1.Short
title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Select Agent Program and
Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of
contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
TITLE I—Select agent program reauthorization
Sec. 101. Reauthorization of select agent program.
Sec. 102. Select agent program review.
Sec. 103. Revision of the list of biological agents and
toxins.
Sec. 104. Sharing information with trusted State
partners.
Sec. 105. Improvements to inventorying and monitoring of
agents.
Sec. 106. Smallpox definition clarification.
Sec. 107. Plan for surge in samples of biological agents and
toxins.
TITLE II—Biosafety improvements
Sec. 201. Improvement of oversight of biocontainment
laboratories.
Sec. 202. Improvement of training for laboratory
personnel.
Sec. 203. Biological laboratory incident reporting
system.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention regulates the possession, use, and transfer of
select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to
public health and safety.
(2)The Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service regulates the possession, use, and transfer of
select agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to
animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products.
(3)As of February
2009, there are 82 select agents and toxins, 13 of which are found naturally in
the United States.
(4)As of February
2009, there are 336 entities registered with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention to work with select agents and toxins and 64 entities registered
with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. There are 10,463
individuals approved to work with select agents and toxins through the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention and 4,149 through the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
(5)Biocontainment
laboratories are used by scientists to study infectious materials safely and
effectively. Laboratory biological research is categorized by the safety level
at which it is performed. There are 4 safety levels, termed Biosafety Level
(BSL) 1 through 4.
<enum>I</enum><header>Select agent
program reauthorization</header>
<section id="id8F0687A11BDE4ED7986EA9970AD8DB36"><enum>101.</enum><header>Reauthorization
of select agent program</header>
<subsection id="id2EFCDE664C1C410F80F9B75D51A588DC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reauthorization
of select agent program</header>
<paragraph id="id1D9FC0321234436FB14100C4FD472594"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Public Health Service Act</header><text>Section 351A(m) of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a(m)) is amended by striking <quote>2002
through 2007</quote> and inserting <quote>2010 through 2014</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id7BCF1EB071904AF0A2862C3CD1D29039"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002</header><text>Section
212(m) of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
8401(m)) is amended by striking <quote>2002 through 2007</quote> and inserting
<quote>2010 through 2014</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="IDc22b0c3b120543a293027bc70ddb3e4d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appropriate
training</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id3CC576F4D77942F9994BAEC8A7B8D2EF"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Public Health Service Act</header><text>Section 351A(e)(2)(A) of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a(e)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting <quote>,
and appropriate training,</quote> after <quote>have a legitimate
need</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id6179A81DEBFA4CFBBC782CA21F870CFA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002</header><text>Section
212(e)(2)(A) of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
8401(e)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting <quote>, and appropriate
training,</quote> after <quote>have a legitimate need</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="ID2d7bfae021c34fb68eef498d08203782"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Covered
agencies</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="id44F45FEEC5AC4ED094313220FE490F1D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Public Health Service Act</header><text>Section 351A(h)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C.
