In the event of a difficulty at a national security laboratory or a nuclear weapons production facility that has a significant bearing on confidence in the safety or reliability of a nuclear weapon or nuclear weapon type, the head of the laboratory or facility, as the case may be, shall submit to the Administrator a report on the difficulty. The head of the laboratory or facility shall submit the report as soon as practicable after discovery of the difficulty.

Not later than 10 days after receipt of a report under subsection (a), the Administrator shall transmit the report (together with the comments of the Administrator) to the congressional defense committees, to the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Defense, and to the President.

Any report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall also be submitted to the President and Congress with the matters required to be submitted under section 2525(f) of this title for the year in which such report is submitted.

(Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLII, § 4213, formerly Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXI, § 3159, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2842, § 4218(b), (c), formerly Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title XIII, § 1305(c), (d), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1954; Pub. L. 106–65, div. C, title XXXI, § 3163(f), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 946; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLII, § 4213, by Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(e)(14), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1760; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLII, § 4218(c), (d), and amended Pub. L. 112–239, div. C, title XXXI, §§ 3131(f)(1), 3164(a)(3), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2181, 2206; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLII, § 4218(b), (c), and amended Pub. L. 113–66, div. C, title XXXI, § 3146(c)(7), (10)(B), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1074, 1075.)