Immediately following the War's end, U.S. nuclear weapon production came to a stand still until it was decided that atomic energy should be pursued as an important weapon to have in reserve. In December of 1945, Freshman Democratic Senator Brien McMahon proposed a bill to create a commission that would oversee future atomic energy endeavors. His bill created five head commissioners and gave them complete control over nuclear rearmament. There was no military presence included in the bill, which upset General Leslie Groves who thought that the military should be part of the commission. Because of his concerns the bill underwent revision until it was finally passed on June 1, 1946; the House approved it on July 20 and President Truman signed this "McMahon Act" on August 1, 1946, kick-starting another wave of nuclear power production.

References

Intro to the Bill

Bill Passed