262a(h)(2)(A)) of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
<quote>the Department of Homeland Security,</quote> after <quote>the Department
of Agriculture,</quote>.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id6BA4AB8706CA4DBFA4C7110EF01AA017"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002</header><text>Section
212(h)(2)(A) of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
8401(h)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting <quote>the Department of Homeland
Security,</quote> after <quote>the Department of Agriculture,</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id6111E2EB5D184CBA84BC4752C5E982A8"><enum>102.</enum><header>Select agent
program review</header>
<subsection id="ID4ea3d6e616f54e21bc6693f92fd6ca34"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall enter into a contract
with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a review of the select agent
program under section 351A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a)
and section 212 of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7
U.S.C. 8401). Such review shall focus on—</text>
<paragraph id="ID613cc16a9ec443e9ab1f454270237a10"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the extent to
which the program has enhanced biosecurity and biosafety in the United
States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID7ec31069403c4c65905e0efd13180017"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the effects of
the program on—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID8f859efa6191453eb189fa2680fedac8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>international
scientific collaboration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID585b5ce6dcf040318a8ff4d7c4d04365"><enum>(B)</enum><text>scientific
advances in the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id377CC36658A0476EB30FB7987D6742B5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>other issues as
requested by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of
Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID84193150eff34812a80e637dd811634c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report;
recommendations</header><text>Not later than 240 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit a report
to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture,
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and other
congressional committees of relevant interest, on the results of the review
conducted under subsection (a). Such report shall include recommendations for
improving the structure of the select agent program for—</text>
<paragraph id="ID19bdc4f3a6c24c9b95b27f53129e84be"><enum>(1)</enum><text>enhancing the
biosecurity and biosafety of the United States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3358163384654370afcec328a0a72fba"><enum>(2)</enum><text>eliminating or
reducing adverse effects of the program, if any, on—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID63d11ce5fdfb43a0a48c2c63aa9aad78"><enum>(A)</enum><text>international
scientific collaboration; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2e05a16d633242c6b3f4c93a8a63d677"><enum>(B)</enum><text>scientific
advances in the United States; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idEED1B8D36CB54EFD88C775BA08704A17"><enum>(3)</enum><text>other issues as
requested by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of
Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idFC0077BC23B34CADB4C07A031D7770C1"><enum>103.</enum><header>Revision of
the list of biological agents and toxins</header>
<subsection id="idF0E7F3CE30B0486BB8B3D354371F3DB8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Public Health Service Act</header><text>Section 351A(a)(1)(B)(i) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a(a)(1)(B)(i)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id9DC07C75489F4061BE4866057592583C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subclause
(III), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idA1403D95FD7F408DB42AF2A17559F8A7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating
subclause (IV) as subclause (VII); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idC566E9FAA03E4C86A8C70A6EAAA4BE30"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
after subclause (III) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4307F2B4E34844B7AB88C4CEAA4696B9" style="OLC">
<subclause id="idBAC93627875D4293B8E3F3FEA8EE3DE4"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>whether the
agent or toxin is endemic to the United States, as defined by the
Secretary;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id74054B6A1E3D4979A4F8389CBB09C284"><enum>(V)</enum><text>information
available from biological risk assessments conducted by the Department of
Homeland Security;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="idCFD57A39E0EE42D79BCEE79C7C7D9159"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>newly discovered
agents of disease, including genetically modified organisms or agents created
synthetically;
and</text>
</subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0CC4A3FBADF0476FA9F07A894D1AA0A7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002</header><text>Section
212(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7
U.S.C. 8401(a)(1)(B)(i)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id5B4A3EEFD41F449996A688395802094E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subclause
(III), by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id61EF3BA12E1840E78F4E07BA8EF97F20"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating
subclause (IV) as subclause (VII); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id699E8830A488472BB312240384BC487A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
after subclause (III) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6A343AD1EAE4E79BE538C00939807A3" style="OLC">
<subclause id="id338EE6462E5C4D0EB4397B2579C87AA3"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>whether the
agent or toxin is endemic to the United States, as defined by the
Secretary;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="id4071CEDE2E2942AB9F84C22923441C2A"><enum>(V)</enum><text>information
available from biological risk assessments conducted by the Department of
Homeland Security;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5842C023DE784FB499FABFD44426CD6F"><enum>(VI)</enum><text>newly discovered
agents of disease, including genetically modified organisms or agents created
synthetically;
and</text>
</subclause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID58eba52bb4f94158885ce60526370656"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rule of
construction</header><text>The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall
