U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 25, 2024
§ 2652c.
Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance
(a)
Designation of position

The Secretary of State shall designate one of the Assistant Secretaries of State authorized by section 2651a(c)(1) of this title as the Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance. The Assistant Secretary shall report to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

(b)
Directive governing the Assistant Secretary of State
(1)
In general

Not later than 30 days after November 29, 1999, the Secretary of State shall issue a directive governing the position of the Assistant Secretary.

(2)
Elements of the directive
The directive issued under paragraph (1) shall set forth, consistent with this section—
(A)
the duties of the Assistant Secretary;
(B)
the relationships between the Assistant Secretary and other officials of the Department of State;
(C)
any delegation of authority from the Secretary of State to the Assistant Secretary; and
(D)
such matters as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(c)
Duties
(1)
In general

The Assistant Secretary shall have as his principal responsibility the overall supervision (including oversight of policy and resources) within the Department of State of all matters relating to verification and compliance with international arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements or commitments.

(2)
Participation of the Assistant Secretary
(A)
Primary role

Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Assistant Secretary, or his designee, shall participate in all interagency groups or organizations within the executive branch of Government that assess, analyze, or review United States planned or ongoing policies, programs, or actions that have a direct bearing on verification or compliance matters, including interagency intelligence committees concerned with the development or exploitation of measurement or signals intelligence or other national technical means of verification.

(B)
Requirement for designation

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to groups or organizations on which the Secretary of State or the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security sits, unless such official designates the Assistant Secretary to attend in his stead.

(C)
National security limitation
(i)
Waiver by President

The President may waive the provisions of subparagraph (A) if inclusion of the Assistant Secretary would not be in the national security interests of the United States.

(ii)
Waiver by others

With respect to an interagency group or organization, or meeting thereof, working with exceptionally sensitive information contained in compartments under the control of the Director of Central Intelligence, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of Energy, such Director or Secretary, as the case may be, may waive the provision of subparagraph (A) if inclusion of the Assistant Secretary would not be in the national security interests of the United States.

(iii)
Transmission of waiver to Congress

Any waiver of participation under clause (i) or (ii) shall be transmitted in writing to the appropriate committees of Congress.

(3)
Relationship to the intelligence community

The Assistant Secretary shall be the principal policy community representative to the intelligence community on verification and compliance matters.

(4)
Reporting responsibilities
The Assistant Secretary shall have responsibility within the Department of State for—
(A)
all reports required pursuant to section 2577 of this title;
(B)
so much of the report required under paragraphs (4) through (6) of section 2593a(a) of this title as relates to verification or compliance matters;
(C)
so much of the reports required under section 8003 of this title as relates to verification or compliance matters; and
(D)
other reports being prepared by the Department of State as of November 29, 1999, relating to arms control, nonproliferation, or disarmament verification or compliance matters.
(
cite as: 22 USC 2652c