HR 2707

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 8, 2025

Mr. Davis of North Carolina (for himself and Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To develop a modernized strategy for ensuring the defense of the United States from the anthrax threat, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act”.

SEC. 2. DEVELOPING A MODERNIZED STRATEGY FOR ENSURING THE DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE ANTHRAX THREAT.

(a) Modernized Strategy.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the covered Secretaries shall develop a modernized 10-year strategy for ensuring sustained stockpiling of anthrax countermeasures, including the replenishment, consistent with requirement levels, of such anthrax countermeasures stockpiled—

(A) in the Strategic National Stockpile under section 319F-2(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(a)); or

(B) by the Secretary of Defense, including such anthrax countermeasures stockpiled in protection and treatment of civilians, servicemembers, and dependents on military installations.

(2) Cooperation and sustainability.—The strategy described in paragraph (1) shall ensure innovative cooperation with, and sustainability of, manufacturers of anthrax countermeasures.

(b) Reporting.—

(1) Initial report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the covered Secretaries shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on—

(A) the threat, to the people and military installations of the United States, of weaponized anthrax from foreign countries, foreign terrorist organizations (as designated by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a))), and other threat streams;

(B) programs and activities of the Federal Government (other than programs and activities under the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure Enterprise, such as multi-year budgets, research and development investments, and countermeasure procurements) that address the modernized strategy under subsection (a)(1), including such programs and activities that address multidrug-resistant strains; and

(C) initiatives of the Federal Government to ensure adequate availability of anthrax countermeasures for treatment of military dependents on United States military installations in foreign countries.

(2) Inclusion of modernized strategy.—The report under paragraph (1) shall include the modernized strategy under subsection (a)(1).

(3) Annual updates.—Following the submission of the report under paragraph (1), the covered Secretaries shall, on an annual basis, submit to the appropriate congressional committees an update to such report.

(4) Form.—The report under paragraph (1) and the updates under paragraph (3) shall be submitted in classified form but may include an unclassified annex.

(c) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Anthrax countermeasure.—The term “anthrax countermeasure”—

(A) means a drug, device, or biological product intended to counter the effects of anthrax that is approved, cleared, classified, licensed, or otherwise authorized by the Food and Drug Administration; and

(B) includes an antitoxin and a prophylactic.

(2) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;

(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(C) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives;

(D) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;

(E) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and

(F) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

(3) Covered secretaries.—The term “covered Secretaries” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs, acting jointly, in consultation with the members of the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise established under section 2811-1 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-10a). <all>