INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY REGULAR BUDGET ASSESSMENTS AND VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

SEC. 1305. INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY REGULAR BUDGET ASSESSMENTS AND VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. (a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Department has concluded that the International Atomic Energy Agency (in this section referred to as the “IAEA”) is a critical and effective instrument for verifying compliance with international nuclear nonproliferation agreements, and that it serves as an essential barrier to the spread of nuclear weapons. (2) The IAEA furthers United States national security objectives by helping to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons material, especially through its work on effective verification and safeguards measures. (3) The IAEA can also perform a critical role in monitoring and verifying aspects of nuclear weapons reduction agreements between nuclear weapons states. (4) The IAEA has adopted a multifaceted action plan, to be funded by voluntary contributions, to address the threats posed by radioactive sources that could be used in a radiological weapon and will be the leading international agency in this effort. (5) As the IAEA has negotiated and developed more effective verification and safeguards measures, it has experienced significant real growth in its mission, especially in the vital area of nuclear safeguards inspections. (6) Nearly two decades of zero budget growth have affected the ability of the IAEA to carry out its mission and to hire and retain the most qualified inspectors and managers, as evidenced in the decreasing proportion of such personnel who hold doctorate degrees. (7) Increased voluntary contributions by the United States will be needed if the IAEA is to increase its safeguards activities and also to implement its action plan to address the worldwide risks posed by lost or poorly secured radioactive sources. (8) Although voluntary contributions by the United States lessen the IAEA’s budgetary constraints, they cannot readily be used for the long-term capital investments or permanent staff increases necessary to an effective IAEA safeguards regime. 116 STAT. 1438 (9) The recent United States decision to accept a 25 percent IAEA regular budget assessment was based upon a correct interpretation of existing law. It was not the intent of Congress that the United States contributions to all United Nations-related organizations and activities be reduced pursuant to the Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 (as enacted into law by section 1000(a)(7) of Public Law 106-113; 113 Stat. 1501A-405 et seq.), which sets 22 percent assessment rates as benchmarks for the general United Nations budget, the Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Health Organization, and the International Labor Organization. Rather, contributions for an important and effective agency such as the IAEA should be maintained at levels commensurate with the criticality of its mission. (10) The Secretary should negotiate a gradual and sustained increase in the regular budget of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which should begin with the 2004 budget. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.—Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs there is authorized to be appropriated $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2003 for a United States voluntary contribution to the International Atomic Energy Agency, including for the purpose of implementing the Protection Against Nuclear Terrorism program adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors in March 2002.