Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-1225
Sponsor: Rep. Harman, Jane [D-CA-36]
Introduced: 2009-02-26 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health programs administration and funding
Research and development
Terrorism

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: 
Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 to reauthorize appropriations for the Select Agent Program, which lists and controls biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Requires appropriate training of individuals handling or using such agents and toxins.
 
Includes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) among the federal agencies limited in the disclosure of information related to listed agents or toxins.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to review and make recommendations for improving the Select Agent Program.

Sets forth additional factors that the Secretary must consider in determining whether to list an agent or toxin, including whether the agent or toxin is endemic to the United States.

Requires the Secretary to issue guidance on inventorying and monitoring listed biological agents.

Directs the Attorney General to issue guidance regarding the scope of the statutory definition of &quot;variola virus.&quot; 

Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop guidelines for how laboratories and laboratory personnel that do not regularly test for listed agents and toxins may be rapidly accessed and utilized during emergencies; and (2) evaluate national needs of, and oversight of, high containment biological laboratories.

Provides for the development of minimum standards for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity training for relevant personnel of high containment biological laboratories.

Requires the Secretary to establish a Biological Laboratory Incident Reporting System.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-04-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2009-03-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Referred to House Judiciary
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Referred to House Agriculture
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and the Judiciary, 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.
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E495)
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-02-26
text: Introduced in House