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

Bill: 116-hr-6596
Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
Introduced: 2020-04-22 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of Energy
Department of Homeland Security
Evidence and witnesses
Executive agency funding and structure
Higher education
Military procurement, research, weapons development
Nuclear weapons
Radioactive wastes and releases
Research administration and funding
Science and engineering education
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2020-04-22
text: 
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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-06-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
action_date: 2020-04-22
text: 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.
action_date: 2020-04-22
text: 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.
action_date: 2020-04-22
text: 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.
action_date: 2020-04-22
text: 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.
action_date: 2020-04-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-04-22
text: Introduced in House