PROHIBITION ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-YIELD NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

SEC. 3136. PROHIBITION ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-YIELD NUCLEAR WEAPONS.42 USC 2121 note. (a) United States Policy.—It shall be the policy of the United States not to conduct research and development which could lead to the production by the United States of a new low-yield nuclear weapon, including a precision low-yield warhead. (b) Limitation.—The Secretary of Energy may not conduct, or provide for the conduct of, research and development which could lead to the production by the United States of a low-yield nuclear weapon which, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, has not entered production. (c) Effect on Other Research and Development.—Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary of Energy from conducting, or providing for the conduct of, research and development necessary— (1) to design a testing device that has a yield of less than five kilotons; (2) to modify an existing weapon for the purpose of addressing safety and reliability concerns; or (3) to address proliferation concerns. (c) Definition.—In this section, the term “low-yield nuclear weapon” means a nuclear weapon that has a yield of less than five kilotons.