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Science and Technology: A Foundation for Homeland Security
"Science and Technology: A Foundation for Homeland Security details the numerous accomplishments of science and technology that have helped to secure the homeland. This document builds upon the National Strategy for Homeland Security, released by the President on July 16, 2002, which set forth a sound framework to reduce America's vulnerability and to respond with improved agility and effectiveness to future terrorist attacks. Some key accomplishments highlighted in the document include: [1] Bolstering border security through the development and deployment of nuclear detection equipment along the U.S. border, airports, and seaports to detect, deter, and ultimately prevent the trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials. [2] Providing an early warning system for bio-threats through Project BioWatch, a cooperative effort among the Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Laboratory Response Network. [3] Speeding development and procurement of new medical countermeasures against current and future chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorist threats through Project BioShield, an initiative signed into law by the President in July 2004."
United States. Office of Science and Technology Policy
2005-04
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Project BioShield Act: Issues for the 113th Congress [June 18, 2014]
"In 2004, Congress passed the Project BioShield Act (P.L. 108-276) to provide the federal government with new authorities related to the development, procurement, and use of medical countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism agents. However, the government still lacks countermeasures against many of the CBRN terrorism agents determined by the government to pose the greatest threat. Congress is likely to consider whether modifications of these authorities or new authorities would help address remaining gaps. The authority generally referred to as Project BioShield allows the government to guarantee a market for CBRN medical countermeasures. Under this provision, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) may obligate funds to purchase countermeasures that still need up to 10 more years of development. Since 2004, HHS has obligated approximately $3.309 billion to guarantee a government market for countermeasures against anthrax, smallpox, botulism, radiation, and nerve agents."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gottron, Frank
2014-06-18
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Serial No. 114-117: Outbreaks, Attacks, and Accidents: Combating Biological Threats, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, February 12, 2016
This is the February 12, 2016 hearing on "Outbreaks, Attacks, and Accidents: Combating Biological Threats," held before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. From the opening statement of Tim Murphy: "Today the biological threats confronting the U.S. generally fall into three distinct categories: one, a naturally occurring; two, accidental incidents; and, three, intentional acts which are often associated with acts of terrorism. We must be ready to guard against and respond to each of these threats appropriately." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Donna Shalala, James Greenwood, Tara O'Toole, and Gerald W. Parker.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2017
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Scientists Urge DHS to Improve Bioterrorism Risk Assessment
"In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) completed its first Bioterrorism Risk Assessment (BTRA), intended to be the foundation for DHS's subsequent biennial risk assessments mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 10 (HSPD-10). At the request of DHS, the National Research Council established the Committee on Methodological Improvements to the Department of Homeland Security's Biological Agent Risk Analysis to provide an independent, scientific peer review of the BTRA. The Committee found a number of shortcomings in the BTRA, including a failure to consider terrorists as intelligent adversaries in their models, unnecessary complexity in threat and consequence modeling and simulations, and a lack of focus on risk management. The Committee unanimously concluded that an improved BTRA is needed to provide a more credible foundation for risk-informed decision making."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Parnell, Gregory S.; Borio, Luciana; Brown, Gerald . . .
2008
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Homeland Security Information Network-Intelligence (HSIN-Intel) Partner Products Fact Sheet
This fact sheet describes the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) and how it is used nationwide with other government organizations. The following is from the overview: " HSIN is made up of a growing network of sites, called Communities of Interest (COI). COIs are organized by state organizations, federal organizations, or mission areas, such as emergency management, law enforcement, critical sectors, and intelligence. Users can securely share information and products within their communities or with other communities as needed. HSIN provides secure, real-time collaboration tools, including a virtual meeting space, instant messaging, and document sharing. HSIN also allows partners to work together instantly, regardless of their location, to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate. HSIN-Intel is a COI focused on supporting the collaboration of fusion centers within the National Network of Fusion Centers, including the sharing of products and information. It is the primary vehicle for fusion centers and other key stakeholders to share sensitive but unclassified information. HSIN-Intel is a chartered and vetted community of intelligence analysts from the homeland security, intelligence, and law enforcement communities at all levels of government who share homeland security-related information and analyses on a daily basis in order to address threats to the homeland. In order to make HSIN-Intel even more robust and user-friendly, a new section was created--called Partner Products-- that allows users to easily find and access valuable products and resources, including analytic products, situational awareness products, guidebooks, and other critical resources, many of which were previously unavailable. The lists on the following pages include current resources available on the Partner Products Web pages."
