique device, instrument, apparatus, or contrivance, including any components or accessories thereof, intended to be used to disperse or otherwise disseminate any such toxic chemical.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 94–106, Oct. 7, 1975, 89 Stat. 531, known as the Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act, 1976. Provisions authorizing the appropriation of funds are not classified to the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. Codification Section was not enacted as part of Pub. L. 91–121, title IV, § 409, Nov. 19, 1969, 83 Stat. 209, which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 1519

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102