House Passes All Hazards Measure
On Tuesday December 6th, the House unanimously passed HR 2405, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act to enhance Federal response capabilities in the event of chemical, biological, radioactive, or nuclear attack. Often referred to as “chemical security” legislation, the measure actually reauthorizes the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Project BioShield’s Special Reserve Fund, designed to procure and maintain the national strategic stockpile of countermeasures for anthrax, small pox, botulism and other threats. It does not have any connection to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Act. On November 10th, Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S 1855, a companion to the House All Hazards bill.
