109 HR 5468 IH: Responsible Bioterrorism Funding Act U.S. House of Representatives 2006-05-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5468 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 24, 2006 Mr. Fossella (for himself, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Engel, Mr. Sweeney, Mrs. Bono, Mr. Sessions, and Mrs. Lowey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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 A BILL To require that bioterrorism-related grants provided by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to States and political subdivisions of States be distributed on the basis of a risk-based formula.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Responsible Bioterrorism Funding Act of 2006.

2.

Department of Health and Human Services; use of risk-based formula for distribution of grants for bioterrorism preparedness

(a)

Use of formula

(1)

In general

With respect to each program of grants that is administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and whose purpose (or one of whose principal purposes) is providing funds to States or political subdivisions of States to prepare for or respond to bioterrorism, all grants made under the program for fiscal year 2007 or any subsequent fiscal year shall, notwithstanding the provisions of the program, be distributed in accordance with the formula under subsection (b), as in effect for the fiscal year involved. (2)

Certain programs

The programs to which the requirement of paragraph (1) applies include the programs under sections 319C–1 and 319C–2 of the Public Health Service Act. (b)

Development of formula by secretary of homeland security

(1)

In general

For purposes of subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop a formula for the distribution of grants based on a quantitative assessment of risk based on the following three categories: (A)Threat. (B)Vulnerability. (C)Consequences (2)

Revisions

The initial formula under paragraph (1) shall be established and provided to the Secretary of Health and Human Services not later than March 31, 2006. The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall periodically review the formula and make such revisions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to accurately distribute funds based on risk. A revision is not effective for a fiscal year unless it is approved by both the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on or before July 1 of the preceding year.