### §119a. Programs managed under alternative compensatory control measures: congressional oversight

(a) Annual Report on Current Programs Under ACCMS.—

(1) In general.—Not later than March 1 each year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the programs being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department of Defense.

(2) Elements.—Each report under paragraph (1) shall set forth the following:

(A) The total amount requested for programs being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department in the budget of the President under section 1105 of title 31 for the fiscal year beginning in the fiscal year in which such report is submitted.

(B) For each program in that budget that is a program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department—

(i) a brief description of the program;

(ii) a brief discussion of the major milestones established for the program;

(iii) the actual cost of the program for each fiscal year during which the program has been conducted before the fiscal year during which that budget is submitted; and

(iv) the estimated total cost of the program and the estimated cost of the program for—

(I) the current fiscal year;

(II) the fiscal year for which that budget is submitted; and

(III) each of the four succeeding fiscal years during which the program is expected to be conducted.

(3) Elements on programs covered by multiyear budgeting.—In the case of a report under paragraph (1) submitted in a year during which the budget of the President for the fiscal year concerned does not, because of multiyear budgeting for the Department, include a full budget request for the Department, the report required by paragraph (1) shall set forth—

(A) the total amount already appropriated for the next fiscal year for programs being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department, and any additional amount requested in that budget for such programs for such fiscal year; and

(B) for each program that is a program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department, the information specified in paragraph (2)(B).

(b) Annual Report on New Programs Under ACCMS.—

(1) In general.—Not later than February 1 each year, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that, with respect to each new program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department, provides—

(A) notice of the designation of the program as a program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department; and

(B) a justification for such designation.

(2) Additional elements.—A report under paragraph (1) with respect to a program shall include—

(A) the current estimate of the total program cost for the program; and

(B) an identification of existing programs or technologies that are similar to the technology, or that have a mission similar to the mission, of the program that is the subject of the report.

(3) New program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures defined.—In this subsection, the term "new program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures" means a program in the Department that has not previously been covered by a report under this subsection.

(c) Report on Change in Classification or Declassification of Programs.—

(1) In general.—Whenever a change in the classification of a program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department is planned to be made, or whenever classified information concerning a program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department is to be declassified and made public, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing a description of the proposed change, the reasons for the proposed change, and notice of any public announcement planned to be made with respect to the proposed change.

(2) Deadline for report.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), a report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted not less than 14 days before the date on which the proposed change or public announcement concerned is to occur.

(3) Exception.—If the Secretary determines that because of exceptional circumstances the requirement in paragraph (2) cannot be met with respect to a proposed change or public announcement concerning a program covered by paragraph (1), the Secretary may submit the report required by that paragraph regarding the proposed change or public announcement at any time before the proposed change or public announcement is made, and shall include in the report an explanation of the exceptional circumstances.

(d) Modification of Criteria or Policy for Designating Programs Under Accms.—Whenever there is a modification or termination of the policy or criteria used for designating a program as a program being managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department, the Secretary shall promptly notify the congressional defense committees of such modification or termination. Any such notification shall contain the reasons for the modification or termination and, in the case of a modification, the provisions of the policy or criteria as modified.

(e) Waiver.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary may waive any requirement in subsection (a), (b), or (c) that certain information be included in a report under such subsection if the Secretary determines that inclusion of that information in the report would adversely affect the national security. Any such waiver shall be made on a case-by-case basis.

(2) Notice to congress.—If the Secretary exercises the authority in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide the information described in the applicable subsection with respect to the program concerned, and the justification for the waiver, jointly to the chairman and ranking minority member of each of the congressional defense committees.

(f) Limitation on Initiation of Programs Under Accms.—

(1) Notice and wait.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), a program to be managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department may not be initiated until—

(A) the congressional defense committees are notified of the program; and

(B) a period of 30 days elapses after such notification is received.

(2) Exception.—If the Secretary determines that waiting for the regular notification process before initiating a program as described in paragraph (1) would cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security, the Secretary may begin a program to be managed under alternative compensatory control measures in the Department before such waiting period elapses. The Secretary shall notify the congressional defense committees within 10 days of initiating a program under this paragraph, including a justification for the determination of the Secretary that waiting for the regular notification process would cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security.

(g) Congressional Oversight.—(1) Neither the Secretary of Defense nor the Director of National Intelligence may take any action that would have the effect of limiting the access of the congressional defense committees to—

(A) any classified program, or any information about any classified program, to which such committees have access as of the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022; or

(B) any classified program established, or any information about any classified program that becomes available, after the date of the enactment of such Act that is within the jurisdiction of such committees.

(2) In this subsection, the term "classified program" includes any special access program, alternative compensatory control measure, or any other controlled access program.

(Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title X, §1062(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2405; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, §1731(a)(4), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1812; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, §1041(b), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1903.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

The date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and the date of the enactment of such Act, referred to in subsec. (g)(1), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 117–81, which was approved Dec. 27, 2021.

#### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 117–81 added subsec. (g).

2019—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted "ACCMS" for "AACMS" in subsec. heading.