50 USC 3373b - Unidentified anomalous phenomena reporting procedures

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 3373b.

Unidentified anomalous phenomena reporting procedures

(a)

Mechanism for authorized reporting

(1)

Establishment

The Secretary of Defense, acting through the head of the Office and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall establish a secure mechanism for authorized reporting of—

(A)

any event relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena; and

(B)

any activity or program by a department or agency of the Federal Government or a contractor of such a department or agency relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, including with respect to material retrieval, material analysis, reverse engineering, research and development, detection and tracking, developmental or operational testing, and security protections and enforcement.

(2)

Protection of systems, programs, and activity

(3)

Administration

(4)

Sharing of information

(A)

Prompt sharing within Office

(B)

Congressional notification

(5)

Initial report and publication

Not later than 180 days after December 23, 2022, the Secretary, acting through the head of the Office and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall—

(A)

submit to the congressional defense committees, the congressional intelligence committees, and the congressional leadership a report detailing the mechanism for authorized reporting established under paragraph (1); and

(B)

issue clear public guidance for how to securely access the mechanism for authorized reporting.

(b)

Protection for individuals making authorized disclosures

(1)

Authorized disclosures

An authorized disclosure—

(A)

shall not be subject to a nondisclosure agreement entered into by the individual who makes the disclosure;

(B)

shall be deemed to comply with any regulation or order issued under the authority of Executive Order 13526 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note; relating to classified national security information) or chapter 18 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2271 et seq.); and

(C)

is not a violation of section 798 of title 18 or other provision of law relating to the disclosure of information.

(2)

Prohibition on reprisals

(A)

Protection

(B)

Procedures

(3)

Nondisclosure agreements

(A)

Identification

(B)

Submission to Congress

The head of the Office shall—

(i)

make the records compiled under subparagraph (A) accessible to the congressional defense committees, the congressional intelligence committees, and the congressional leadership; and

(ii)

not later than September 30, 2023, and at least once each fiscal year thereafter through fiscal year 2026, provide to such committees and congressional leadership briefings and reports on such records.

(c)

Omitted

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term “authorized disclosure” means a report of any information through, and in compliance with, the mechanism for authorized reporting established pursuant to subsection (a)(1).

(2)

The term “congressional intelligence committees” has the meaning given such term in section 3003 of this title.

(3)

The term “congressional leadership” means—

(A)

the majority leader of the Senate;

(B)

the minority leader of the Senate;

(C)

the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(D)

the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

(4)

The term “intelligence community” has the meaning given such term in section 3003 of this title.

(5)

The term “nondisclosure agreement” means any written or oral nondisclosure agreement, order, or other instrumentality or means entered into by an individual that could be interpreted as a legal constraint on the individual making an authorized disclosure.

(6)

The term “Office” means the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office established pursuant to section 3373(a) of this title.

(7)

The term “personnel action” has the meaning given such term in section 3234(a) of this title.

(8)

The term “unidentified anomalous phenomena” has the meaning given such term in section 3373(n) of this title.

(Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title XVI, § 1673, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2959.)

cite as: 50 USC 3373b