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US·Bill·116th Congress

HR 6596

Died in committee

To realign the nuclear forensics and attribution activities of the Federal Government from the Department of Homeland Security to the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Introduced 2020-04-22Last action 2020-06-01 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.Committees Homeland Security, House Committee on Armed Services, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Sponsor

Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]D

Cosponsors (1)

Fortenberry, Jeff(R-NE)
⚫
Died in committee
The 116th Congress ended on 2021-01-03. This bill was in committee when the session adjourned and did not advance to enactment.

Legislative Progress

✓
Introduced
✗
In Committee
3
Passed Chamber
4
Enacted / Signed

Action History

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2020-04-22 · House floor actions
Introduced in House
2020-04-22 · Library of Congress
Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
2020-06-01 · House committee actions

Summary

This bill reorganizes nuclear forensics and attribution activities of the federal government. Specifically, the bill transfers nuclear forensics activities currently performed by the Department of Homeland Security to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) within the Department of Energy (DOE). Nuclear forensics is the examination of nuclear and other radioactive materials to determine the origin and history of the material for purposes of law enforcement investigations or assessment of nuclear security vulnerabilities.

The bill also establishes the National Nuclear Forensics Center within the NNSA. The center must coordinate stewardship, planning, assessment, and other functions for all federal nuclear forensics and attribution activities.

Additionally, the NNSA must develop and implement a plan to modify its university-based research collaboration program to include the development of expertise in nuclear forensics in supporting scientific and engineering advancement in DOE defense and national security program areas.

Full Bill Text
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/hr/6596
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