United States. Office of Homeland Security
2014
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Developing an Integrated Graduate Program in Security Studies at the Small College Level
This presentation is from track one of the 4th Annual Homeland Defense and Security Education Summit held on February 24 and 25, 2010 in Washington D.C. This presentation provides information regarding: "The Master of Arts in Security and Policy Studies at Notre Dame College is a unique program that seeks to develop public and private professionals transitioning from tactical leaders to strategic analysts, planners, managers and decision-makers."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Moore, Gregory
2010-02-24
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2356: WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2012
"CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that H.R. 2356 [House Resolution 2356] would authorize the appropriation of $394 million over the 2013-2017 period for programs in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and other agencies to address the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 2356 would cost $342 million over the 2013-2017 period. The bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. H.R. 2356 would impose intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) by requiring public and private laboratories to comply with new security standards. Because the number of entities affected, the types of toxins and biologic agents covered, and the nature of security measures required would depend on future regulatory actions, CBO cannot estimate the costs of the mandates or whether they would exceed the annual thresholds for intergovernmental or private-sector mandates ($73 million and $146 million in 2012, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation)."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2012-06-07
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Intersectoral and International Cooperation on Combating Bioterrorism: Remarks of Marc L. Ostfield at NATO Conference on Elements of Combating WMD Terrorism, September 14, 2005
"It is a pleasure to be at this NATO conference with its explicit emphasis on international and intersectoral cooperation. U.S. efforts to combat WMD terrorism are inherently international in scope. Defeating terrorist organizations, preventing terrorist use of WMD, and enabling effective response and mitigation all require sustained, steadfast, and systematic international partnership. The trend away from centralized planning of terrorist activities and towards inspiration of local groups to commit acts of terror makes even more crucial the need for deeper international cooperation to defeat emerging violent extremist groups. The United States and its partners must intensify current efforts to bolster the political will and the intelligence, law enforcement, financial, health, agriculture, scientific, and military capabilities of partner nations to combat terrorism on their own or in partnership with us. No single country can successfully deal with WMD terrorism all on its own, but together we will prevail."
United States. Department of State
2005-09-14
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Emergency Department Preparedness for Bioterrorism [presentation]
This presentation from the Annual Conference of the Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA) Solutions Summit XI, discusses issues and scenarios related to bioterrorism and preparedness for emergency departments.
United States. Department of Homeland Security
Runge, Jeffrey William, 1955-
2008-05-16
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S. Hrg. 115-603: Safeguarding American Agriculture in a Globalized World, Hearing Before the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, December 13, 2017
This is the December 13, 2017 hearing on "Safeguarding American Agriculture in a Globalized World" held before the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate. From the opening statement of Pat Roberts: "I welcome my colleagues and the witnesses before us today as we hear about an issue I have long felt is of the utmost importance not only to farmers, ranchers, and the agriculture value chain, but also to consumers, the American economy, and the safety of our country. Agriculture security is a broad-reaching issue. It involves many Government agencies beyond the Department of Agriculture. In 1999, as Chairman of the newly formed Emerging Threats Sub-committee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I became aware of the threat our Nation faced against intentionally introduced pathogens to be weaponized and aimed at destroying plant and animal populations." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Joseph I. Lieberman, Richard B. Myers, Raymond Hammerschmidt, and R.D. Meckes.
