---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2259"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2259"
heading: "Information and assistance to Congressional committees"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2259"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Development and Control of Atomic Energy"
  - "Division A — Atomic Energy"
  - "Subchapter XVI — Joint Committee on Atomic Energy"
---

# §2259. Information and assistance to Congressional committees

- (a) **Secretary of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) shall keep the committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives which, under the rules of the Senate and the House, have jurisdiction over the functions of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) or the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f), fully and currently informed with respect to the activities of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) and the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f).
- (b) **Department of Defense and Department of State—** The Department of Defense and Department of State shall keep the committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives which, under the rules of the Senate and the House, have jurisdiction over national security considerations of nuclear energy, fully and currently informed with respect to such matters within the Department of Defense and Department of State relating to national security considerations of nuclear technology which are within the jurisdiction of such committees.
- (c) **Government agencies—** Any [Government agency](/usc/42/2014.md?p=l) shall furnish any information requested by the committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives which, under the rules of the Senate and the House, have jurisdiction over the development, utilization, or application of nuclear energy, with respect to the activities or responsibilities of such [agency](/usc/42/2231.md?p=a) in the field of nuclear energy which are within the jurisdiction of such committees.
- (d) **Utilization of services, facilities, and personnel of Government agencies; reimbursement; prior written consent—** The committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives which, under the rules of the Senate and the House, have jurisdiction over the development, utilization, or application of nuclear energy, are authorized to utilize the services, information, facilities, and personnel of any [Government agency](/usc/42/2014.md?p=l) which has activities or responsibilities in the field of nuclear energy which are within the jurisdiction of such committees: Provided, however, That any utilization of personnel by such committees shall be on a reimbursable basis and shall require, with respect to committees of the Senate, the prior written consent of the Committee on Rules and Administration, and with respect to committees of the House of Representatives, the prior written consent of the Committee on House Oversight.

## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 303, as added Pub. L. 95–110, § 1, Sept. 20, 1977, 91 Stat. 884; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944; amended Pub. L. 104–186, title II, § 222(1), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1751.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–186 substituted “House Oversight” for “House Administration”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain functions from Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Chairman thereof, see Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1980, 45 F.R. 40561, 94 Stat. 3585, set out as a note under section 5841 of this title.