384 
(1) assess the objectives, commitments, and risks of the United 
States in the interest of homeland security and make resulting rec-
ommendations to the President; 
(2) oversee and review homeland security policies of the Federal Gov-
ernment and make resulting recommendations to the President; and 
(3) perform other functions that the President may direct. 
§ 11904. Staff 
(a) HEADED
BY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY.—The Homeland Security 
Council has a staff, the head of which is a civilian Executive Secretary ap-
pointed by the President. 
(b) PAY OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY.—The President shall fix the pay of 
the Executive Secretary at a rate not to exceed the rate of pay payable to 
the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. 
§ 11905. Joint meetings with National Security Council 
The President may convene joint meetings of the Homeland Security 
Council and the National Security Council with participation by members 
of either Council or as the President may otherwise direct. 
Chapter 121—Emergency Communications 
Sec. 
12101.
Definition; rule of construction. 
12102.
Responsibilities of Director for Emergency Communications. 
12103.
National Emergency Communications Plan. 
12104.
Assessments and reports. 
12105.
Coordination of Department emergency communications grant programs. 
12106.
Regional Emergency Communications Coordination. 
12107.
Emergency Communications Preparedness Center. 
12108.
Urban and other high risk area communications capabilities. 
12109.
Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program. 
§ 12101. Definition; rule of construction 
(a) DEFINITION.—In this chapter, the terms ‘‘interoperable communica-
tions’’ and ‘‘interoperable emergency communications’’ have the meaning 
given the term ‘‘interoperable communications’’ under section 10712(a) of 
this title. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.— Nothing in this chapter or in sections 
10713 or 10714 of this title shall be construed to transfer to the Office of 
Emergency Communications any function, personnel, asset, component, au-
thority, grant program, or liability of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency as constituted on June 1, 2006. 
§ 12102. Responsibilities of Director for Emergency Commu-
nications 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director for Emergency Communications shall— 
(1) assist the Secretary in developing and implementing the program 
described in section 10712(b)(1) of this title, except as provided in sec-
tion 10713 of this title; 
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(2) administer the Department’s responsibilities and authorities re-
lating to the SAFECOM Program, excluding elements related to re-
search, development, testing, and evaluation and standards; 
(3) administer the Department’s responsibilities and authorities re-
lating to the Integrated Wireless Network program; 
(4) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach to support and promote 
the ability of emergency response providers and relevant government 
officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, 
acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 
(5) conduct extensive, nationwide outreach and foster the develop-
ment of interoperable emergency communications capabilities by State, 
regional, local, and tribal governments and public safety agencies, and 
by regional consortia thereof; 
(6) provide technical assistance to State, regional, local, and tribal 
government officials with respect to use of interoperable emergency 
communications capabilities; 
(7) coordinate with the Regional Administrators regarding the activi-
ties of Regional Emergency Communications Coordination Working 
Groups under section 12106 of this title; 
(8) promote the development of standard operating procedures and 
best practices with respect to use of interoperable emergency commu-
nications capabilities for incident response, and facilitate the sharing 
of information on best practices for achieving, maintaining, and en-
hancing interoperable emergency communications capabilities for re-
sponse; 
(9) coordinate, in cooperation with the National Communications 
System, the establishment of a national response capability with initial 
and ongoing planning, implementation, and training for the deployment 
of communications equipment for relevant State, local, and tribal gov-
ernments and emergency response providers in the event of a cata-
strophic loss of local and regional emergency communications services; 
(10) assist the President, the National Security Council, the Home-
land Security Council, and the Director of the Office of Management 
and Budget in ensuring the continued operation of the telecommuni-
cations functions and responsibilities of the Federal Government, ex-
cluding spectrum management; 
(11) establish, in coordination with the Director of the Office for 
Interoperability and Compatibility, requirements for interoperable 
emergency communications capabilities, which shall be nonproprietary 
where standards for the capabilities exist, for all public safety radio 
and data communications systems and equipment purchased using 
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homeland security assistance administered by the Department, exclud-
ing any alert and warning device, technology, or system; 
(12) review, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary for Grants 
and Training, all interoperable emergency communications plans of 
Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, including Statewide and 
tactical interoperability plans, developed pursuant to homeland security 
assistance administered by the Department, but excluding spectrum al-
location and management related to the plans; 
(13) develop and update periodically, as appropriate, a National 
Emergency Communications Plan under section 12103 of this title; 
(14) perform other duties of the Department necessary to support 
and promote the ability of emergency response providers and relevant 
government officials to continue to communicate in the event of natural 
disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; and 
(15) perform other duties of the Department necessary to achieve 
the goal of, and maintain and enhance, interoperable emergency com-
munications capabilities. 
