republic-os/legal/us/code/title-42/chapter-23/section-2011.md

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LegalText	42 U.S.C. § 2011	Congressional declaration of policy	us	united_states_code	code_section	42	THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE	23	DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY	2011	42 U.S.C. § 2011	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t42/s2011	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml	eeac33274b1620b914c709fafaf67edac91922f6b917550a4ee7ab0bfedee268	644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e	2e29d3f220e61ead47ae2f5d824ac4a54196dc7fe75a1567e9355a831704b02d	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

42 U.S.C. § 2011 - Congressional declaration of policy

Text

Atomic energy is capable of application for peaceful as well as military purposes. It is therefore declared to be the policy of the United States that—

(a) the development, use, and control of atomic energy shall be directed so as to make the maximum contribution to the general welfare, subject at all times to the paramount objective of making the maximum contribution to the common defense and security; and

(b) the development, use, and control of atomic energy shall be directed so as to promote world peace, improve the general welfare, increase the standard of living, and strengthen free competition in private enterprise.

(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 1, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 921; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsA prior section 1 of act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, 60 Stat. 755, which related to declaration of policy and purpose of former chapter 14 of this title, was classified to section 1801 of this title, prior to the general amendment and renumbering of act Aug. 1, 1946, by act Aug. 30, 1954.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 2024 AmendmentPub. L. 118–67, div. B, § 1(a), July 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 1448, provided that: “This division [enacting sections 2155b, 2201b, and 10109 of this title, amending sections 2014, 2133, 2134, 2215, 2231, 2235, 5843, and 16274a of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 2073, 2077, 2133, 2155, 2201, 2201b, 2215, 2235, and 16281 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 2133 and 2215 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024’ or the ‘ADVANCE Act of 2024’.” Pub. L. 118–62, § 1, May 13, 2024, 138 Stat. 1022, provided that: “This Act [amending section 2297h–10a of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2297h–10a of this title] may be cited as the ‘Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act’.”

Short Title of 2022 AmendmentPub. L. 117–139, § 1, June 7, 2022, 136 Stat. 1258, provided that: “This Act [amending provisions set out as a note under section 2210 of this title] may be cited as the ‘RECA Extension Act of 2022’.”

Short Title of 2019 AmendmentPub. L. 115–439, § 1(a), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5565, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 2215 of this title, amending sections 2134 and 2214 of this title, repealing section 2214 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2133, 2134, 2214, and 2215 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act’.”

Short Title of 2015 AmendmentPub. L. 114–17, § 1, May 22, 2015, 129 Stat. 201, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 2160e of this title] may be cited as the ‘Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015’.”

Short Title of 2013 AmendmentPub. L. 112–239, div. C, title XXXI, § 3171, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2211, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle F (§§ 3171–3178) of title XXXI of div. C of Pub. L. 112–239, enacting sections 2065 and 2142 of this title, amending section 2160d of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 2065 of this title] may be cited as the ‘American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2012’.”

Short Title of 2005 AmendmentPub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 601, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 779, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 601–610) of title VI of Pub. L. 109–58, amending sections 2210 and 2282a of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2210 and 2282a of this title] may be cited as the ‘Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2005’.”

Short Title of 2000 AmendmentPub. L. 106–245, § 1, July 10, 2000, 114 Stat. 501, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 285a–9 of this title and enacting and amending provisions set out as notes under section 2210 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2000’.”

Short Title of 1996 AmendmentPub. L. 104–134, title III, § 3101, Apr. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 1321–335, provided that: “This subchapter [subch. A (§§ 3101–3117) of ch. 1 of title III of Pub. L. 104–134, enacting sections 2297h to 2297h–13 of this title, amending sections 2014, 2239, 2243, 2282, 2296b–7, 2297f, and 2297f–1 of this title and section 9101 of Title 31, Money and Finance, repealing sections 2297 to 2297e–7 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 2297 of this title and section 9101 of Title 31] may be cited as the ‘USEC Privatization Act’.”

Short Title of 1988 AmendmentPub. L. 100–408, § 1, Aug. 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 1066, provided that: “This Act [enacting section 2282a of this title, amending sections 2014, 2210, and 2273 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2014 and 2210 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1988’.”

Short Title of 1964 AmendmentPub. L. 88–489, § 21, Aug. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 607, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 2012, 2013, 2073 to 2078, 2135, 2153, 2201, 2221, 2233, and 2234 of this title, repealing section 2072 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2012 and 2072 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Private Ownership of Special Nuclear Materials Act’.”

Short Title of 1958 AmendmentPub. L. 85–846, § 1, Aug. 28, 1958, 72 Stat. 1084, provided: “That this Act [enacting sections 2291 to 2296 of this title] may be cited as the ‘EURATOM Cooperation Act of 1958’.”

Short TitleAct Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 291, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 960; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 190j and 622 of Title 2, The Congress, and repealing sections 2251 to 2257 and 2315 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Atomic Energy Act of 1954’.”

Savings ClausePub. L. 118–67, div. B, title VI, § 603, July 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 1482, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [probably means “this division”, see Short Title of 2024 Amendment note above] affects authorities of the Department of State.”

SeparabilityAct Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 281, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, § 1; renumbered title I, Oct. 24, 1992, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), 106 Stat. 2944, provided that: “If any provision of this Act [see Short Title note above] or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.”

Transfer of Functions Atomic Energy Commission abolished and functions transferred by sections 5814 and 5841 of this title. See also Transfer of Functions notes set out under those sections.

Definitions Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, § 2, July 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 1449, provided that: “In this division [see Short Title of 2024 Amendment note above]: “(1) Accident tolerant fuel.—The term ‘accident tolerant fuel’ has the meaning given the term in section 107(a) of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (Public Law 115–439; 132 Stat. 5577). “(2) Administrator.—The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. “(3) Advanced nuclear fuel.—The term ‘advanced nuclear fuel’ means—“(A) advanced nuclear reactor fuel; and “(B) accident tolerant fuel. “(4) Advanced nuclear reactor.—The term ‘advanced nuclear reactor’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note; Public Law 115–439). “(5) Advanced nuclear reactor fuel.—The term ‘advanced nuclear reactor fuel’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note; Public Law 115–439). “(6) Appropriate committees of Congress.—The term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means—“(A) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate; and “(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. “(7) Commission.—The term ‘Commission’ means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. “(8) Institution of higher education.—The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). “(9) National laboratory.—The term ‘National Laboratory’ has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).”