Reports by congressional commissions, the mention of bioterrorism in President Obama’s 2010 State of the Union address, and issuance of executive orders have increased congressional attention to the threat of bioterrorism. Federal efforts to combat the threat of bioterrorism predate the anthrax attacks of 2001 but have significantly increased since then. The U.S. government has developed these efforts as part of and in parallel with other defenses against conventional terrorism. Continued attempts by terrorist groups to launch attacks targeted at U.S. citizens have increased concerns that federal counterterrorism activities insufficiently address the threat…
- Author:
- Congressional Research Service (CRS)
- Publish Date:
- February 2011
- April 8, 2011
- | Filed under North America, Featured, Report, and 2001-2025
November 2010, Revised December 2010 and January 2011; Foreward Added June 2011
The Federal Experts Security Advisory Panel (FESAP) was established by Executive Order 13546 on July 2, 2010 to provide recommendations related to the security of biological select agents and toxins (BSAT) to the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture and the Attorney General. BSAT are defined in the Select Agent Regulations (42 CFR Part 73, 9 CFR Part 121, and 7 CFR Part 331).
The information provided on this page, including reports and recommendations, reflects the consensus views of the FESAP membership and not necessarily the views of their respective Departments, Agencies, and Offices, including the Select Agent Program. Any recommendations requiring regulatory change, if accepted by the Select Agent Program, will be published in the Federal Register as part of the rulemaking process. The anticipated posting date is October 2011. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed rules at that time.
For further questions or comments on the activities of the FESAP, please contact Dr. Laura Kwinn, Executive Secretary, at biosescurity.workgroup@hhs.gov. Any comments or questions provided through this link will be used for the future work of the FESAP.
For more information on the Select Agent Program, or to submit comments on the Proposed Rules once published (expected October 2011), please visit: www.selectagents.gov
- Author:
- Department of Health & Human Services
- Publish Date:
- November 2010, Revised December 2010 and January 2011
- June 15, 2011
- | Filed under North America, Featured, Report, and 2001-2025
This report summarizes the federal budget and spending for biodefense in the United States since the 2001 terrorist attacks. The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation finds that since 2001, the U.S. government has spent or allocated nearly $50 billion among 11 federal departments and agencies to address the threat of biological weapons. For Fiscal Year 2009 (FY2009), the Bush Administration proposes an additional $9 billion in bioweapons-related spending. New U.S. funding for bioweapons-related activities focuses primarily on research, development, and acquisition of medical countermeasures.
- Author:
- Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
- Publish Date:
- April 2008
- April 28, 2008
- | Filed under North America, Report, and 2001-2025
Federal Agency Biodefense Funding, FY2011-FY2012
“This article includes an updated assessment of the proportion of biodefense funding provided for programs that address multiple scientific, public health, healthcare, national security, and international security issue in addition to biodefense. The FY2012 federal budget for civilian biodefense totals $6.42 billion. Of that total, $5.78 billion (90%) is budgeted for programs that have both biodefense and nonbiodefense goals and applications, and $637.6 million (10%) is budgeted for programs that have objectives solely related to biodefense.”
By Crystal Franco and Tara Kirk Sell
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