§1519a Limitation on Procurement of Binary Chemical Weapons

Summary

No federal money may be used after September 24, 1983 to make binary chemical weapons unless the President certifies to Congress that for each 155-millimeter binary artillery shell or aircraft-delivered binary aerial bomb made, a working single-piece artillery shell from the current stockpile will be made permanently unusable for military purposes. Army-authorized funds can be used to set up a production base and buy parts for 155-millimeter binary projectiles, but they cannot be used to actually produce them before October 1, 1985. If production starts after September 30, 1985, the President must certify in writing that making them is essential to the national interest. "Production of binary chemical munitions" means the final assembly and the filling or loading of components with the binary chemicals.