U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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19–011 2003

108th Congress, 1st Session – – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 108–17

NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF ACTIVITIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

COMMUNICATION

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

NOTIFICATION OF THE FUNCTIONS, PERSONNEL, ASSETS, AND LIABILITIES OF THE LIFE SCIENCES ACTIVITIES RELATED TO MICROBIAL PATHOGENS OF THE BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, INCLUDING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY RELATING THERETO, SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE 

SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

JANUARY 7, 2003.—Referred to the Select Committee on Homeland 

Security and ordered to be printed 


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THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, December 31, 2002. 

Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: Pursuant to section 306(d) of the Homeland 

Security Act of 2002 (the ‘‘Act’’), and in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 

25, 2002 (the ‘‘Reorganization Plan’’), notification is hereby given 

that the functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the life 

sciences activities related to microbial pathogens of the Biological 

and Environmental Research Program of the Department of Energy 

(the ‘‘transferred life sciences activities’’), including the functions of 

the Secretary of Energy relating thereto, shall be transferred to the 

Secretary of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. In accordance 

with section 306(d) of the Act, please transmit this notification to 

the appropriate congressional committees. 

The reason for such transfer is that the transferred life sciences 

activities were inaugurated to assist in counterterrorism research 

and development by identifying biomolecular ‘‘signatures’’ (often referred to as ‘‘biosignatures’’) of pathogens in order to enhance the 

capability of the United States Government to detect an act of bioterrorism and to identify the source of the biological agent used in 

any such act. Pursuant to the Act, the primary responsibility within the United States Government for the research and development 

of biosignatures of pathogens for use in counterterrorism efforts 

will now rest with the Secretary of Homeland Security, and therefore the Department of Homeland Security will be the proper location for the transferred life sciences activities. 

The effect of such transfer on the activities of the Department of 

Energy will be to transfer the primary responsibility for research 

and development of biosignatures of pathogens for use in 

counterterrorism efforts, and the functions, assets (including 

funds), and liabilities relating to such activities, from the Department of Energy to the Department of Homeland Security. It is not 

anticipated that any Department of Energy personnel will be transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in connection with 

such transfer, because no Department of Energy personnel are 

dedicated exclusively to the transferred life sciences activities. Notwithstanding the transfer of the transferred life sciences activities, 

it is presently anticipated that a substantial portion of the affected 

research and development activities will continue to be conducted 

at Department of Energy national laboratories and sites in accordance with section 309 of the Act. 

Pursuant to sections 303(1)(B) and 303(1)(D) of the Act, I previously designated in the Reorganization Plan that the transferred 

life sciences activities and the nuclear smuggling programs and acVerDate Dec 13 2002 07:53 Jan 09, 2003 Jkt 019011 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 E:\HR\OC\HD017.XXX HD017
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tivities within the proliferation detection program of the nonproliferation and verification research and development program of 

the Department of Energy, including the functions of the Secretary 

of Energy relating thereto, shall be transferred to the Secretary of 

Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. 

Sincerely, 

GEORGE W. BUSH.

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