US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

50 U.S.C. § 2368

Annual reports on the proliferation of missiles and essential components of nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons

(a)

Report

Not later than , and annually thereafter, the President shall transmit to the designated congressional committees an annual report on the transfer by any country of weapons, technology, components, or materials that can be used to deliver, manufacture (including research and experimentation), or weaponize nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological weapons (in this section referred to as “NBC weapons”) to any country other than a country referred to in subsection (d) that is seeking to possess or otherwise acquire such weapons, technology, or materials, or other system that the Secretary or the Secretary of Defense has reason to believe could be used to develop, acquire, or deliver NBC weapons.

(b)

Matters to be included

Each such report shall include—
(1)
the transfer of all aircraft, cruise missiles, artillery weapons, unguided rockets and multiple rocket systems, and related bombs, shells, warheads and other weaponization technology and materials that the Secretary or the Secretary of Defense has reason to believe may be intended for the delivery of NBC weapons;
(2)
international transfers of MTCR equipment or technology to any country that is seeking to acquire such equipment or any other system that the Secretary or the Secretary of Defense has reason to believe may be used to deliver NBC weapons; and
(3)
the transfer of technology, test equipment, radioactive materials, feedstocks and cultures, and all other specialized materials that the Secretary or the Secretary of Defense has reason to believe could be used to manufacture NBC weapons.
(c)

Content of report

1
1 So in original. Probably should be preceded by “the”.
Each such report shall include the following with respect to preceding  calendar year:
(1)
The status of missile, aircraft, and other NBC weapons delivery and weaponization programs in any such country, including efforts by such country or by any subnational group to acquire MTCR-controlled equipment, NBC-capable aircraft, or any other weapon or major weapon component which may be utilized in the delivery of NBC weapons, whose primary use is the delivery of NBC weapons, or that the Secretary or the Secretary of Defense has reason to believe could be used to deliver NBC weapons.
(2)
The status of NBC weapons development, acquisition, manufacture, stockpiling, and deployment programs in any such country, including efforts by such country or by any subnational group to acquire essential test equipment, manufacturing equipment and technology, weaponization equipment and technology, and radioactive material, feedstocks or components of feedstocks, and biological cultures and toxins.
(3)
A description of assistance provided by any person or government, after , to any such country or subnational group in the acquisition or development of—
(A)
NBC weapons;
(B)
missile systems, as defined in the MTCR or that the Secretary or the Secretary of Defense has reason to believe may be used to deliver NBC weapons; and
(C)
aircraft and other delivery systems and weapons that the Secretary or the Secretary of Defense has reason to believe could be used to deliver NBC weapons.
(4)
A listing of those persons and countries that continue to provide such equipment or technology described in paragraph (3) to any country or subnational group as of the date of submission of the report, including the extent to which foreign persons and countries were found to have knowingly and materially assisted such programs.
(5)
A description of the use of, or substantial preparations to use, the equipment of technology described in paragraph (3) by any foreign country or subnational group.
(6)
A description of the diplomatic measures that the United States, and that other adherents to the MTCR and other arrangements affecting the acquisition and delivery of NBC weapons, have made with respect to activities and private persons and governments suspected of violating the MTCR and such other arrangements.
(7)
An analysis of the effectiveness of the regulatory and enforcement regimes of the United States and other countries that adhere to the MTCR and other arrangements affecting the acquisition and delivery of NBC weapons in controlling the export of MTCR and other NBC weapons and delivery system equipment or technology.
(8)
section 4612(b)(4) of this titlesection 2797b(d) of title 22 A summary of advisory opinions issued under and under .
(9)
An explanation of United States policy regarding the transfer of MTCR equipment or technology to foreign missile programs, including programs involving launches of space vehicles.
(10)
Public Law 102–484 A description of each transfer by any person or government during the preceding 12-month period which is subject to sanctions under the Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992 (title XVI of ).
(d)

Exclusions

The countries excluded under subsection (a) are Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

(e)

Classification of report

The Secretary shall make every effort to submit all of the information required by this section in unclassified form. Whenever the Secretary submits any such information in classified form, the Secretary shall submit such classified information in an addendum and shall also submit concurrently a detailed summary, in unclassified form, of that classified information.

(f)

Definitions

In this section:
(1)

Designated congressional committees

The term “designated congressional committees” means—
(A)
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2)

Missile; MTCR; MTCR equipment or technology

section 2797c of title 22The terms “missile”, “MTCR”, and “MTCR equipment or technology” have the meanings given those terms in .

(3)

Person

The term “person” means any United States or foreign individual, partnership, corporation, or other form of association, or any of its successor entities, parents, or subsidiaries.

(4)

Weaponize; weaponization

The term “weaponize” or “weaponization” means to incorporate into, or the incorporation into, usable ordnance or other militarily useful means of delivery.

Pub. L. 107–228, div. B, title XIII, § 1308116 Stat. 1439(, , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 102–484106 Stat. 2571section 1701 of this titleThe Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992, referred to in subsec. (c)(10), is title XVI of div. A of , , , which is set out as a note under .

Codification

section 1308 of Pub. L. 107–228section 1308 of Pub. L. 107–228section 5606 of Title 22section 1701 of this titlesection 2656 of Title 22section 2751 of Title 22Section is comprised of . Subsec. (g) of repealed , Foreign Relations and Intercourse, amended provisions set out as notes under and , and repealed provisions set out as a note under .

Section was enacted as part of the Security Assistance Act of 2002, and also as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003, and not as part of the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996 which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on International Relations of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, .

Definitions

section 3 of Pub. L. 107–228section 2651 of Title 22For definition of “Secretary” as used in this section, see , set out as a note under , Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

section 301 of Title 3For delegation of congressional reporting functions of President under subsec. (a) of this section, see section 1 of Ex. Ord. No. 13313, , 68 F.R. 46073, set out as a note under , The President.