United States. Congress. House
2019
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COVID 19: FEMA's Role in the Response and Related Challenges, Statement of Chris P. Currie, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability, and the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives
From the GAO [Government Accountability Office] Highlights: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic shows how biological threats have the potential to cause loss of life and sustained damage to the economy, societal stability, and global security. During the pandemic, 57 major disaster declarations were simultaneously issued for all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories--the first time in history this has occurred. FEMA had obligated about $5.8 billion for the response as of May 31, 2020. This statement addresses (1) FEMA's role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to acquire and distribute critical medical supplies, as well as (2) potential challenges for this and other biological incident responses. This statement is based on products GAO issued from August 2003 to June 2020, as well as ongoing efforts to monitor contract obligations. For these products, GAO reviewed relevant presidential directives, statutes, regulations, policies, strategic plans, other reports, as well as federal procurement data; and interviewed federal and state officials, among others. GAO provided a copy of new contract obligation information in this statement to the Department of Homeland Security for review."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Currie, Chris P.
2020-07-14
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Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response: Issues in the 110th Congress [February 8, 2007]
"The nation's systems to detect and respond to public health threats such as bioterrorism gained renewed interest following the 2001 terrorist attacks. Federal authorities enacted in comprehensive public health preparedness legislation in 2002 were reauthorized in the 109th Congress, building upon lessons learned from flaws in the response to Hurricane Katrina and growing concerns about a flu pandemic. The 109th Congress also completed a statutory reorganization of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The 110th Congress is likely to study the implementation of these two laws, and to remain interested in other issues in public health and medical preparedness and response."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lister, Sarah A.
2007-02-08
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Homeland Security Research and Development: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress [Updated January 22, 2019]
"In the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T) has primary responsibility for establishing, administering, and coordinating research and development (R&D) activities. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is responsible for R&D relating to nuclear and radiological threats. Several other DHS components, such as the Coast Guard, also fund R&D and R&D-related activities associated with their missions. The Common Appropriations Structure that DHS introduced in its FY2017 budget includes an account titled Research and Development in seven different DHS components. Issues for DHS R&D in the 116th Congress may include coordination, organization, and impact."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morgan, Daniel (Daniel L.)
2019-01-22
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Homeland Security Research and Development: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress [Updated June 21, 2019]
From the Overview: "In the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T) has primary responsibility for establishing, administering, and coordinating research and development (R&D) activities. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is responsible for R&D relating to nuclear and radiological threats. Several other DHS components, such as the Coast Guard, also fund R&D and R&D-related activities associated with their missions. The Common Appropriations Structure that DHS introduced in its FY2017 budget includes an account titled Research and Development in seven different DHS components. Issues for DHS R&D in the 116th Congress may include coordination, organization, and impact."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morgan, Daniel (Daniel L.)
2019-06-21
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H.R. 2356, the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2011, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies and the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, June 23, 2011
From the opening statement of Daniel E. Lungren: "It is now 21⁄2 years since the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction [WMD] Proliferation and Terrorism issued its report entitled, 'World at Risk.' Congress had asked the commission to recommend ways to prevent proliferation of WMDs and their use in acts of terrorism. Commissioners provided their guidance, and we are close to enacting their recommendations and eliminating the remaining gaps in our preparedness posture. The prediction of the commission that it is more likely than not that there will be a weapon of mass destruction used somewhere on Earth by a terrorist group before the end of the year 2013, is a startling reminder of the danger that we face as a Nation. Weapons of mass destruction create a risk of catastrophic consequence, but they are of low probability. In such circumstances, perhaps it is not surprising that complacency and inactivity are our biggest vulnerabilities. We cannot forget that we have already faced biological terrorism on our soil. Al-Qaeda is a dedicated and, in their minds, religiously inspired enemy who would use weapons of mass destruction to attack the United States whenever the opportunity presents itself. According to recent reports, Iran may be as close to 2 months away from producing a viable nuclear weapon. We cannot allow the emergence of a nuclear Iran, and we must continue our non-proliferation efforts to prevent that possibility. Our intelligence agencies continue to warn of these threats." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Daniel E. Lungren, Yvette D. Clark, Gus M. Bilirakis, Laura Richardson, Bennie G. Thompson, William J. Pascrell, Jr., Jim Talent, Robert P. Kadlec, and Richard H. Berdnik.
