2018 US Code
Title 10 - Armed Forces
Subtitle A - General Military Law
Part I - Organization and General Military Powers
Chapter 24 - Nuclear Posture
Sec. 496 - Consideration of expansion of nuclear forces of other countries

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Citation 10 U.S.C. § 496 (2018)
Section Name §496. Consideration of expansion of nuclear forces of other countries
Section Text

(a) Report and Certification.—Not later than 60 days before the President recommends any reductions to the nuclear forces of the United States—

(1) the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing, for each country with nuclear weapons, the high-, medium-, and low- confidence assessment of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4))) with respect to—

(A) the number of each type of nuclear weapons possessed by such country;

(B) the modernization plans for such weapons of such country;

(C) the production capacity of nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems (as defined in section 495(e)(2) of this title) of such country;

(D) the nuclear doctrine of such country; and

(E) the impact of such recommended reductions on the deterrence and extended deterrence capabilities of the United States; and


(2) the Commander of the United States Strategic Command shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees whether such recommended reductions in the nuclear forces of the United States will—

(A) impair the ability of the United States to address—

(i) unplanned strategic or geopolitical events; or

(ii) technical challenge; or


(B) degrade the deterrence or assurance provided by the United States to friends and allies of the United States.


(b) Form.—The reports required by subsection (a)(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—In this section, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means the following:

(1) The congressional defense committees.

(2) The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Source Credit

(Added Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, §1036(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1924; amended Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, §1071(c)(10), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3509.)

Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS

2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted "(50 U.S.C. 3003(4))" for "(50 U.S.C. 401a(4))" in introductory provisions.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Title 10 - ARMED FORCES
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART I - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS
CHAPTER 24 - NUCLEAR POSTURE
Sec. 496 - Consideration of expansion of nuclear forces of other countries
Contains section 496
Date 2018
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 14, 2019
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 126 Stat. 1924
128 Stat. 3509
Public Law References Public Law 112-239, Public Law 113-291
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