CHAPTER 48 —DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION
SUBCHAPTER I—PROGRAM AUTHORITIES
SUBCHAPTER II—RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
SUBCHAPTER III—RECURRING CERTIFICATIONS AND REPORTS
SUBCHAPTER IV—TRANSITION PROVISIONS
§3701. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) The term "congressional defense committees" has the meaning given that term in
(2) The term "Cooperative Threat Reduction funds" means funds appropriated pursuant to an authorization of appropriations for the Program, or otherwise made available to the Program.
(3) The term "Program" means the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program of the Department of Defense established under
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this subtitle", meaning subtitle B (§§1311–1352) of title XIII of div. A of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
SUBCHAPTER I—PROGRAM AUTHORITIES
§3711. Authority to carry out Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
(a) Authority
The Secretary of Defense may carry out a program, referred to as the "Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program", with respect to foreign countries to do the following:
(1) Facilitate the elimination and the safe and secure transportation and storage of chemical, biological, or other weapons, weapons components, weapons-related materials, and associated delivery vehicles.
(2) Facilitate—
(A) the safe and secure transportation and storage of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons-usable or high-threat radiological materials, nuclear weapons components, and associated delivery vehicles; and
(B) the elimination of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons components, and nuclear weapons delivery vehicles.
(3) Prevent the proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, weapons components, and weapons-related materials, technology, and expertise.
(4) Prevent the proliferation of biological weapons, weapons components, and weapons-related materials, technology, and expertise, which may include activities that facilitate detection and reporting of highly pathogenic diseases or other diseases that are associated with or that could be used as an early warning mechanism for disease outbreaks that could affect the Armed Forces of the United States or allies of the United States, regardless of whether such diseases are caused by biological weapons.
(5) Prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction-related materials, including materials, equipment, and technology that could be used for the design, development, production, or use of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the means of delivery of such weapons.
(6) Carry out military-to-military and defense contacts for advancing the mission of the Program, subject to subsection (f).
(b) Concurrence of Secretary of State
The authority under subsection (a) to carry out the Program is subject to any concurrence of the Secretary of State or other appropriate agency head required under
(c) Scope of authority
The authority to carry out the Program in subsection (a) includes authority to provide equipment, goods, and services, but does not include authority to provide funds directly for a project or activity carried out under the Program.
(d) Type of program
The Program carried out under subsection (a) may involve assistance in planning and in resolving technical problems associated with weapons destruction and proliferation. The Program may also involve the funding of critical short-term requirements relating to weapons destruction.
(e) Reimbursement of other agencies
The Secretary of Defense may reimburse heads of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government under this section for costs of the participation of the respective departments and agencies in the Program.
(f) Military-to-military and defense contacts
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the military-to-military and defense contacts carried out under subsection (a)(6)—
(1) are focused and expanded to support specific relationship-building opportunities, which could lead to the development of the Program in new geographic areas and achieve other benefits of the Program;
(2) are directly administered as part of the Program; and
(3) include cooperation and coordination with—
(A) the unified combatant commands; and
(B) the Department of State.
(g) Prior notice to Congress of obligation of funds
(1) Reports requirement
Not less than 15 days before any obligation of any Cooperative Threat Reduction funds, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on that proposed obligation of such funds for that fiscal year (or, in accordance with
(2) Matters included
Each report under paragraph (1) shall specify—
(A) the activities and forms of assistance for which the Secretary plans to obligate funds;
(B) the amount of the proposed obligation; and
(C) the projected involvement (if any) of any other department or agency of the United States and of the private sector of the United States in the activities and forms of assistance for which the Secretary plans to obligate such funds.
(3) Exception for notifications previously provided
Except for Cooperative Threat Reduction funds subject to
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (g)(1).
2016—Subsec. (g)(1).
Subsec. (g)(3).
§3712. Use of funds for certain emergent threats or opportunities
(a) Authority
For purposes of the Program, the Secretary of Defense may obligate and expend Cooperative Threat Reduction funds for a fiscal year, and any Cooperative Threat Reduction funds for a prior fiscal year that remain available for obligation, for a proliferation threat reduction project or activity if the Secretary, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, determines each of the following:
(1) That such project or activity will—
(A) assist the United States in the resolution of a critical emerging proliferation threat; or
(B) permit the United States to take advantage of opportunities to achieve long-standing nonproliferation goals.