(b) PERFORMANCE
OF PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED FUNCTIONS.—The 
Secretary shall administer through the Director for Emergency Communica-
tions the following programs and responsibilities: 
(1) The SAFECOM Program, excluding elements related to re-
search, development, testing, and evaluation and standards. 
(2) The responsibilities of the Chief Information Officer related to 
the implementation of the Integrated Wireless Network. 
(3) The Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Pro-
gram. 
(c) COORDINATION.—The Director for Emergency Communications shall 
coordinate— 
(1) as appropriate, with the Director of the Office for Interoper-
ability and Compatibility with respect to the responsibilities described 
in section 10713 of this title; and 
(2) with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency with respect to the responsibilities described in this chapter. 
§ 12103. National Emergency Communications Plan 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Director for Emer-
gency Communications, and in cooperation with the National Communica-
tions System Office of the Department (as appropriate), shall, in coopera-
tion with State, local, and tribal governments, Federal departments and 
agencies, emergency response providers, and the private sector, develop, and 
periodically update, a National Emergency Communications Plan to provide 
recommendations regarding how the United States should— 
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(1) support and promote the ability of emergency response providers 
and relevant government officials to continue to communicate in the 
event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made dis-
asters; and 
(2) ensure, accelerate, and attain interoperable emergency commu-
nications nationwide. 
(b) COORDINATION.—The Emergency Communications Preparedness 
Center under section 12107 of this title shall coordinate the development 
of the Federal aspects of the National Emergency Communications Plan. 
(c) CONTENTS.—The National Emergency Communications Plan shall— 
(1) include recommendations developed in consultation with the Fed-
eral Communications Commission and the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology for a process for expediting national voluntary 
consensus standards for emergency communications equipment for the 
purchase and use by public safety agencies of interoperable emergency 
communications equipment and technologies; 
(2) identify the appropriate capabilities necessary for emergency re-
sponse providers and relevant government officials to continue to com-
municate in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other 
man-made disasters; 
(3) identify the appropriate interoperable emergency communications 
capabilities necessary for Federal, State, local, and tribal governments 
in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters; 
(4) recommend both short-term and long-term solutions for ensuring 
that emergency response providers and relevant government officials 
can continue to communicate in the event of natural disasters, acts of 
terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 
(5) recommend both short-term and long-term solutions for deploy-
ing interoperable emergency communications systems for Federal, 
State, local, and tribal governments throughout the Nation, including 
through the provision of existing and emerging technologies; 
(6) identify how Federal departments and agencies that respond to 
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters can 
work effectively with State, local, and tribal governments, in all States, 
and with other entities; 
(7) identify obstacles to deploying interoperable emergency commu-
nications capabilities nationwide and recommend short-term and long- 
term measures to overcome those obstacles, including recommendations 
for multijurisdictional coordination among Federal, State, local, and 
tribal governments; 
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(8) recommend goals and timeframes for the deployment of emer-
gency, command-level communications systems based on new and exist-
ing equipment across the United States and develop a timetable for the 
deployment of interoperable emergency communications systems nation-
wide; 
(9) recommend appropriate measures that emergency response pro-
viders should employ to ensure the continued operation of relevant gov-
ernmental communications infrastructure in the event of natural disas-
ters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters; and 
(10) set a date, including interim benchmarks, as appropriate, by 
which State, local, and tribal governments, Federal departments and 
agencies, and emergency response providers expect to achieve a baseline 
level of national interoperable communications, as that term is defined 
under section 10712(a) of this title. 
