First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act

Summary: First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act  (Sec. 2) Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for the purpose of domestic preparedness for and collective response to terrorism, to: (1) establish a program to provide surplus anthrax vaccines nearing the end of their labeled dates of use from the strategic national stockpile for administration to emergency response providers who are at high risk of exposure to anthrax and who voluntarily consent to such administration, (2) distribute disclosures regarding associated benefits and risks to end users, and (3) conduct outreach to educate emergency response providers about the program. Requires DHS to: (1) support homeland security-focused risk analysis and assessments of the threats posed by anthrax from an act of terror; (2) leverage homeland security intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance prevention, protection, response, and recovery efforts with respect to an anthrax terror attack; and (3) share information and provide tailored analytical support on threats posed by anthrax to state, local, and tribal authorities, as well as other national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders. Directs DHS, in coordination with HHS, to carry out a 24-month pilot program to provide anthrax vaccines to emergency response providers. Requires DHS to: (1) establish a communication platform and education and training modules for such program, (2) conduct economic analysis of such program, (3) create a logistical platform for the anthrax vaccine request process, (4) select providers based in at least two states to participate, (5) provide to each participating provider disclosures and educational materials regarding the benefits and risks of any vaccine provided and of exposure to anthrax, and (6) submit annual reports on pilot program results and recommendations to improve pilot program participation. Requires the report to include a plan for continuation of the DHS program to provide vaccines to emergency response providers. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``First Responder Anthrax Preparedness 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PRE-EVENT ANTHRAX VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
              PROVIDERS.

    (a) Anthrax Preparedness.--
            (1) In general.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 
        2002 (Public Law 107-296; 6 U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 526. ANTHRAX PREPAREDNESS.

    ``(a) Pre-Event Anthrax Vaccination Program for Emergency Response 
Providers.--For the purpose of domestic preparedness for and collective 
response to terrorism, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish a program to 
provide anthrax vaccines from the strategic national stockpile under 
section 319F-2(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-
6b(a)) that will be nearing the end of their labeled dates of use at 
the time such vaccines are to be administered to emergency response 
providers who are at high risk of exposure to anthrax and who 
voluntarily consent to such administration, and shall--
            ``(1) establish any necessary logistical and tracking 
        systems to facilitate making such vaccines so available;
            ``(2) distribute disclosures regarding associated benefits 
        and risks to end users; and
            ``(3) conduct outreach to educate emergency response 
        providers about the voluntary program.
    ``(b) Threat Assessment.--The Secretary shall--
            ``(1) support homeland security-focused risk analysis and 
        risk assessments of the threats posed by anthrax from an act of 
        terror;
            ``(2) leverage existing and emerging homeland security 
        intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance prevention, 
        protection, response, and recovery efforts with respect to an 
        anthrax terror attack; and
            ``(3) share information and provide tailored analytical 
        support on threats posed by anthrax to State, local, and tribal 
        authorities, as well as other national biosecurity and 
        biodefense stakeholders.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents in section 
        1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting at the end of the 
        items relating to title V the following new item:

``Sec. 526. Anthrax preparedness.''.
    (b) Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the pre-event vaccination 
        program authorized in section 526(a) of the Homeland Security 
        Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services, shall carry out a pilot program to provide 
        anthrax vaccines to emergency response providers as so 
        authorized. The duration of the pilot program shall be 24 
        months from the date the initial vaccines are administered to 
        participants.
            (2) Preliminary requirements.--By not later than 1 year 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, and prior to 
        implementing the pilot program under paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary of Homeland Security shall--
                    (A) establish a communication platform for the 
                pilot program;
                    (B) establish education and training modules for 
                the pilot program;
                    (C) conduct economic analysis of the pilot program; 
                and
                    (D) create a logistical platform for the anthrax 
                vaccine request process under the pilot program.
            (3) Location.--In carrying out the pilot program under this 
        subsection, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall select 
        emergency response providers based in at least two States for 
        participation in the pilot program.
            (4) Distribution of information.--The Secretary of Homeland 
        Security shall provide to each emergency response provider who 
        participates in the pilot program under this subsection 
        disclosures and educational materials regarding the associated 
        benefits and risks of any vaccine provided under the pilot 
        program and of exposure to anthrax.
            (5) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 1 year 
        after the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland 
        Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
        of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the progress and 
        results of the pilot program, including the percentage of 
        eligible emergency response providers, as determined by each 
        pilot location, that volunteer to participate, the degree to 
        which participants obtain necessary vaccinations, as 
        appropriate, and recommendations to improve initial and 
        recurrent participation in the pilot program. The report shall 
        include a plan under which the Secretary plans to continue the 
        program to provide vaccines to emergency response providers 
        under section 526(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as 
        added by subsection (a).
            (6) Deadline for implementation.--The Secretary of Homeland 
        Security shall begin implementing the pilot program under this 
        subsection by not later than the date that is 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 29, 2015.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.