not be construed to preclude the listing of a biological agent or toxin that is
endemic to the United States.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id8AF407C4FB0448C692271FAD87AC96B5"><enum>104.</enum><header>Sharing
information with trusted State partners</header>
<subsection id="id7EE101F6C3A249D3B8C16EA041ED5E6C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Public Health Service Act</header><text>Section 351A(h)(5) of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a(h)(5)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id80E5EE4ACD4948B4B2CA3576F3B3ABAE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A), by striking <quote>; or</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idDC90E20445544B96A8448FAD78AADDEA"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id0E417D905CDB43E09CE948785EA75D73"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2AA80A048F004DA59A665A37A14E8FB9" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="id44C6D5530D934C93ABD62EC4DAAA487F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to withhold
information regarding a State that will assist with the State's emergency
preparedness planning from the health director (or equivalent State official)
of such State, if such State has in place a law to protect against the further
release of such information as determined by the
Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idA1F499DE4F2F412794BF607C01C0945F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Amendment to
the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002</header><text>Section
212(h)(5) of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
8401(h)(5)) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="id7FBE81A001B54472A37A45250C6AF77D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(A), by striking <quote>; or</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6C64A0EB545C447DAC97A9E21225F657"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subparagraph
(B), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id631B4E08FC334E908CA49C0FEDCE685A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA936EFDC4BEC4AB8A65CC9166A953DE6" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="idF979EB8C4FC64464B80EC0DE7423BF10"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to withhold
information regarding a State that will assist with the State's emergency
preparedness planning from an elected or appointed senior State agricultural
official or equivalent State official (such as a State veterinarian or a State
plant health regulatory official) of such State, if such State has in place a
law to protect against the further release of such information as determined by
the
Secretary.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id606F89031B3E41A88C532BFFAC34A26B"><enum>105.</enum><header>Improvements
to inventorying and monitoring of agents</header>
<subsection id="id5135A6210E974EE5A5A4DF597BD59053"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Improved method
to inventory and monitor listed biological agents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the
Secretary of Agriculture, and in consultation with individuals with appropriate
scientific expertise, shall issue guidance on inventorying and monitoring the
biological agents listed under section 351A(a)(1) of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 262a(a)(1)) and the biological agents listed under section
212(a)(1) of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
8401(a)(1)).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id834E2077893D4F32BED1CF293CC4D547"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In issuing the guidance under subsection
(a), the Secretaries shall consider—</text>
<paragraph id="ID7276df4e80fc4584b9bca43c07ed0b04"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the effectiveness
of measures to inventory and monitor listed biological agents that can
propagate relative to the burden of these measures on laboratory
personnel;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idF86E32A1886141F8BBF876CC5A4E83BE"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">qualitative and quantitative control
procedures for such listed agents, rather than only quantitative control
procedures; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3f65453db3aa4ed58e223e31485e7ab9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in what
situations registered persons are required to keep inventory records.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0FCD8C81568340DE9A971CEA09D24726"><enum>106.</enum><header>Smallpox
definition clarification</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not
later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney
General, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall
issue public guidance regarding how the Attorney General interprets the scope
of the statutory definition of <quote>variola virus</quote> in section 175c of
title 18, United States Code.</text>
</section><section id="idC8F471E33DB94E3DB7DF542EE53E564B"><enum>107.</enum><header>Plan for surge
in samples of biological agents and toxins</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and State officials, shall
develop and disseminate guidelines for how laboratories and laboratory
personnel that do not regularly test for listed agents and toxins (as such
terms are defined in section 351A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
262a) and section 212 of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002
(7 U.S.C. 8401)) may be rapidly accessed and utilized during emergencies in
which laboratories and laboratory personnel that regularly test for such agents
and toxins are overwhelmed by a surge of samples of such listed agents and
toxins.</text>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>Biosafety
improvements</header>
<section id="id5188CA6049ED47699DFD88517B2E222A"><enum>201.</enum><header>Improvement of
oversight of biocontainment laboratories</header>
<subsection id="id66B1DF58C7E247FDBA02120B5757363F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For
purposes of this section, the term <term>high containment biological
laboratory</term> means a laboratory that has Biosafety Level 3 or Biosafety
Level 4 facilities, as defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
and the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDeac8badd62ed441dab4960730e99b027"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text>The
Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Secretary of
Agriculture, and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Homeland Security (referred to in this section as the
<quote>Secretaries</quote>) shall, either directly or through a contract,
evaluate national needs of, and oversight of, high containment biological