§ 12104. Assessments and reports 
(a) BASELINE ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary, acting through the Director 
for Emergency Communications, shall conduct an assessment of Federal, 
State, local, and tribal governments every 5 years, that— 
(1) defines the range of capabilities needed by emergency response 
providers and relevant government officials to continue to communicate 
in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters; 
(2) defines the range of interoperable emergency communications ca-
pabilities needed for specific events; 
(3) assesses the currently available capabilities to meet the commu-
nications needs; 
(4) identifies the gap between current capabilities and defined re-
quirements; and 
(5) includes a national interoperable emergency communications in-
ventory to be completed by the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, 
and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission that— 
(A) identifies for each Federal department and agency— 
(i) the channels and frequencies used; 
(ii) the nomenclature used to refer to each channel or fre-
quency used; and 
(iii) the types of communications systems and equipment 
used; and 
(B) identifies the interoperable emergency communications sys-
tems in use by public safety agencies in the United States. 
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(b) CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—The baseline assessment under this section 
may include a classified annex, including information provided under sub-
section (a)(5)(A). 
(c) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—In conducting the baseline assessment under this 
section, the Secretary may incorporate findings from assessments conducted 
before, or ongoing on, October 4, 2006. 
(d) PROGRESS REPORTS.—The Secretary, acting through the Director for 
Emergency Communications, shall submit to Congress every 2 years a re-
port on the progress of the Department in achieving the goals of, and car-
rying out its responsibilities under, this chapter, including— 
(1) a description of the findings of the most recent baseline assess-
ment conducted under subsection (a); 
(2) a determination of the degree to which interoperable emergency 
communications capabilities have been attained to date and the gaps 
that remain for interoperability to be achieved; 
(3) an evaluation of the ability to continue to communicate and to 
provide and maintain interoperable emergency communications by 
emergency managers, emergency response providers, and relevant gov-
ernment officials in the event of— 
(A) natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made dis-
asters, including Incidents of National Significance declared by the 
Secretary under the National Response Plan; and 
(B) a catastrophic loss of local and regional communications 
services; 
(4) a list of best practices relating to the ability to continue to com-
municate and to provide and maintain interoperable emergency commu-
nications in the event of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other 
man-made disasters; and 
(5) an evaluation of the feasibility and desirability of the Department 
developing, on its own or in conjunction with the Department of De-
fense, a mobile communications capability, modeled on the Army Signal 
Corps, that could be deployed to support emergency communications at 
the site of natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made dis-
asters. 
§ 12105. Coordination of Department emergency commu-
nications grant programs 
(a) COORDINATION OF GRANTS AND STANDARDS PROGRAMS.—The Sec-
retary, acting through the Director for Emergency Communications, shall 
ensure that grant guidelines for the use of homeland security assistance ad-
ministered by the Department relating to interoperable emergency commu-
nications are coordinated and consistent with the goals and recommenda-
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tions in the National Emergency Communications Plan under section 12103 
of this title. 
(b) DENIAL OF ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Assistant Sec-
retary for Grants and Planning, and in consultation with the Director 
for Emergency Communications, may prohibit any State, local, or trib-
al government from using homeland security assistance administered by 
the Department to achieve, maintain, or enhance emergency commu-
nications capabilities, if— 
(A) the government has not complied with the requirement to 
submit a Statewide Interoperable Communications Plan as re-
quired by section 10712(e) of this title; 
(B) the government has proposed to upgrade or purchase new 
equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable 
national voluntary consensus standards and has not provided a 
reasonable explanation of why the equipment or systems will serve 
the needs of the applicant better than equipment or systems that 
meet or exceed the standards; and 
(C) as of the date that is 3 years after the date of the comple-
tion of the initial National Emergency Communications Plan 
under section 12103 of this title, national voluntary consensus 
standards for interoperable emergency communications capabilities 
have not been developed and promulgated. 
(2) STANDARDS.—The Secretary, in coordination with the Federal 
Communications Commission, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, and other Federal departments and agencies responsible 
for standards, shall support the development, promulgation, and updat-
ing as necessary of national voluntary consensus standards for inter-
operable emergency communications. 
§ 12106. Regional Emergency Communications Coordination 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in each Regional Office a Regional Emer-
gency Communications Coordination Working Group (in this section re-
ferred to as an ‘‘RECC Working Group’’). Each RECC Working Group 
shall report to the relevant Regional Administrator and coordinate its activi-
ties with the relevant Regional Advisory Council. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Each RECC Working Group consists of the following: 
(1) Organizations representing the interests of the following: 
(A) State officials. 