United States. Government Printing Office
2012
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Worldwide Emerging Environmental Issues Affecting the U.S. Military: August 2006 Report
This report covers issues of relevance involving environmental threats and security issues affecting the U.S. Army. This issue details tie-ins relating water issues to ongoing conflicts, UN conflict prevention strategies, and new techniques in bio/chemical detection.
U.S. Army Environmental Policy Institute
2006-08
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First Responders Group International Activities: Leveraging International Partnerships to Advance Public Safety
From the Document: "The First Responders Group (FRG) collaborates with the international public safety research and development community, including industry, through various activities, all closely coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) International Cooperative Programs Office (ICPO). FRG's carefully developed international research agreements help share resources and costs for research and product development, help build the American safety industrial base and most importantly assure that first responders have the best possible equipment to operate safely and efficiently to protect lives and property."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Science and Technology Directorate
2017-07-11
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NPS/CHDS News Digest - October 26 [2015]
This brief newsletter, provided by the Naval Postgraduate School's Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS), highlights some of the notable news stories regarding the CHDS, its current students, staff, and alumni for the week of October 26, 2015.
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
2015-10-26
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LLIS Lesson Learned: Infectious Disease Outbreaks: Creating Hospital Staffing Surge Plans. February-July 2003
"Between February and July 2003, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) caused 812 deaths and affected people in 29 countries. Processes for containing the disease also produced significant consequences for individuals employed in the healthcare system. In Canada, approximately 40 percent of all probable SARS cases and quarantined individuals were healthcare workers. The Canadian government placed quarantine restrictions on at least 10 medical facilities, which subsequently depleted the supply of medical professionals available to support response operations. At the time of the outbreak, part-time staff filled approximately 44 percent of the nursing positions in the Toronto metropolitan area. Many of these part-time nurses worked in multiple medical facilities and were therefore simultaneously included in staffing surge plans at several hospitals. As facilities were quarantined, the staff members, including part-time nurses, were placed into working quarantine, which restricted their place of work to a single medical facility. This restriction to one facility significantly reduced the floating resource pool of part-time nurses. To fill the staffing shortfall, some hospitals offered double or triple pay to nurses who were not already under quarantine orders at another facility. This strategy allowed some hospitals to meet their short-term staffing needs but left others without a sufficient staff to support the region's medical response. After the outbreak, hospital officials recommended that all healthcare facility administrators create contingency plans for ensuring a staffing surge even if the face of a depleted pool of part-time nurses."
Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS)
2006-05-08
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2010 National Vaccine Plan: Appendix 5: Stakeholders in the United States National Vaccine System
The 2010 National Vaccine Plan (NVP) provides strategic direction for the U.S. vaccine and immunization enterprise for the next decade. It articulates a comprehensive strategy to enhance all aspects of vaccines and vaccination. This appendix provides information on relevant stakeholders in the United States national vaccine system.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2011-02
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Serial No. 114-52: Improving the Department of Homeland Security's Biological Detection and Surveillance Programs, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, February 11, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the February 11, 2016 hearing, "Improving the Department of Homeland Security's Biological Detection and Surveillance Programs" before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security. In her opening statement, chairwoman Martha McSally stated that the purpose of meeting is to improve DHS's detection and surveillance programs to address bioterrorism threats, and that it should be a top national security priority to "mitigate the impacts of all types of biological events." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kathryn Brinsfield, Reginald Brothers, and Chris P. Currie.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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Biological Terrorism General Guidance (Pocket Guide)
Produced by the Employee Education System for the Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards, Department of Veterans Affairs. The information in this card is not meant to be
complete but to be a quick guide. Contains information on diagnosis, confirmation and technical support, decontamination considerations, and institutional reporting, as well as specifics regarding potential biological warfare agents.
