from catastrophic events with human, animal, agri-
cultural, or environmental health consequences; 
‘‘(10) integrating into the end-to-end plans de-
veloped under paragraph (9), Department of Health 
and Human Services’ efforts to identify and deploy 
medical assets (including human, fixed, and material 
assets) used in preparation for or response to na-
tional disasters and catastrophes, and to enable ac-
cess by medical personnel patient electronic medical 
records to aid treatment of displaced persons in such 
circumstance, in order to assure that actions of both 
Departments are combined for maximum effective-
ness during an emergency consistent with the Na-
tional Response Plan and applicable emergency sup-
port functions; 
‘‘(11) performing other duties relating to such 
responsibilities as the Secretary may require; and 
‘‘(12) directing and maintaining a coordinated 
system for medical support of the Department’s 
operational activities.’’. 
SEC. 602. IMPROVING THE MATERIAL THREATS PROCESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 319F–2(c)(2)(A) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d–6b(c)(2)(A)) 
is amended— 
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(1) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as sub-
clauses (I) and (II), respectively; 
(2) by moving each of such subclauses two ems 
to the right; 
(3) by striking ‘‘(A) MATERIAL THREAT.—The 
Homeland Security Secretary’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) MATERIAL THREAT.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following clauses: 
‘‘(ii) USE OF EXISTING RISK ASSESS-
MENTS.—For the purpose of satisfying the 
requirements of clause (i) as expeditiously 
as possible, the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity shall, as practicable, utilize existing 
risk assessments that such Secretary con-
siders credible. 
‘‘(iii) ORDER OF ASSESSMENTS.— 
‘‘(I) GROUPINGS TO FACILITATE 
ASSESSMENT
OF
COUNTER-
MEASURES.—In conducting threat as-
sessments and determinations under 
clause (i) of chemical, biological, radi-
ological, and nuclear agents, the Sec-
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retary of Homeland Security shall, to 
the extent practicable and appro-
priate, consider the completion of such 
assessments and determinations for 
groups of agents toward the goal of 
facilitating the assessment of counter-
measures under paragraph (3) by the 
Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices. 
‘‘(II) CATEGORIES OF COUNTER-
MEASURES.—The grouping of agents 
under subclause (I) by the Secretary 
of Homeland Security shall be de-
signed to facilitate assessments under 
paragraph (3) by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services regarding 
the following two categories of coun-
termeasures: 
‘‘(aa) Countermeasures that 
may address more than one 
agent identified under clause 
(i)(II). 
‘‘(bb) Countermeasures that 
may address adverse health con-
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