(2) That such project or activity will be completed in a period not exceeding five years.
(3) That the Department of Defense is the entity of the Federal Government that is most capable of carrying out such project or activity.
(b) Congressional notification
Not later than 15 days before the date on which the Secretary obligates funds under subsection (a) for a project or activity, the Secretary of Defense shall notify, in writing, the congressional defense committees and the Secretary of State shall notify, in writing, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate of the determinations made under such subsection with respect to such project or activity, together with—
(1) a justification for such determinations;
(2) a description of the scope and duration of such project or activity; and
(3) a discussion of—
(A) whether authorities other than the authority under this section are available to the Secretaries to perform such project or activity to meet the threats or goals identified under subsection (a)(1); and
(B) if such other authorities exist, why the Secretaries were not able to use such authorities for such project or activity.
(c) Non-defense agency partner-nation contacts
With respect to military-to-military and defense contacts carried out under subsection (a)(6) of
(d) Exception to requirement for certain determinations
The requirement for a determination under subsection (a) shall not apply to a state of the former Soviet Union.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2016—Subsec. (b).
§3713. Authority for urgent threat reduction activities under Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
(a) Limitation on use of funds for urgent threat reduction activities
Subject to subsections (b) and (c), not more than 15 percent of the total amount of Cooperative Threat Reduction funds for any fiscal year may be obligated or expended, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for covered activities.
(b) Secretary of Defense determination and notice for urgent threat reduction activities in governed areas
With respect to an area not covered by subsection (c), the Secretary of Defense may obligate or expend funds pursuant to subsection (a) for covered activities if—
(1) the Secretary determines, in writing, that—
(A) a threat arising in such area from the proliferation of chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons or weapons-related materials, technologies, or expertise must be addressed urgently;
(B) certain provisions of law would unnecessarily impede the ability of the Secretary to carry out such covered activities to address such threat; and
(C) it is necessary to obligate or expend such funds to carry out such covered activities;
(2) the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Energy concur with such determination; and
(3) not later than seven days before the date on which the Secretary of Defense first obligates such funds, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, submits to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate—
(A) the determination under paragraph (1);
(B) a description of the covered activities to be carried out using such funds;
(C) the expected time frame for such activities; and
(D) the expected cost of such activities.
(c) Presidential determination and notice for urgent threat reduction activities in ungoverned areas
With respect to an ungoverned area or an area that is not controlled by an effective governmental authority, as determined by the Secretary of State, the President may obligate or expend funds pursuant to subsection (a) for covered activities if—
(1) the President determines, in writing, that—
(A) a threat arising in such an area from the proliferation of chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons or weapons-related materials, technologies, or expertise must be addressed urgently; and
(B) it is necessary to obligate or expend such funds to carry out such covered activities to address such threat; and
(2) at the time at which the President first obligates such funds, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, submits to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate—
(A) the determination under paragraph (1);
(B) a description of the covered activities to be carried out using such funds;
(C) the expected time frame for such activities; and
(D) the expected cost of such activities.
(d) Covered activity defined
In this section, the term "covered activity" means an activity under the Program to address a threat arising from the proliferation of chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons or weapons-related materials, technologies, or expertise.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2016—Subsec. (b)(3).
§3714. Use of funds for unspecified purposes or for increased amounts
(a) Notice to Congress of intent to use funds for unspecified purposes
(1) Report
For any fiscal year for which Cooperative Threat Reduction funds are specifically authorized in an Act other than an appropriations Act for specific purposes within the Program, the Secretary of Defense may obligate or expend such funds, or other funds otherwise made available for the Program for that fiscal year, for purposes other than such specified purposes if—
(A) the Secretary determines that such obligation or expenditure is necessary in the national interests of the United States;
(B) the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees—
(i) notification of the intent of the Secretary to make such an obligation or expenditure of funds; and
(ii) a complete discussion of the purpose and justification for such obligation or expenditure, including the amount of funds to be obligated or expended; and
(C) a period of 15 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary submits the notification and discussion under subparagraph (B).
