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Title 50 — War and National DefenseRelease 119-73not60

§2344 Strengthened International Security for Nuclear Materials and Security of Nuclear Operations

Title 50 › Chapter 40— DEFENSE AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION › Subchapter III— CONTROL AND DISPOSITION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND RELATED MATERIALS THREATENING THE UNITED STATES › § 2344

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Energy must send Congress, not later than 270 days after December 2, 2002, a report with options for an international program to make nuclear reactors and related nuclear materials outside the United States more secure. In making the report, the Secretary must work with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency to check if proposed actions to lower the risk of terrorist attacks on those reactors are practical and wise. The Secretary must also work with Russia’s Ministry of Atomic Energy on joint projects to develop nuclear technologies that are less likely to be used for weapons, including advanced fuel cycles. Up to $10,000,000 of authorized funds may be used for those joint projects. The Secretary may use DOE and NRC experts to give technical help to foreign reactor sites to stop hostile insiders from disabling vital systems.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §2344

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Not later than 270 days after December 2, 2002, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to Congress a report on options for an international program to develop strengthened security for nuclear reactors and associated materials outside the United States.
(2)In evaluating options for purposes of the report, the Secretary shall consult with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency on the feasibility and advisability of actions to reduce the risks associated with terrorist attacks on nuclear reactors outside the United States.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall pursue with the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation joint programs between the United States and the Russian Federation on the development of proliferation-resistant nuclear energy technologies, including advanced fuel cycles.
(2)Of the amount authorized to be appropriated by section 3101(a)(2) 11 See References in Text note below. for the Department of Energy for the National Nuclear Security Administration for defense nuclear nonproliferation, up to $10,000,000 may be available for carrying out the joint programs referred to in paragraph (1).
(c)The Secretary may, utilizing appropriate expertise of the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, provide technical assistance to nuclear reactor facilities outside the United States with respect to the interdiction of hostile insiders at such facilities in order to prevent incidents arising from the disablement of the vital systems of such facilities.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 3101(a)(2), referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is section 3101(a)(2) of Pub. L. 107–314, div. C, title XXXI, Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2729, which is not classified to the Code. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, and not as part of the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 2344

Title 50 — War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60