(B) Local government officials, including sheriffs. 
(C) State police departments. 
(D) Local police departments. 
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(E) Local fire departments. 
(F) Public safety answering points (9-1-1 services). 
(G) State emergency managers, homeland security directors, or 
representatives of State Administrative Agencies. 
(H) Local emergency managers or homeland security directors. 
(I) Other emergency response providers as appropriate. 
(2) Representatives from the Department, the Federal Communica-
tions Commission, and other Federal departments and agencies with 
responsibility for coordinating interoperable emergency communications 
with, or providing emergency support services to, State, local, and trib-
al governments. 
(c) COORDINATION.—Each RECC Working Group shall coordinate its ac-
tivities with the following: 
(1) Communications equipment manufacturers and vendors (includ-
ing broadband data service providers). 
(2) Local exchange carriers. 
(3) Local broadcast media. 
(4) Wireless carriers. 
(5) Satellite communications services. 
(6) Cable operators. 
(7) Hospitals. 
(8) Public utility services. 
(9) Emergency evacuation transit services. 
(10) Ambulance services. 
(11) HAM and amateur radio operators. 
(12) Representatives from other private-sector entities and non-
governmental organizations as the Regional Administrator determines 
appropriate. 
(d) DUTIES.—The duties of each RECC Working Group include— 
(1) assessing the survivability, sustainability, and interoperability of 
local emergency communications systems to meet the goals of the Na-
tional Emergency Communications Plan; 
(2) reporting annually to the relevant Regional Administrator, the 
Director for Emergency Communications, the Chairman of the Federal 
Communications Commission, and the Assistant Secretary for Commu-
nications and Information of the Department of Commerce on the sta-
tus of its region in building robust and sustainable interoperable voice 
and data emergency communications networks and, not later than 60 
days after the completion of the initial National Emergency Commu-
nications Plan under section 12103 of this title, on the progress of the 
region in meeting the goals of the plan; 
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(3) ensuring a process for the coordination of effective multijuris-
dictional, multi-agency emergency communications networks for use 
during natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disas-
ters through the expanded use of emergency management and public 
safety communications mutual aid agreements; and 
(4) coordinating the establishment of Federal, State, local, and tribal 
support services and networks designed to address the immediate and 
critical human needs in responding to natural disasters, acts of ter-
rorism, and other man-made disasters. 
§ 12107. Emergency Communications Preparedness Center 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is the Emergency Communications Pre-
paredness Center. 
(b) OPERATION.—The Secretary, the Chairman of the Federal Commu-
nications Commission, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Attorney General, and the heads of other Federal departments and 
agencies or their designees shall jointly operate the Emergency Communica-
tions Preparedness Center in accordance with the Memorandum of Under-
standing entitled, ‘‘Emergency Communications Preparedness Center 
(ECPC) Charter’’. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Emergency Communications Preparedness Center 
shall— 
(1) serve as the focal point for interagency efforts and as a clearing-
house with respect to all relevant intergovernmental information to sup-
port and promote (including specifically by working to avoid duplica-
tion, hindrances, and counteractive efforts among the participating 
Federal departments and agencies)— 
(A) the ability of emergency response providers and relevant 
government officials to continue to communicate in the event of 
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 
and 
(B) interoperable emergency communications; 
(2) prepare and submit to Congress annually a strategic assessment 
regarding the coordination efforts of Federal departments and agencies 
to advance— 
(A) the ability of emergency response providers and relevant 
government officials to continue to communicate in the event of 
natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters; 
and 
(B) interoperable emergency communications; 
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(3) consider, in preparing the strategic assessment under paragraph 
(2), the goals stated in the National Emergency Communications Plan 
under section 12103 of this title; and 
(4) perform other functions provided in the ECPC Charter described 
in subsection (b). 
§ 12108. Urban and other high risk area communications ca-
pabilities 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman of 
the Federal Communications Commission and the Secretary of Defense, and 
with appropriate State, local, and tribal government officials, shall provide 
technical guidance, training, and other assistance, as appropriate, to sup-
port the rapid establishment of consistent, secure, and effective interoper-
able emergency communications capabilities in the event of an emergency 
in urban and other areas determined by the Secretary to be at consistently 
high levels of risk from natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man- 
made disasters. 