laboratories.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDd9ddb4c050f64b37beb6efdeda42b51d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text>In
conducting the evaluation under subsection (b), the Secretaries shall
consider—</text>
<paragraph id="ID9dda51c1da3f43659643ac40352b26a9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>whether the
construction of high containment biological laboratories that are in existence
or planned as of the date of enactment of this Act, is likely to provide
sufficient capacity for the needs of Government biodefense and infectious
disease research;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID280c354d2b6341c68f2fb59b50ba5a97"><enum>(2)</enum><text>how laboratory
capacity and lessons learned can be best shared across the biodefense and
infectious disease research communities, domestically and
internationally;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID779c6c6d26574c19afa761c4854063ed"><enum>(3)</enum><text>whether guidance
on laboratory infrastructure, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of such
laboratories is adequate, and if such guidance is found to be inadequate, how
to improve and streamline such guidance; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID280cbdeb36c2449aa6ab49eb9d337693"><enum>(4)</enum><text>ways to improve
and streamline the training of the personnel of such laboratories, including
recommendations regarding the minimum standards for laboratory biosafety and
biosecurity training under section 202.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDa6ee6003d37f498a883353a59603121b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Report to
congress</header><text>Not later than 240 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a
report on the findings and recommendations from the evaluation under this
section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0D9D22EF18184D1E9221F1690EE39566"><enum>202.</enum><header>Improvement of
training for laboratory personnel</header>
<subsection id="id6D32D819F3154EB1A8F18A55181BBC96"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition</header><text>For
purposes of this section, the term <term>high containment biological
laboratory</term> means a laboratory that has Biosafety Level 3 or Biosafety
Level 4 facilities, as defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services
and the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDe68b1ec9f98f47e98f0d522831cfed03"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Development of
minimum standards</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and in coordination with
the Secretary of Agriculture and scientific experts representing appropriate
professional groups and international health organizations, shall develop
minimum standards for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity training for
relevant personnel of high containment biological laboratories. In developing
such standards, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consider
existing laboratory guidelines and training modules.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDd59896fc73dd4c01971c80c42407b3fd"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Requirement for
approval</header><text>A person may not register with the Secretary of Health
and Human Services or the Secretary of Agriculture for the possession, use, or
transfer of listed agents in accordance with section 351A of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a) and section 212 of the Agricultural Bioterrorism
Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8401) unless the person provides to its
appropriate personnel biosafety and biosecurity training that meets the minimum
standards under subsection (b) in addition to any other requirements determined
appropriate by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary of
Agriculture.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID2fe5db15c60f4ffbbf61e53deb66fa2f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Dissemination</header><text>The
Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Secretary of
Agriculture, may disseminate the minimum standards under subsection (b) for
voluntary use, such as when use is not required under subsection (b), in
laboratories and academic programs in the United States and in other
countries.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="id5359F666CEC349CEA8C5F5DDF78BAE4C"><enum>203.</enum><header>Biological
laboratory incident reporting system</header>
<subsection id="ID05caf02cbd324fe6887a07d355882827"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in
coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this section as
the <quote>Secretaries</quote>), shall establish an integrated Biological
Laboratory Incident Reporting System through which personnel of biological
laboratories may voluntarily report biosafety or biosecurity incidents of
concern and the Secretaries may identify trends in such incidents and protocols
for biosafety or biosecurity improvements. In developing such reporting system,
the Secretaries shall consider options for integrating existing voluntary and
required reporting mechanisms.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="IDd3610bed939f475c8fb9bcec61f5ae6a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>In
implementing the reporting system under subsection (a), the Secretaries shall
enter into a contract with a public or private entity that does not regulate
biological laboratories to administer the reporting system. Such entity
shall—</text>
<paragraph id="ID3b2197e5994249898f5f88e15f08d34e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>receive and
process incident reports;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3d229eb3d48f4573bc7f733519a6702e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>analyze,
interpret incident data, and identify incident trends;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID3185369537cf4366aaded0fe5b961acd"><enum>(3)</enum><text>issue alert
messages within an appropriate time period;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID129a35d425a0468d90e3120f686c66e2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>disseminate
reports and other appropriate information, which shall not include
facility-specific information;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID388f3e7911a54f83a55cec72e375090b"><enum>(5)</enum><text>not have
authority to direct corrective action or to initiate enforcement action;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDecf24b9514ac450bb3a5da40638154c0"><enum>(6)</enum><text>ensure anonymity
of individuals reporting to the system, to the extent permitted by law;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDf60b7603b06c421f9a394bb84525783e"><enum>(7)</enum><text>conduct other
activities as requested by the Secretaries.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>