Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

Bill: 117-hr-8610
Sponsor: Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
Introduced: 2022-07-29 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation
Chemical and biological weapons
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Federal-Indian relations
Health personnel
Intergovernmental relations
Nuclear weapons
State and local government operations
Terrorism
Urban and suburban affairs and development

Summary:
action_date: 2022-07-29
text: 

Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provides statutory authority for and expands DHS's Office of Health Security (OHS).
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
establishes the new OHS to advise DHS on medical, public health, and workforce safety matters;
 
sets forth the responsibilities of the Chief Medical Officer and a Privacy Officer in OHS;
 
repeals the terminating date for the CWMD office and sets forth the responsibilities of that office, including efforts to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as other emerging terrorism threats;
 
establishes a CWMD Advisory Council; and
 
requires a biodefense review and issuance of a DHS biodefense strategy.
 
 
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on efforts of the CWMD office to prioritize its programs and activities to safeguard against CBRN threats and on other activities of that office.

action_date: 2022-12-20
text: 

Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

 
This bill makes changes to the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provides statutory authority for and expands DHS's Office of Health Security (OHS).
 
Specifically, the bill
 
 
establishes the new OHS to advise DHS on medical, public health, and workforce safety matters;
 
sets forth the responsibilities of the Chief Medical Officer and a Privacy Officer in OHS;
 
repeals the terminating date for the CWMD office and sets forth the responsibilities of that office, including efforts to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as other emerging terrorism threats;
 
requires DHS to report to Congress regarding the Securing the Cities program (which seeks to reduce the risk of a successful deployment of radiological or nuclear weapons against major metropolitan areas in the United States);
 
establishes a CWMD Advisory Council; and
 
requires a biodefense review and issuance of a DHS biodefense strategy.
 
 
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on efforts of the CWMD office to prioritize its programs and activities to safeguard against CBRN threats and on other activities of that office.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 469.
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 117-650, Part I.
action_date: 2022-12-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 117-650, Part I.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability Discharged.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Discharged.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2022-09-14
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.
action_date: 2022-08-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
action_date: 2022-07-29
text: 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.
action_date: 2022-07-29
text: 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.
action_date: 2022-07-29
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2022-07-29
text: Introduced in House