Us Code § 591 - Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 591 — Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 591. Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
(a) Establishment
There is established in the Department a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
(b) Assistant Secretary
The Office shall be headed by an Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, who shall be appointed by the President.
(c) Responsibilities
The Assistant Secretary shall serve as the Secretary's principal advisor on—
(1) weapons of mass destruction matters and strategies; and
(2) coordinating the efforts of the Department to counter weapons of mass destruction.
(d) Details
The Secretary may request that the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the heads of other Federal agencies, including elements of the intelligence community, provide for the reimbursable detail of personnel with relevant expertise to the Office.
(e) Termination
The Office shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after December 21, 2018.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XIX, §1901, as added Pub. L. 115–387, §2(a)(2), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5162.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 591, Pub. L. 107–296, title XIX, §1901, formerly title XVIII, §1801, as added Pub. L. 109–347, title V, §501(a), Oct. 13, 2006, 120 Stat. 1932; renumbered title XIX, §1901, Pub. L. 110–53, title I, §104(a)(1), (2), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 294, related to establishment of a Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–387, §2(a)(2), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5162.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
References and Construction
Pub. L. 115–387, §2(b), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5166, provided that:
"(1)
"(A) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office shall be deemed to be a reference to the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office; and
"(B) the Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection shall be deemed to be a reference to the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office.
"(2)
"(3)
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office and Office of Health Affairs: Abolishment and Transfer to Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
Pub. L. 115–387, §2(e), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5167, provided that:
"(1)
"(A) the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office all functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of—
"(i) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 21, 2018]; and
"(ii) the Office of Health Affairs, as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, except for the functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of such office necessary to perform the functions specified in section 710 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 [6 U.S.C. 350] (relating to workforce health and medical support), as added by this Act; and
"(B) the Management Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security all functions, personnel, budget authority, and assets of the Office of Health Affairs, as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, that are necessary to perform the functions of such section 710.
"(2)
"(A) the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office of the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Health Affairs of the Department of Homeland Security are abolished; and
"(B) the positions of Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Director for Domestic Nuclear Detection are abolished."
Department of Homeland Security Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Activities
Pub. L. 115–387, §2(g), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5169, provided that: "Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 21, 2018], and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a briefing and report to the appropriate congressional committees (as defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101)) on—
"(1) the organization and management of the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities of the Department of Homeland Security, including research and development activities, and the location of each activity under the organizational structure of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office;
"(2) a comprehensive inventory of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities, including research and development activities, of the Department of Homeland Security, highlighting areas of collaboration between components, coordination with other agencies, and the effectiveness and accomplishments of consolidated chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear activities of the Department of Homeland Security, including research and development activities;
"(3) information relating to how the organizational structure of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office will enhance the development of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear priorities and capabilities across the Department of Homeland Security;
"(4) a discussion of any resulting cost savings and efficiencies gained through activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2);
"(5) information on how the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office is coordinating with the Under Secretary of Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security on research and development activities; and
"(6) recommendations for any necessary statutory changes, or, if no statutory changes are necessary, an explanation of why no statutory or organizational changes are necessary."
Part B—Mission of the Office
About This Section
6 U.S.C. § 591 is part of Title 6 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
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