Walden, Murphy seek additional information from CDC regarding Laboratory Response Network capabilities

Two members of the House Republican Caucus recently sent a public letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an effort to examine the agency’s Laboratory Response Network (LRN), a system established to boost the government’s preparedness for bioterrorism.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, sent the letter seeking information on the response capabilities of the agency’s LRN network and how they might be used in the event of a bioterrorism attack.

The congressman previously sent a letter to the CDC in August, which sparked a follow-up questionnaire conversation with the agency.

“The more than 150 laboratories that make up the LRN are affiliated with federal agencies, military installations, international partners, and state/local public health departments,” the letter said.

The congressmen also said they had additional questions regarding how much was spent on LRN reagents, assay development, and staff hirings over the last 15 fiscal years.

“We appreciate the CDC’s efforts put forth in the December 22, 2016 letter, and the detailed information provided,” the letter said. “The committee requests additional clarity on the assays the LRN has developed and deployed for all federal select agents, and requests the CDC’s cooperation in providing the information in the format specified by the committee.”