(2) Construction with other laws
Paragraph (1) may not be construed to authorize the obligation or expenditure of Cooperative Threat Reduction Program funds for a purpose for which the obligation or expenditure of such funds is specifically prohibited under
(b) Limited authority to vary individual amounts provided for any fiscal year for specified purposes
For any fiscal year for which Cooperative Threat Reduction funds are specifically authorized in an Act other than an appropriations Act for specific purposes within the Program, the Secretary may obligate or expend such funds, or other funds otherwise made available for the Program for that fiscal year, in excess of the specific amount so authorized for that purpose if—
(1) the Secretary determines that such obligation or expenditure is necessary in the national interests of the United States;
(2) the Secretary submits to the congressional defense committees—
(A) notification of the intent of the Secretary to make such an obligation or expenditure of funds in excess of such authorized amount; and
(B) a complete discussion of the justification for exceeding such specified amounts, including the amount by which the Secretary will exceed such specified amounts; and
(3) a period of 15 days has elapsed following the date on which the Secretary submits the notification and discussion under paragraph (2).
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsecs. (a)(1)(C), (b)(3).
2016—Subsecs. (a)(1)(C), (b)(3).
§3715. Use of contributions to Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
(a) Authority to enter into agreements
(1) Authority
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Defense may enter into one or more agreements with any person (including a foreign government, international organization, multinational entity, or any other entity) that the Secretary considers appropriate under which the person contributes funds for activities conducted under the Program.
(2) Concurrence by Secretary of State
The Secretary may enter into an agreement under paragraph (1) only with the concurrence of the Secretary of State.
(b) Retention and use of funds
Notwithstanding
(c) Return of funds not obligated or expended within three years
If the Secretary does not obligate or expend funds contributed pursuant to subsection (a) by the date that is three years after the date on which the contribution was made, the Secretary shall return the amount to the person who made the contribution.
(d) Notice
(1) In general
Not later than 30 days after receiving funds contributed pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a notice—
(A) specifying the value of the contribution and the purpose for which the contribution was made; and
(B) identifying the person who made the contribution.
(2) Limitation on use of amounts
The Secretary may not obligate funds contributed pursuant to subsection (a) until a period of 15 days elapses following the date on which the Secretary submits the notice under paragraph (1).
(e) Implementation plan
The Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees—
(1) an implementation plan for the authority provided under this section prior to obligating or expending any funds contributed pursuant to subsection (a); and
(2) any updates to such plan that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(f) 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.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsecs. (e) to (g).
SUBCHAPTER II—RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
§3731. Prohibition on use of funds for specified purposes
(a) In general
Cooperative Threat Reduction funds may not be obligated or expended for any of the following purposes:
(1) Conducting any peacekeeping exercise or other peacekeeping-related activity.
(2) Provision of housing.
(3) Provision of assistance to promote environmental restoration.
(4) Provision of assistance to promote job retraining.
(5) Provision of assistance to promote defense conversion.
(b) Limitation with respect to conventional weapons
Cooperative Threat Reduction funds may not be obligated or expended for the elimination of—
(1) conventional weapons; or
(2) delivery vehicles of conventional weapons, unless such delivery vehicles could reasonably be used or adapted to be used for the delivery of chemical, nuclear, or biological weapons.
(
§3732. Requirement for on-site managers
(a) On-site manager requirement
Before obligating any Cooperative Threat Reduction funds for a project described in subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall appoint one on-site manager for that project. The manager shall be appointed from among employees of the Federal Government.
(b) Projects covered
Subsection (a) applies to a project—
(1) to be located in a state of the former Soviet Union;
(2) which involves dismantlement, destruction, or storage facilities, or construction of a facility; and
(3) with respect to which the total contribution by the Department of Defense is expected to exceed $50,000,000.
(c) Duties of on-site manager
The on-site manager appointed under subsection (a) shall—
(1) develop, in cooperation with representatives from governments of states participating in the project, a list of those steps or activities critical to achieving the disarmament or nonproliferation goals of the project;
(2) establish a schedule for completing those steps or activities;
(3) meet with all participants to seek assurances that those steps or activities are being completed on schedule; and
(4) suspend the participation of the United States in a project when a participant other than the United States fails to complete a scheduled step or activity on time, unless the Secretary of Defense directs the on-site manager to resume the participation of the United States.
