S.1649 - Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009

A bill to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to prepare for attacks using weapons of mass destruction, and for other purposes. view all titles (7)

All Bill Titles

  • Official: A bill to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to prepare for attacks using weapons of mass destruction, and for other purposes. as introduced.
  • Short: Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 as introduced.
  • Short: WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 as introduced.
  • Short: Global Pathogen Surveillance Act of 2009 as introduced.
  • Short: Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 as reported to senate.
  • Short: WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 as reported to senate.
  • Short: Global Pathogen Surveillance Act of 2009 as reported to senate.

This Bill currently has no wiki content. If you would like to create a wiki entry for this bill, please Login, and then select the wiki tab to create it.

Bill's Views

  • Today: 2
  • Past Seven Days: 7
  • All-Time: 10,370
 
Introduced
 
Senate
Passes
 
House
Passes
 
President
Signs
 

 
09/07/09
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Official Summary

9/8/2009--Introduced.Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 or the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary), in coordination with the Secretary

Official Summary

9/8/2009--Introduced.Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 or the WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary), in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS Secretary), to designate as "Tier I agents" those agents and toxins which have significant potential to be used effectively in a biological attack and for which the DHS Secretary has issued a Material Threat Determination, with exceptions. Amends the Homeland Security Act (HSA) to direct the DHS Secretary to establish enhanced biosecurity measures for registered entities to use in handling such agents. Directs the DHS Secretary to:
(1) evaluate and ensure the implementation of, and compliance with, personnel reliability programs at laboratories that handle Tier I agents;
(2) ensure that such laboratories submit risk assessments and site security plans that comply with the standards promulgated under this Act;
(3) inspect such laboratories for compliance with regulations promulgated under this Act; and
(4) award grants to academic and nonprofit organizations to implement security improvements at such laboratories. Amends the PHSA to direct the HHS Secretary to develop, coordinate, and maintain a National Medical Countermeasure Dispensing Strategy. Directs the HHS Secretary to expand existing pilot programs to utilize the United States Postal Service to deliver medical countermeasures in a public health emergency. Amends the HSA to:
(1) direct the DHS Secretary to establish a program to distribute medkits to emergency responders and their immediate family members;
(2) require the HHS Secretary to conduct a pilot program to study the feasibility of providing personal medkits to the public;
(3) establish in DHS a National Bioforensics Analysis Center;
(4) direct the DHS Secretary to develop, coordinate, and maintain a national bioforensics strategy; and
(5) direct the HHS Secretary to incorporate into each operational plan developed under the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 a communications plan for informing the public regarding preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to imminent natural disasters, terrorist acts, and other man-made disasters. Requires:
(1) the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to complete a global review of international biological security threats to the United States and to update the review at least biennially; and
(2) the Secretary of State to provide specified technical and financial assistance to countries or regions identified by the mandated Threat Assessment and to produce and implement a plan for promoting international adherence to, and implementation of, international agreements regarding weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Global Pathogen Surveillance Act of 2009 - Authorizes providing assistance to eligible developing countries that:
(1) permit personnel from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate outbreaks of infectious diseases within their borders; and
(2) provide pathogen surveillance data to the appropriate U.S. agencies and to international health organizations. Directs the Secretary of State to provide assistance for short training courses for public health personnel in laboratory techniques relating to the identification, diagnosis, and tracking of pathogens responsible for possible infectious disease outbreaks. Sets forth provisions regarding the assignment of public health personnel to U.S. missions and international organizations. Authorizes the HHS Secretary to establish new country or regional international Field Epidemiology Training Programs. Requires the DNI to develop, implement, and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for improving:
(1) U.S. capabilities for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence related to WMD; and
(2) the recruiting, training, and retention of employees of the elements of the intelligence community who possess critical language capabilities and cultural backgrounds. Amends the HSA to direct the DHS Secretary:
(1) in coordination with the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to ensure that information concerning terrorist threats is available to the general public within the United States; and
(2) to develop and disseminate guidelines for police, emergency medical services, emergency management, and public health personnel for responding to an explosion or release of nuclear, biological, radiological, or chemical material. Directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist state, local, and tribal governments in improving and promoting individual and community preparedness for disasters and terrorist acts.

...Read the Rest




Vote on This Bill

50% Users Support Bill

10 in favor / 10 opposed
 

Send Your Senator a Letter

about this bill Support Oppose Tracking
Track with MyOC
Save to Notebook Make A Bill Widget

OpenCongress is a free and open-source project of the Participatory Politics Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to increase civic engagement. The non-profit Sunlight Foundation is the Founding and Primary Supporter of OpenCongress.