United States. Department of Defense
2002-04-23
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Smallpox: Clinical and Epidemiologic Features
Smallpox is rated among the most dangerous of all potential biological weapons, with farreaching ramifications. This paper discusses the potential for smallpox as a biological weapon, explains the distinction between smallpox and chicken pox, and also, and describes the risks and challenges associated with vaccination.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Henderson, D. A.
1997
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President Bush Signs Project Bioshield Act of 2004: Remarks by the President at the Signing of S.15-Project Bioshield Act of 2004: The Rose Garden
This document is the remarks by President Bush at the signing of S.15 - Project Bioshield Act of 2004. "By authorizing unprecedented funding and providing new capabilities, Project BioShield will help America purchase, develop and deploy cutting-edge defenses against catastrophic attack. This legislation represents the collective foresight and considered judgment of United States senators and members of the House of Representatives from both political parties -- many of whom experienced bioterror firsthand when anthrax and ricin were found on Capitol Hill. It reflects 18 months of hard work and cooperation by many dedicated public servants in Congress and in the White House. It sends a message about our direction in the war on terror. We refuse to remain idle while modern technology might be turned against us; we will rally the great promise of American science and innovation to confront the greatest danger of our time."
United States. White House Office
2004-07-21
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Field-Capable Biodetection Devices for Homeland Security Missions
"Biodetection instrumentation that is capable of functioning effectively outside the controlled laboratory environment is critical for the detection of health threats, and is a crucial technology for Health Security. Experience in bringing technologies from the basic research laboratory to integrated fieldable instruments suggests lessons for the engineering of these systems. This overview will cover several classes of such devices, with examples from systems developed for homeland security missions by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Recent trends suggest that front-end sample processing is becoming a critical performance-determining factor for many classes of fieldable biodetection devices. This paper introduces some results of a recent study that was undertaken to assess the requirements and potential technologies for next-generation integrated sample processing."
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Dougherty, George M.; Clague, David S.; Miles, Robin R.
2007-04-10
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Project BioShield [June 05, 2006]
"Many potential biological terrorism agents lack available countermeasures. President Bush proposed Project BioShield to address this need. The 108th Congress considered this proposal in S. 15, S. 1504, and H.R. 2122. President Bush signed S. 15 into law on July 21, 2004 (The Project BioShield Act of 2004, P.L. 108-276). The main provisions of this law include (1) relaxing procedures for bioterrorism-related procurement, hiring, and awarding of research grants; (2) guaranteeing a federal government market for new biomedical countermeasures; and (3) permitting emergency use of unapproved countermeasures. Project BioShield countermeasure procurement is funded by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004 (P.L. 108- 90) which advance-appropriated $5.593 billion for FY2004-FY2013. Additional measures to encourage the development of countermeasures are being considered by the 109th Congress in S. 3 (Gregg), S. 975 (Lieberman), S. 1873 (Burr), S. 1880 (Kennedy), and S. 2564 (Burr). This report will be updated in response to legislative developments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gottron, Frank
2006-06-05
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Project BioShield: Authorities, Appropriations, Acquisitions, and Issues for Congress [April 22, 2011]
"In 2004, Congress passed the Project BioShield Act (P.L. 108-276) to encourage the private sector to develop medical countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism agents and to provide a novel mechanism for federal acquisition of those newly developed countermeasures. Although some countermeasures have been acquired through this law, Congress continues to address several Project BioShield-related policy issues. These include whether to continue diverting Project BioShield acquisition funding to other purposes; whether to change the countermeasure development and acquisition process; how to replace stockpiled countermeasures as they expire; and whether to alter federal efforts to encourage the development of broad-spectrum countermeasures. This law provides three main authorities: (1) relaxing regulatory requirements for some CBRN terrorism-related spending, including hiring personnel and awarding research grants; (2) guaranteeing a federal market for new CBRN medical countermeasures; and (3) permitting emergency use of unapproved countermeasures. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has used each of these authorities. The HHS used expedited review authorities to approve contracts and grants related to CBRN countermeasure research and development. The HHS used the authority to guarantee a government market to obligate approximately $2 billion to acquire countermeasures against anthrax, botulism, radiation, and smallpox. The HHS has also employed the emergency use authority several times, including during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gottron, Frank