(b) MINIMUM CAPABILITIES.—The interoperable emergency communica-
tions capabilities established under subsection (a) shall ensure the ability of 
all levels of government, emergency response providers, the private sector, 
and other organizations with emergency response capabilities— 
(1) to communicate with each other in the event of an emergency; 
(2) to have appropriate and timely access to the information sharing 
environment described in section 11708 of this title; and 
(3) to be consistent with any applicable State or Urban Area home-
land strategy or plan. 
§ 12109. Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant 
Program 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish the Interoperable 
Emergency Communications Grant Program to make grants to States to 
carry out initiatives to improve local, tribal, statewide, regional, national 
and, where appropriate, international interoperable emergency communica-
tions, including communications in collective response to natural disasters, 
acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 
(b) POLICY.—The Director for Emergency Communications shall ensure 
that a grant awarded to a State under this section is consistent with the 
policies established pursuant to the responsibilities and authorities of the 
Office of Emergency Communications under this chapter, including ensuring 
that activities funded by the grant— 
(1) comply with the statewide plan for that State required by section 
10712(e) of this title; and 
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(2) PENALTIES.—In addition to other remedies currently available, 
the Secretary may take necessary actions to ensure that recipients of 
grant funds are using the funds for the purpose for which they were 
intended. 
(g) LIMITATIONS ON AWARD OF GRANTS.— 
(1) NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PLAN REQUIRED.— 
The Secretary may not award a grant under this section before the 
date on which the Secretary completes and submits to Congress the 
National Emergency Communications Plan required under section 
12103 of this title. 
(2) VOLUNTARY CONSENSUS STANDARDS.—The Secretary may not 
award a grant to a State under this section for the purchase of equip-
ment that does not meet applicable voluntary consensus standards, un-
less the State demonstrates that there are compelling reasons for the 
purchase. 
(h) AWARD OF GRANTS.—In approving applications and awarding grants 
under this section, the Secretary shall consider— 
(1) the risk posed to each State by natural disasters, acts of ter-
rorism, or other man-made disasters, including— 
(A) the likely need of a jurisdiction within the State to respond 
to the risk in nearby jurisdictions; 
(B) the degree of threat, vulnerability, and consequences related 
to critical infrastructure (from all critical infrastructure sectors) 
or key resources identified by the Administrator or the State 
homeland security and emergency management plans, including 
threats to, vulnerabilities of, and consequences from damage to 
critical infrastructure and key resources in nearby jurisdictions; 
(C) the size of the population and density of the population of 
the State, including appropriate consideration of military, tourist, 
and commuter populations; 
(D) whether the State is on or near an international border; 
(E) whether the State encompasses an economically significant 
border crossing; and 
(F) whether the State has a coastline bordering an ocean, a 
major waterway used for interstate commerce, or international 
waters; and 
(2) the anticipated effectiveness of the State’s proposed use of grant 
funds to improve interoperability. 
(i) OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND APPLICATIONS.—In considering applications 
for grants under this section, the Administrator shall provide applicants 
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with a reasonable opportunity to correct defects in the application, if any, 
before making final awards. 
(j) MINIMUM GRANT AMOUNTS.— 
(1) STATES.—In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall ensure that for each fiscal year, except as provided in paragraph 
(2), no State receives a grant in an amount that is less than 0.35 per-
cent of the total amount appropriated for grants under this section for 
that fiscal year. 
(2) TERRITORIES.—In awarding grants under this section, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that for each fiscal year, American Samoa, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the Virgin Islands each receive 
grants in amounts that are not less than 0.08 percent of the total 
amount appropriated for grants under this section for that fiscal year. 
(k) CERTIFICATION.—Each State that receives a grant under this section 
shall certify that the grant is used for the purpose for which the funds were 
intended and in compliance with the State’s approved Statewide Interoper-
able Communications Plan. 
(l) STATE RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS
TO
LOCAL
AND
TRIBAL
GOVERN-
MENTS.—Not later than 45 days after receiving grant funds, a State 
that receives a grant under this section shall obligate or otherwise 
make available to local and tribal governments— 
(A) not less than 80 percent of the grant funds; 
(B) with the consent of local and tribal governments, eligible ex-
penditures having a value of not less than 80 percent of the 
amount of the grant; or 
(C) grant funds combined with other eligible expenditures hav-
ing a total value of not less than 80 percent of the amount of the 
grant. 
