---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6156"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6156"
heading: "Acceleration of replacement of cesium blood irradiation sources"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6156"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 603 — Proliferation Matters"
---

# §6156. Acceleration of replacement of cesium blood irradiation sources

- (a) **Goal.—** The [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall ensure that the goal of the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) is eliminating the use of blood irradiation devices in the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) that rely on cesium chloride by December 31, 2027.
- (b) **Implementation.—** To meet the goal specified by [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall carry out the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) in a manner that—
  - (1) is voluntary for owners of blood irradiation devices;
  - (2) allows for the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1), subject to the review of the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3), to [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) up to 50 percent of the per-device cost of replacing blood irradiation devices covered by the [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1);
  - (3) allows for the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) to [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) up to 100 percent of the cost of removing and disposing of cesium sources retired from service by the [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1); and
  - (4) replaces such devices with x-ray irradiation devices or other devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration that provide significant threat reduction as compared to cesium chloride irradiators.
- (c) **Duration.—** The [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall carry out the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) until December 31, 2027.
- (d) **Report.—** Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232), the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall submit to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/10/301.md?p=1) a report on the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), including—
  - (1) identification of each cesium chloride blood irradiation device in the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1), including the number, general location, and user type;
  - (2) a plan for achieving the goal established by [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (3) a methodology for prioritizing replacement of such devices that takes into account irradiator age and prior material security initiatives;
  - (4) in consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Food and Drug Administration, a strategy identifying any legislative, regulatory, or other measures necessary to constrain the introduction of new cesium chloride blood irradiation devices;
  - (5) identification of the annual funds required to meet the goal established by [subsection (a)](#a); and
  - (6) a description of the [disposal](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) path for cesium chloride sources under the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
- (e) **Assessment.—** The [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall submit an assessment to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/10/301.md?p=1) by September 20, 2023, of the results of the actions on the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) under this section, including—
  - (1) the number of replacement irradiators under the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1);
  - (2) the life-cycle costs of the [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), including personnel [training](/usc/10/301.md?p=9), maintenance, and replacement costs for new irradiation devices;
  - (3) the cost-effectiveness of the covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1);
  - (4) an analysis of the effectiveness of the new irradiation devices’ technology; and
  - (5) a forecast of whether the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) will meet the goal established in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (f) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) The term “[appropriate congressional committees](/usc/10/301.md?p=1)” means—
    - (A) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
    - (B) the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
  - (2) The term “covered [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1)” means the following [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the Office of Radiological Security of the National Nuclear Security Administration:
    - (A) The Cesium Irradiator Replacement [Program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
    - (B) The Off-Site Source Recovery [Program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2)(A), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1380, 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The date of the enactment of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, referred to in subsec. (d), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 115–232, which was approved Aug. 13, 2018.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6156 was renumbered section 8267 of this title.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 3141 of Pub. L. 115–232, which was set out as a note under section 2569 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(15).

### Amendments

2025—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(A), struck out pars. (1) and (2) headings which corresponded to the defined term in each par.