Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 50 : Section 1523


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 1523. Annual report on chemical and biological warfare defense

    (a) Report required
      The Secretary of Defense shall include in the annual report of
    the Secretary under section 113(c) of title 10 a report on chemical
    and biological warfare defense. The report shall assess - 
        (1) the overall readiness of the Armed Forces to fight in a
      chemical-biological warfare environment and shall describe steps
      taken and planned to be taken to improve such readiness; and
        (2) requirements for the chemical and biological warfare
      defense program, including requirements for training, detection,
      and protective equipment, for medical prophylaxis, and for
      treatment of casualties resulting from use of chemical or
      biological weapons.
    (b) Matters to be included
      The report shall include information on the following:
        (1) The quantities, characteristics, and capabilities of
      fielded chemical and biological defense equipment to meet wartime
      and peacetime requirements for support of the Armed Forces,
      including individual protective items.
        (2) The status of research and development programs, and
      acquisition programs, for required improvements in chemical and
      biological defense equipment and medical treatment, including an
      assessment of the ability of the Department of Defense and the
      industrial base to meet those requirements.
        (3) Measures taken to ensure the integration of requirements
      for chemical and biological defense equipment and material among
      the Armed Forces.
        (4) The status of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC)
      warfare defense training and readiness among the Armed Forces and
      measures being taken to include realistic nuclear, biological,
      and chemical warfare simulations in war games, battle
      simulations, and training exercises.
        (5) Measures taken to improve overall management and
      coordination of the chemical and biological defense program.
        (6) Problems encountered in the chemical and biological warfare
      defense program during the past year and recommended solutions to
      those problems for which additional resources or actions by the
      Congress are required.
        (7) A description of the chemical warfare defense preparations
      that have been and are being undertaken by the Department of
      Defense to address needs which may arise under article X of the
      Chemical Weapons Convention.
        (8) A summary of other preparations undertaken by the
      Department of Defense and the On-Site Inspection Agency to
      prepare for and to assist in the implementation of the
      convention, including activities such as training for inspectors,
      preparation of defense installations for inspections under the
      convention using the Defense Treaty Inspection Readiness Program,
      provision of chemical weapons detection equipment, and assistance
      in the safe transportation, storage, and destruction of chemical
      weapons in other signatory nations to the convention.
        (9) A description of any program involving the testing of
      biological or chemical agents on human subjects that was carried
      out by the Department of Defense during the period covered by the
      report, together with - 
          (A) a detailed justification for the testing;
          (B) a detailed explanation of the purposes of the testing;
          (C) a description of each chemical or biological agent
        tested; and
          (D) the Secretary's certification that informed consent to
        the testing was obtained from each human subject in advance of
        the testing on that subject.



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