Bioterrorism Protection Act (BioPAct) of 2001

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

8 November 2001

Last action

6 December 2001 · Committee

Status

Executive Comment Requested from DOD, DOE.

Summary

Bioterrorism Protection Act (BioPAct) of 2001 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for grants, scholarships, and loans in order to strengthen the nursing profession. Establishes the National Nursing Service Corps Scholarship Program. Authorizes appropriations to: (1) increase hospital and provider capacity, training, and resources for treating bioterrorism victims; (2) increase and improve vaccine and antibiotic supplies for attack victims; and (3) provide for the coordination, training, and equipping of bioterrorism emergency responders. Authorizes appropriations for Department of Agriculture activities to: (1) reduce agricultural pathogen and insect pest threats; and (2) increase Department information systems security. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to expand the Food and Drug Administration's capacity to ensure the safety of the food supply system, including imported food, and protect against the threat of bioterrorism. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to: (1) permit debarment for repeated or serious food import violations; (2) deem as misbranded imported food without country-of-origin labeling; (3) deem as adulterated a food item imported by a debarred person; and (4) require registration of food manufacturing, processing, and handling facilities. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) undertake public water systems vulnerability assessments and review related emergency response plans; and (2) provide such systems with assistance for basic security enhancements and information systems protection. Amends the Federal criminal code to set penalties for possessing a select agent known to be a biological agent, with reckless disregard for the public health and safety. Authorizes appropriations for neutron scanner technology and technology to detect biological or chemical agents and for increased numbers of border patrol and immigration officers. Directs the Attorney General to develop or carry out various programs, including programs to improve identification of those appearing on law enforcement "watch lists" and to mandate better tracking of visas. Requires the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security to: (1) assess terrorist threats within the United States and its territories and possible responses to such threats; (2) implement a public education campaign concerning appropriate response to a terrorist attack; and (3) coordinate the deployment of chemical and biological detection capabilities. Requires the President to: (1) establish a database of information concerning terrorist activity; and (2) reduce barriers to the sharing of such information among Federal law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community. Requires the Secretary of Defense to: (1) increase military capability to respond to domestic crises involving chemical or biological weapons; (2) implement interagency crisis response and consequence management; and (3) accelerate response research and development. Requires the Secretary of Energy to increase efforts relating to nonproliferation verification of chemical and biological materials in countries other than the United States. Urges the President to seek to establish a United States-Russian Federation Biological-Chemical Working Group.

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Timeline

8 November 2001
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Science, Intelligence (Permanent Select), International Relations, Agriculture, and Ways and Means, 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.
Source: IntroReferral
8 November 2001
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Science, Intelligence (Permanent Select), International Relations, Agriculture, and Ways and Means, 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.
Source: IntroReferral
8 November 2001
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
8 November 2001
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
13 November 2001
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Aviation.
Source: Committee
20 November 2001
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
Source: Committee
28 November 2001
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Source: Committee
6 December 2001
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from DOD, DOE.
Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

Introduced in House · 8 November 2001 · Download file

Documents

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Introduced in House (text)

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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 8 November 2001
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 8 November 2001
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 8 November 2001
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Related records

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Sources

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Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3255
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/107/hr/3255
us · 107-hr-3255 · source updated 19 August 2025