(2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.—A State that receives a grant under 
this section shall allocate grant funds to tribal governments in the 
State to assist tribal communities in improving interoperable commu-
nications, in a manner consistent with the Statewide Interoperable 
Communications Plan. A State may not impose unreasonable or unduly 
burdensome requirements on a tribal government as a condition of pro-
viding grant funds or resources to the tribal government. 
(3) PENALTIES.—If a State violates the requirements of this sub-
section, in addition to other remedies available to the Secretary, the 
Secretary may terminate or reduce the amount of the grant awarded 
to that State or transfer grant funds previously awarded to the State 
directly to the appropriate local or tribal government. 
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(m) REPORTS.— 
(1) ANNUAL REPORTS BY STATE GRANT RECIPIENTS.—A State that 
receives a grant under this section shall annually submit to the Direc-
tor of Emergency Communications a report on the progress of the 
State in implementing that State’s Statewide Interoperable Commu-
nications Plan required under section 10712(e) of this title and achiev-
ing interoperability at the city, county, regional, State, and interstate 
levels. The Director shall make the reports publicly available, including 
by making them available on the Internet website of the Office of 
Emergency Communications, subject to any redactions that the Direc-
tor determines are necessary to protect classified or other sensitive in-
formation. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—At least once each year, the 
Director of Emergency Communications shall submit to Congress a re-
port on the use of grants awarded under this section and any progress 
in implementing Statewide Interoperable Communications Plans and 
improving interoperability at the city, county, regional, State, and 
interstate level, as a result of the award of the grants. 
(n) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed 
or interpreted to preclude a State from using a grant awarded under this 
section for interim or long-term Internet Protocol-based interoperable solu-
tions. 
(o) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section such sums as may be necessary. 
Chapter 123—Domestic Nuclear Detection 
Office 
Sec. 
12301.
Mission. 
12302.
Technology research and development investment strategy for nuclear and radiological 
detection. 
12303.
Testing authority. 
12304.
Personnel. 
12305.
Relationship to other Department entities and Federal agencies. 
12306.
Contracting and grant making authorities. 
12307.
Joint annual interagency review of global nuclear detection architecture. 
§ 12301. Mission 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ALASKA NATIVE-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘Alaska Na-
tive-serving institution’’ has the meaning given the term in section 317 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d). 
(2) ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER- 
SERVING INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘Asian American and Native Amer-
ican Pacific Islander-serving institution’’ has the meaning given the 
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term in section 320 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1059g). 
(3) HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘Hispanic-serving 
institution’’ has the meaning given the term in section 502 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a). 
(4) HISTORICALLY
BLACK
COLLEGE
OR
UNIVERSITY.—The term 
‘‘historically Black college or university’’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘‘part B institution’’ in section 322(2) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)). 
(5) NATIVE HAWAIIAN-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘Native 
Hawaiian-serving institution’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d). 
(6) TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.—The term ‘‘Tribal College or 
University’’ has the meaning given the term in section 316(b) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)). 
(b) MISSION.—The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office is responsible for 
coordinating Federal efforts to detect and protect against the unauthorized 
importation, possession, storage, transportation, development, or use of a 
nuclear explosive device, fissile material, or radiological material in the 
United States, and to protect against attack using such devices or materials 
against the people, territory, or interests of the United States and, to this 
end, shall— 
(1) serve as the primary entity of the United States Government to 
further develop, acquire, and support the deployment of an enhanced 
domestic system to detect and report on attempts to import, possess, 
store, transport, develop, or use an unauthorized nuclear explosive de-
vice, fissile material, or radiological material in the United States, and 
improve that system over time; 
(2) enhance and coordinate the nuclear detection efforts of Federal, 
State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector to ensure 
a managed, coordinated response; 
(3) establish, with the approval of the Secretary and in coordination 
with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary 
of Energy, additional protocols and procedures for use within the 
United States to ensure that the detection of unauthorized nuclear ex-
plosive devices, fissile material, or radiological material is promptly re-
ported to the Attorney General, the Secretary, the Secretary of De-
fense, the Secretary of Energy, and other appropriate officials or their 
respective designees for appropriate action by law enforcement, mili-
tary, emergency response, or other authorities; 
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