House bill would require plan to bolster military biodefense readiness, research

The U.S. Department of Defense would be directed to draft a plan outlining specific steps to enhance U.S. military biodefense readiness, response, and research under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 12 in response to evolving threats around the world.

Introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), the Military Biodefense Readiness and Protection Act of 2018 (H.R. 5482), would require the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs to draft and submit a plan to Congress that outlines specific steps to improve biodefense readiness and coordination among civilian and military agencies.

“The United States must be ready to respond to today’s evolving threats,” Bacon, a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee and the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, said. “This bill will require the Department of Defense to focus on ensuring our service members can defend themselves against highly-infectious diseases or weaponized pathogens.”

The Military Biodefense Readiness and Protection Act would require the readiness plan to address three specific areas: improved detection, diagnostics and patient care, accelerated research and development, and establish military infectious disease response teams.

“This bill also continues to build upon relationships between private, military and public partners,” Bacon said. “The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a global leader in the biodefense field and their research will continue to increase our nation’s readiness when combating these kinds of threats.”

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold said he was “especially pleased” that the legislation would bolster coordination on biodefense and health security among the military and civilian agencies.

“UNMC continues to work closely with both our military and civilian partners on the federal level in preparedness, research and development for bio-preparedness, and biosecurity,” Gold said.

The bill was referred to the House Armed Services Committee on April 12.