Weapons of Mass Destruction Prohibition Improvement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2939
Sponsor: Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4]
Introduced: 2003-07-25 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Chemical warfare
Conspiracy
EBB Terrorism
Extraterritoriality
International Affairs
Jurisdiction
Nuclear terrorism
Prosecution
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
State-sponsored terrorism
Terrorism
Weapons of mass destruction

Summary:
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: 
Weapons of Mass Destruction Prohibition Improvement Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal criminal code to expand the jurisdictional bases and scope of the prohibition against the use of, and threat, attempt, or conspiracy to use, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to cover such actions against property within the United States under specified circumstances, including property owned, leased, or used by a foreign government.
 
 Restores the coverage of chemical weapons under the prohibition.
 
Expands the categories of restricted persons subject to prohibitions relating to select agents to cover persons acting for or on behalf of, or operating subject to the direction or control of: (1) a government or official of a country that Secretary of State has determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism; or (2) a terrorist organization.
 
Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to prohibit participation in the development or production of any special nuclear material or atomic weapon except as authorized by that Act.
 
Prohibits anyone within the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction from willfully participating in or providing material support or resources to a nuclear weapons program or other WMD program of a foreign terrorist power (or attempting or conspiring to do so). Establishes extraterritorial Federal jurisdiction over such offense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1784)
action_date: 2003-09-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-08-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-07-25
text: Introduced in House