2012 US Code
Title 50 - War and National Defense
Chapter 40 - DEFENSE AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (§§ 2301 - 2371)
Subchapter V - MISCELLANEOUS (§§ 2361 - 2371)
Section 2367 - Reports on acquisition of technology relating to weapons of mass destruction and the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles

Not later than January 30 of each year, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the following:

(1) The threats posed to the United States and allies of the United States—

(A) by weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles; and

(B) by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

(2) The acquisition by foreign countries during the preceding 12 months of dual-use and other technology useful for the development or production of weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, and biological weapons) and advanced conventional munitions.

(3) Any trends with respect to the acquisition described in paragraph (2).

Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) Identification of each foreign country and non-State organization that possesses weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, or cruise missiles, and a description of such weapons and missiles with respect to each such foreign country and non-State organization.

(2) A description of the means by which any foreign country and non-State organization that has achieved, or is making progress toward achieving, capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, or cruise missiles has achieved, or is making progress toward achieving, that capability, including a description of the international network of foreign countries and private entities that provide assistance to foreign countries and non-State organizations in achieving that capability.

(3) An examination of the doctrines that guide the use of weapons of mass destruction in each foreign country that possesses such weapons.

(4) An examination of the existence and implementation of the control mechanisms that exist with respect to nuclear weapons in each foreign country that possesses such weapons.

(5) Identification of each foreign country and non-State organization that seeks to acquire or develop (indigenously or with foreign assistance) weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, or cruise missiles, and a description of such weapons and missiles with respect to each such foreign country and non-State organization.

(6) An assessment of various possible timelines for the achievement by foreign countries and non-State organizations of capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, taking into account the probability of whether foreign countries that are a party to the Missile Technology Control Regime will comply with and enforce the regime, the potential availability of assistance from foreign technical specialists, and the potential for independent sales by foreign private entities without authorization from their national governments.

(7) For each foreign country or non-State organization that has not achieved the capability to target the United States or its territories with weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, or cruise missiles as of January 2, 2013, an estimate of how far in advance the United States is likely to be warned before such foreign country or non-State organization achieves that capability.

(8) For each foreign country or non-State organization that has not achieved the capability to target members of the Armed Forces of the United States deployed abroad with weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, or cruise missiles as of January 2, 2013, an estimate of how far in advance the United States is likely to be warned before such foreign country or non-State organization achieves that capability.

Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means the following:

(1) The congressional defense committees.

(2) The congressional intelligence committees (as defined in section 401a of this title).

(3) The Speaker and the minority leader of the House of Representatives and the majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title II, §234, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1664; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, §1065(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1941.)

Section was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998, and not as part of the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 which comprises this chapter.

2013—Pub. L. 112–239 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to annual report on threat posed to United States by weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.

Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title XII, §1234, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4640, provided that:

“(a) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 14, 2008], and annually thereafter, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to Congress a report on Iran's capability to produce nuclear weapons. The report required under this subsection may be submitted in classified form.

“(b) Matters to Be Included.—The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following:

“(1) The locations, types, and number of centrifuges and other specialized equipment necessary for the enrichment of uranium and any plans to acquire, manufacture, and operate such equipment in the future.

“(2) An estimate of the amount, if any, of highly enriched uranium and weapons grade plutonium acquired or produced to date, an estimate of the amount of weapons grade plutonium that is likely to be produced or acquired in the near- and midterms and the amount of highly enriched uranium that is likely to be produced or acquired in the near- and midterms, and the number of nuclear weapons that could be produced with such materials.

“(3) A evaluation of the extent to which security and safeguards at any nuclear site prevent, slow, verify, or help monitor the enrichment of uranium or the reprocessing of plutonium into weapons-grade materials.

“(4) A description of any weaponization activities, such as the research, design, development, or testing of nuclear weapons or weapons-related components.

“(5) A description of any programs to construct, acquire, test, or improve methods to deliver nuclear weapons, including an assessment of the likely progress of such programs in the near- and mid-terms.

“(6) A summary of assessments made by allies of the United States of Iran's nuclear weapons program and nuclear-capable delivery systems programs.

“(c) Notification.—The President shall notify Congress, in writing, within 15 days of determining that—

“(1) Iran has resumed a nuclear weapons program;

“(2) Iran has met or surpassed any major milestone in its nuclear weapons program; or

“(3) Iran has undertaken to accelerate, decelerate, or cease the development of any significant element within its nuclear weapons program.”