(d) Authority to manage more than one project
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2), an employee of the Federal Government may serve as on-site manager for more than one project, including projects at different locations.
(2) Limitation
If such an employee serves as on-site manager for more than one project in a fiscal year, the total cost of the projects for that fiscal year may not exceed $150,000,000.
(e) Steps or activities
Steps or activities referred to in subsection (c)(1) are those steps or activities that, if not completed, will prevent a project from achieving its disarmament or nonproliferation goals, including, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Identification and acquisition of permits (as defined in
(2) Verification that the items, substances, or capabilities to be dismantled, secured, or otherwise modified are available for dismantlement, securing, or modification.
(3) Timely provision of financial, personnel, management, transportation, and other resources.
(f) Notification to Congress
In any case in which the Secretary directs an on-site manager to resume the participation of the United States in a project under subsection (c)(4), the Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees of such direction by not later than 30 days after the date of such direction.
(
§3733. Limitation on use of funds until certain permits obtained
(a) In general
The Secretary of Defense shall seek to obtain all the permits required to complete each phase of construction of a project under the Program in a state of the former Soviet Union before obligating more than 40 percent of the total costs of that phase of the project.
(b) Use of funds for new construction projects
Except as provided in subsection (c), with respect to a new construction project to be carried out by the Program, not more than 40 percent of the total costs of the project may be obligated from Cooperative Threat Reduction funds for any fiscal year until the Secretary—
(1) determines the number and type of permits that may be required for the lifetime of the project in the proposed location or locations of the project; and
(2) obtains from the state in which the project is to be located any permits that may be required to begin construction.
(c) Exception to limitations on use of funds
The limitation in subsection (b) on the obligation of funds for a construction project otherwise covered by such subsection shall not apply with respect to the obligation of funds for a particular project if the Secretary—
(1) determines that it is necessary in the national interest to obligate funds for such project; and
(2) submits to the congressional defense committees a notification of the intent to obligate funds for such project, together with a complete discussion of the justification for doing so.
(d) Definitions
In this section, with respect to a project under the Program:
(1) The term "new construction project" means a construction project for which no funds have been obligated or expended as of November 24, 2003.
(2) The term "permit" means any local or national permit for development, general construction, environmental, land use, or other purposes that is required for purposes of major construction.
(
§3734. Limitation on availability of funds for Cooperative Threat Reduction activities with Russian Federation
(a) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the United States should carry out activities under the Program in the Russian Federation only if those activities are consistent with and in support of the security interests of the United States; and
(2) in carrying out any such activities after December 19, 2014, the Secretary of Defense should focus on only those activities that—
(A) are in support of the arms control obligations of the United States and the Russian Federation; or
(B) will reduce the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and related materials and technology to the United States and countries in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian regions.
(b) Completion of Cooperative Threat Reduction activities in Russian Federation
Cooperative Threat Reduction funds made available for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2015 may not be obligated or expended for activities in the Russian Federation unless such activities in Russia are specifically authorized by law.
(
§3735. Limitation on availability of funds for Cooperative Threat Reduction activities in People's Republic of China
(a) Semiannual installments
In carrying out activities under the Program in the People's Republic of China, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that Cooperative Threat Reduction funds for such activities are obligated in semiannual installments.
(b) Required reports
(1) Additional information
With respect to carrying out activities under the Program in the People's Republic of China, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees the reports required by
(A) whether China has taken material steps to—
(i) disrupt the proliferation activities of Li Fangwei (also known as Karl Lee, or any other alias known by the United States); and
(ii) arrest Li Fangwei pursuant the indictment charged in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on April 29, 2014;
(B) whether China has proliferated to any non-nuclear weapons state, or any nuclear weapons state in violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, any item that contributes to a ballistic missile or nuclear weapons delivery system; and
(C) the number, type, and summary of any demarches between the United States and China with respect to the matters described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(2) Additional submissions
At the same time as the Secretary of Defense submits to the congressional defense committees the information described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) as part of the reports required by
(3) Coverage
With respect to the information described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1)—
(A) the first report described in such paragraph that is submitted after December 23, 2016, shall cover the preceding 12-month period before the date of such submission; and
(B) each subsequent report shall cover the semiannual period preceding the date of such submission.