2011-04-22
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Project BioShield: Authorities, Appropriations, Acquisitions, and Issues for Congress [February 7, 2011]
"In 2004, Congress passed the Project BioShield Act (P.L. 108-276) to encourage the private sector to develop medical countermeasures to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism agents and to provide a novel mechanism for federal acquisition of those newly developed countermeasures. Although some countermeasures have been acquired through this law, Congress continues to address several Project BioShield-related policy issues. These include whether to continue diverting Project BioShield acquisition funding to other purposes; whether to change the countermeasure development and acquisition process; how to replace stockpiled countermeasures as they expire; and whether to alter federal efforts to encourage the development of broad-spectrum countermeasures. This law has three main provisions: (1) relaxing regulatory requirements for some CBRN terrorism-related spending, including hiring personnel and awarding research grants; (2) guaranteeing a federal market for new CBRN medical countermeasures; and (3) permitting emergency use of unapproved countermeasures. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has used each of these authorities. [...] Since passing the Project BioShield Act, subsequent Congresses have considered additional measures to further encourage countermeasure development. The 109th Congress created the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in HHS through the Pandemic and All-Hazard Preparedness Act (P.L. 109-417). Among other duties, BARDA oversees all of HHS's Project BioShield procurements. The Pandemic and All-Hazard Preparedness Act also modified the Project BioShield procurement process. Some stakeholders question whether these changes have sufficiently improved federal countermeasure development and procurement. The Administration plans to improve the countermeasure research, development, and acquisition process based on findings of an HHS review."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gottron, Frank
2011-02-07
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Project BioShield: Authorities, Appropriations, Acquisitions, and Issues for Congress [May 27, 2011]
"In 2004, Congress passed the Project BioShield Act (P.L. 108-276) to encourage the private sector to develop medical countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism agents and to provide a novel mechanism for federal acquisition of those newly developed countermeasures. Although some countermeasures have been acquired through this law, Congress continues to address several Project BioShield-related policy issues. These include whether to continue diverting Project BioShield acquisition funding to other purposes; whether to change the countermeasure development and acquisition process; how to replace stockpiled countermeasures as they expire; and whether to alter federal efforts to encourage the development of broad-spectrum countermeasures. This law provides three main authorities: (1) relaxing regulatory requirements for some CBRN terrorism-related spending, including hiring personnel and awarding research grants; (2) guaranteeing a federal market for new CBRN medical countermeasures; and (3) permitting emergency use of unapproved countermeasures. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has used each of these authorities. The HHS used expedited review authorities to approve contracts and grants related to CBRN countermeasure research and development. The HHS used the authority to guarantee a government market to obligate approximately $2.5 billion to acquire countermeasures against anthrax, botulism, radiation, and smallpox. The HHS has also employed the emergency use authority several times, including during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gottron, Frank
2011-05-27
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Serial No. 115-36: How Effective is the Science and Technology Directorate? Stakeholder Perspectives Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, Before the House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, November 7, 2017
This is the November 7, 2017 hearing on How Effective is the Science and Technology Directorate? before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the statement of Daniel M. Donovan, JR: "The role of the Science and Technology Directorate within the Department of Homeland Security, and the Homeland Security Enterprise. Science and Technology, by law, is the primary research and development arm of the Department. However, it seems that over 15 years since its creation, Science and Technology is still struggling to fulfill its role within DHS and the Homeland Security Enterprise. Given the evolving threat we face from terrorist attacks, from last week's attack in New York City to powerful hurricanes and expansive wildfires, we need to ensure that there is a component or office at the Department looking for both the short-term and longterm innovative solutions to address the challenges the Nation currently faces. By design, this should be Science and Technology. However, budget constraints and the changes to R&D priorities have restricted Science and Technology's abilities to meet its mission. The committee has heard concerns about the lack of coordination between Science and Technology and other DHS components and offices on R&D."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2017-11-07
