WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2009

Summary

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 DHS 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.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 8 September 2009

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 8 September 2009

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 22 September 2009

   Committee

   Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held.

   Source: Committee

4. 4 November 2009

   Reported

   Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

   Source: Committee

5. 17 December 2010

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 705.

   Source: Calendars

6. 17 December 2010

   Reported

   Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-377. Minority views filed.

   Source: Committee

7. 17 December 2010

   Reported

   Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-377. Minority views filed.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Reported to Senate · 17 December 2010 · Official file
• Introduced in Senate · 8 September 2009 · Official file

Documents

6 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 17 December 2010

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate (PDF)

  Reported to Senate · EN · 17 December 2010

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 17 December 2010

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 8 September 2009

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 8 September 2009

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 8 September 2009

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [D-CT] · ID · Sponsor
• Susan Collins · R · Sponsor
• Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO] · D · Cosponsor
• Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT] · R · Cosponsor
• Michael Bennet · D · Cosponsor
• · ssga00 · Standing
• · hshm00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010
• related to → WMD Prevention and Preparedness Act of 2010