(4) Form
The information described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (a).
SUBCHAPTER III—RECURRING CERTIFICATIONS AND REPORTS
§§3741, 3742. Repealed. Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1051(t)(7), (8), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1566
Section 3741,
Section 3742,
§3743. Reports on activities and assistance under Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
(a) Annual report
In any year in which the President submits to Congress, under
(b) Deadline
Each report under subsection (a) shall be submitted not later than the first Monday in February of a year.
(c) Matters included
Each report under subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) An estimate of the total amount that will be required to be expended by the United States during the fiscal year covered by the budget described in subsection (a) in order to achieve the objectives of the Program.
(2) A five-year plan setting forth the amount of funds and other resources proposed to be provided by the United States for the Program during the period covered by the plan, including the purpose for which such funds and resources will be used.
(3) A description of the activities and assistance carried out under the Program during the fiscal year preceding the submission of the report, including—
(A) the funds notified, obligated, and expended for such activities and assistance and the purposes for which such funds were notified, obligated, and expended for such fiscal year and cumulatively for the Program;
(B) a description of the participation, if any, of each department and agency of the Federal Government in such activities and assistance;
(C) a description of such activities and assistance, including the forms of assistance provided;
(D) a description of the United States private sector participation in the portion of such activities and assistance that were supported by the obligation and expenditure of funds for the Program; and
(E) such other information as the Secretary considers appropriate to fully inform Congress of the operation of activities and assistance carried out under the Program, including, with respect to proposed demilitarization or conversion projects, information on the progress toward demilitarization of facilities and the conversion of the demilitarized facilities to civilian activities.
(4) A description of the means (including program management, audits, examinations, and other means) used by the United States during the fiscal year preceding the submission of the report to ensure that assistance provided under the Program is fully accounted for, that such assistance is being used for its intended purpose, and that such assistance is being used efficiently and effectively, including—
(A) if such assistance consisted of equipment, a description of the current location of such equipment and the current condition of such equipment;
(B) if such assistance consisted of contracts or other services, a description of the status of such contracts or services and the methods used to ensure that such contracts and services are being used for their intended purpose;
(C) a determination whether the assistance described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) has been used for its intended purpose and an assessment of whether the assistance being provided is being used effectively and efficiently; and
(D) a description of the efforts planned to be carried out during the fiscal year beginning in the year of the report to ensure that Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction assistance provided during such fiscal year is fully accounted for and is used for its intended purpose.
(5) A description of the defense and military activities carried out under
(A) the amount of funds obligated or expended for such activities;
(B) the strategy, goals, and objectives for which such funds were obligated and expended;
(C) a description of the activities carried out, including the forms of assistance provided, and the justification for each form of assistance provided;
(D) the success of each activity, including the goals and objectives achieved for each activity;
(E) a description of participation by private sector entities in the United States in carrying out such activities, and the participation of any other department or agency of the Federal Government in such activities; and
(F) any other information that the Secretary considers relevant to provide a complete description of the operation and success of activities carried out under the Program.
(
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Termination of Reporting Requirements
For termination, effective Dec. 31, 2021, of provisions of this section requiring submittal of report to Congress, see section 1061 of
§3744. Metrics for Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
The Secretary of Defense shall implement metrics to measure the impact and effectiveness of activities of the Program to address threats arising from the proliferation of chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons and weapons-related materials, technologies, and expertise.
(
SUBCHAPTER IV—TRANSITION PROVISIONS
§3751. Transition provisions
(a) Determinations relating to certain proliferation threat reduction projects and activities
Any determination made before December 19, 2014, under section 5963(a) 1 of title 22 shall be treated as a determination under
(b) Determinations relating to urgent threat reduction activities
Any determination made before December 19, 2014, under section 5965(b) 1 of title 22 shall be treated as a determination under
(c) Funds available for Cooperative Threat Reduction Program
Funds made available for Cooperative Threat Reduction programs pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, referred to in subsec. (c), is
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, referred to in subsec. (c), is