Congressional Biodefense Caucus News
The Alliance for Biosecurity Applauds the Successful Launch of the New Congressional Biodefense Caucus
The caucus is ‘dedicated to strengthening our nation's biodefense enterprise and national security’ and currently includes 27 Members of Congress
March 1, 2018 | View/Download as PDF
WASHINGTON, DC – More than 50 attendees, including Members of Congress, biodefense industry experts, Congressional staff and others, took part Monday night in a reception to launch a new Congressional Biodefense Caucus. The caucus already boasts a membership roll including 27 bipartisan Members of Congress and is chaired by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA).
The Alliance for Biosecurity issued the following statement: “We are very excited not only about the initiative taken by Members of Congress to form this important new group, but by the exceptional early engagement and increase in Member support of the Congressional Biodefense Caucus. We commend the 27 Members of Congress who have already joined the caucus, and particularly Reps. Brooks and Eshoo for their commitment to leading this new coalition as Chairs. This caucus will help strengthen the biodefense enterprise, identify and fill gaps in preparedness and response capabilities, educate even more Members on these issues and – most importantly – protect the people of the United States from potentially catastrophic chemical or biological threats. Thank you for your dedication to enhancing America’s national security by becoming active members of this caucus, and we look forward to continuing to develop the important public-private partnerships that ensure medical countermeasures are available to protect public health.”
“When we took this position, we agreed to protect our country’s national security,” Rep. Eshoo said Monday, speaking to other Members of Congress. “Biodefense is one way we can do this, but we must work together.”
“This is an issue that too many of us take for granted,” Rep. Brooks added. “There is an assumption that we have stockpiles of vaccines readily available to combat the next Anthrax attack. This is not an issue of fear but is one that requires knowledge, and we can work to educate Members and the public on the importance of these issues.”
Also among the reception’s attendees were representatives from at least 25 Congressional offices, many members of the Alliance for Biosecurity, numerous other biodefense experts and Dr. Robert Kadlec, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
The Congressional Biodefense Caucus’s mission statement is included below in its entirety.
Congressional Biodefense Caucus
-- Mission Statement --
The Congressional Biodefense Caucus will serve as an informal group for Members dedicated to strengthening our nation's biodefense enterprise and national security against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats and pandemic outbreaks. This Caucus will serve as a platform to educate Members and staff on the very real threats our nation faces from a CBRN attack or pandemic outbreak and identifying the existing gaps in our preparedness and response capabilities. Through regular briefings, the Caucus will focus on the important role that the federal and local government, our private sector partners, and the public all have in ensuring we as a nation are equipped for an emergency and identify the existing gaps in our preparedness and response capabilities.
Representatives Susan W. Brooks and Anna G. Eshoo will serve as Co-Chairs of the Congressional Biodefense Caucus. Members may contact Catherine Knowles (Rep. Brooks) or Rachel Fybel (Rep. Eshoo) for more information or to join the Caucus.
Rep. Susan W. Brooks
Catherine Knowles (Staff)
202-225-2276
catherine.knowles@mail.house.gov
Rep. Anna G. Eshoo
Rachel Fybel (Staff)
202-225-8104