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OCR Page 1 of 7COMMENTS ON FROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
ATOMIC ENERGY ACT
to
Companion bills to anend the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 introduced on
July 7 by Senator Mellahon in the Senate (s. 2215) and Representative Durhsm
in the House (H.R. 5534) contain the following provision:
"Any other provision in this Act to the contrary not-
withstanding, the authorization of Congress shall be required
with respect to the programs set forth in the annual Atomic
Energy Commission budget and with respect to the total amount
of money and contract authorization annually requested (includ-
ing deficiency budget requests as they may arise) before the
appropriation of any funds for the Commission's use shall be
authorized. For purposes of this section, the word 'progran'
shall mean any general or substantiel activity, project, or
operation undertaken or to be undertaken in accordance with the
provisions of this Act."
This provision appears to require the authorization of Congress,
before the appropriation of any funds for the Commission's use may be
made, with respect to:
(1) The programs (as defined in the bill) set forth in the annual
Atomic Energy Commission budget, and
(2) The total amount of money and contract authorization
annually requested (including deficieney budget requests
as they may arise).
Since the passage of the Atomic Energy Act about three years ago,
the basic continuing authority for the atomic energy program has been in
the Act itself. The Commission has gone to Congress annually for the
appropriation to carry out the authorisations contained in the Act. The
proposed legislation would, in addition, require an annual congressional
approval of the Commission's programs.
When the MeMahon Act was passed, the Congress recognized the unpre-
cedented, unpredictable, and complex character of the atomic energy program
and, accordingly, gave the Executive Branch of the Government broad
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