I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5620 

To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make anthrax vaccines 

and antimicrobials available to emergency response providers, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2014 

Mr. KING of New York (for himself and Mr. PASCRELL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, 

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 direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to make anthrax vaccines and antimicrobials available to emergency 

response providers, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘First Responder An5 thrax Preparedness Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ANTHRAX VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR FIRST RE2 SPONDERS. 

3 (a) ANTHRAX PREPAREDNESS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Title V of the Homeland Se5 curity Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296; 6 U.S.C. 

6 311 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 

7 following new section: 

8 ‘‘§ 526. Anthrax preparedness 

9 ‘‘(a) VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR FIRST EMER10 GENCY RESPONSE PROVIDERS.—For the purpose of do11 mestic preparedness for and collective response to ter12 rorism, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consulta13 tion with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 

14 shall make available surplus vaccines and antimicrobials 

15 and vaccines and antimicrobials with short shelf lives, 

16 from the strategic national stockpile under section 319F– 

17 2(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d– 

18 6b(a)) to emergency response providers for administration 

19 to such providers who voluntarily consent to such adminis20 tration, and shall— 

21 ‘‘(1) establish any necessary logistical and 

22 tracking systems to facilitate making such vaccines 

23 and antimicrobials so available; and 

24 ‘‘(2) distribute disclosures regarding associated 

25 risks to end users. 


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1 ‘‘(b) THREAT ASSESSMENT.—The Under Secretary 

2 for Intelligence and Analysis shall— 

3 ‘‘(1) support homeland security-focused risk 

4 analysis and risk assessments of the threats posed 

5 by anthrax from an act of terror; 

6 ‘‘(2) leverage existing and emerging homeland 

7 security intelligence capabilities and structures to 

8 enhance prevention, protection, response, and recov9 ery efforts with respect to an anthrax terror attack; 

10 and 

11 ‘‘(3) share information and provide tailored an12 alytical support on threats posed by anthrax to 

13 State, local, and tribal authorities, as well as other 

14 national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders.’’. 

15 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec16 tions in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by in17 serting at the end of the items relating to title V the 

18 following new item: 

‘‘Sec. 526. Anthrax preparedness.’’. 

19 (b) PILOT PROGRAM.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the vaccina21 tion program authorized in section 526(a) of the 

22 Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by sub23 section (a), the Secretary shall conduct an 18-month 

24 pilot program to administer vaccines and 


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1 antimicrobials to emergency response providers as so 

2 authorized. 

3 (2) LOCATION.—In carrying out the pilot pro4 gram under this subsection, the Secretary shall se5 lect emergency response providers based in at least 

6 two States for participation in the pilot program. 

7 (3) DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION.—The 

8 Secretary shall provide to each emergency response 

9 provider who participates in the pilot program under 

10 this subsection disclosures and educational materials 

11 regarding the associated risks of any vaccine or anti12 microbial administered under the pilot program and 

13 of exposure to anthrax. 

14 (4) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

15 completion of the pilot program under this sub16 section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 

17 on Homeland Security of the House of Representa18 tives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 

19 Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the 

20 results of the pilot program. The report shall include 

21 a plan under which the Secretary plans to continue 

22 to make vaccines and antimicrobials available to 

23 emergency response providers under section 526(a) 

24 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. 


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1 (5) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.—The 

2 Secretary shall begin implementing the pilot pro3 gram under this subsection by not later than the 

4 date that is 180 days after the date of the enact5 ment of this Act. 

Æ 


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