[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8610 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>





                                                 Union Calendar No. 469
117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8610

                      [Report No. 117-650, Part I]

 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Office of 
Health Security, make technical corrections to the authorization of the 
 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, establish a Countering 
      Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory Committee, establish a 
       departmental biodefense strategy, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 2022

 Mrs. Demings (for herself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Clarke of 
 New York, and Ms. Underwood) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the 
   Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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

                           December 20, 2022

                 Additional sponsor: Mrs. Miller-Meeks

                           December 20, 2022

   Reported from the Committee on Homeland Security with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                           December 20, 2022

Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee 
 of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
 [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on July 
                               29, 2022]


_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Office of 
Health Security, make technical corrections to the authorization of the 
 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, establish a Countering 
      Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory Committee, establish a 
       departmental biodefense strategy, and for other purposes.


 


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Health Security 
and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                   TITLE I--OFFICE OF HEALTH SECURITY

Sec. 101. Office of Health Security.

        TITLE II--COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE

Sec. 201. Technical corrections; Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 
                            Advisory Committee; departmental biodefense 
                            strategy.
Sec. 202. Biodefense review and strategy.
Sec. 203. Sunset repealed.
Sec. 204. Comptroller General review.

                   TITLE I--OFFICE OF HEALTH SECURITY

SEC. 101. OFFICE OF HEALTH SECURITY.

    (a) Establishment.--The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 
et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 103 (6 U.S.C. 113)--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``Assistant 
                Secretary for Health Affairs, the Assistant Secretary 
                for Legislative Affairs,'' and inserting ``Assistant 
                Secretary for Legislative Affairs''; and
                    (B) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the 
                following new paragraph:
            ``(6) A Chief Medical Officer.'';
            (2) by adding at the end the following new title:

              ``TITLE XXIII--OFFICE OF HEALTH SECURITY'';

            (3) by redesignating section 1931 (6 U.S.C. 597) as section 
        2301 and transferring such section, as so redesignated, to 
        appear after the heading for title XXIII, as added by paragraph 
        (2);
            (4) in section 2301, as so redesignated and transferred--
                    (A) by amending the section heading to read as 
                follows: ``office of health security'';
                    (B) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--There is in the Department an Office of Health 
Security.'';
                    (C) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Head of Office of Health Security.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Office of Health Security shall be 
        headed by a Chief Medical Officer (in this title referred to as 
        the `Chief Medical Officer'), who shall be at the level of 
        Assistant Secretary within the Department.
            ``(2) Qualifications; duties.--The Chief Medical Officer 
        shall--
                    ``(A) be appointed by the President pursuant to 
                section 103(d);
                    ``(B) be a licensed physician possessing a 
                demonstrated ability in and knowledge of medicine and 
                public health; and
                    ``(C) report directly to the Secretary.'';
                    (D) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
                        by striking ``medical issues related to natural 
                        disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-
                        made disasters, including--'' and inserting 
                        ``medical, public health, and workforce health 
                        and safety matters, including issues related 
                        to--'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the 
                        Secretary, the Administrator of the Federal 
                        Emergency Management Agency, the Assistant 
                        Secretary, and other Department officials'' and 
                        inserting ``the Secretary and all other 
                        Department officials'';
                            (iii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' 
                        after the semicolon;
                            (iv) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
                        paragraph (11); and
                            (v) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
                        following new paragraphs:
            ``(5) delivering, advising, and supporting--
                    ``(A) direct patient care; and
                    ``(B) the organization, management, and staffing of 
                component operations that deliver direct patient care;
            ``(6) advising the Secretary and the head of each component 
        of the Department that delivers direct patient care regarding--
                    ``(A) knowledge and skill standards for medical 
                personnel and the assessment of such knowledge and 
                skill;
                    ``(B) the collection, storage, and oversight of 
                medical records; and
                    ``(C) contracts for the delivery of direct patient 
                care, other medical services, and medical supplies;
            ``(7) advising the head of each component of the Department 
        that delivers direct patient care regarding the recruitment and 
        appointment of a component chief medical officer, or, as the 
        case may be, the employee who functions in the capacity of a 
        component chief medical officer;
            ``(8) with respect to preparation and response for 
        pandemics, ensuring the protection of the workforce of the 
        Department, with an emphasis on front line workers most at 
        risk, through--
                    ``(A) health security planning; and
                    ``(B) provision of subject matter and planning 
                expertise to the Chief Readiness Support Officer of the 
                Department regarding stockpiling and distribution of 
                supplies, including adequate personal protective 
                equipment;
            ``(9) with respect to any psychological health counseling 
        or assistance program of the Department, including such a 
        program of a law enforcement, operational, or support component 
        of the Department, advising the head of each such component 
        with such a program regarding--
                    ``(A) ensuring such program includes safeguards 
                against adverse action, including automatic referrals 
                for a fitness for duty examination, by such component 
                with respect to any employee solely because such 
                employee self-identifies a need for psychological 
                health counseling or assistance or receives such 
                counseling or assistance;
                    ``(B) increasing the availability and number of 
                local psychological health professionals with 
                experience providing psychological support services to 
                personnel;
                    ``(C) establishing a behavioral health curriculum 
                for employees at the beginning of their careers to 
                provide resources early regarding the importance of 
                psychological health;
                    ``(D) establishing periodic management training on 
                crisis intervention and such component's psychological 
                health counseling or assistance program;
                    ``(E) improving any associated existing employee 
                peer support programs, including by making additional 
                training and resources available for peer support 
                personnel in the workplace across such component;
                    ``(F) developing and implementing a voluntary 
                alcohol treatment program that includes a safe harbor 
                for employees who seek treatment;
                    ``(G) prioritizing, as appropriate, expertise in 
                the provision of psychological health counseling and 
                assistance for certain populations of the workforce, 
                such as employees serving in positions within law 
                enforcement, to help improve outcomes for such 
                employees receiving such counseling or assistance; and
                    ``(H) including collaborating and partnering with 
                key employee stakeholders and, for those components 
                with employees with an exclusive representative, the 
                exclusive representative with respect to such a 
                program;
            ``(10) in consultation with the Chief Information Officer 
        of the Department--
                    ``(A) identifying methods and technologies for 
                managing, updating, and overseeing patient records; and
                    ``(B) setting standards for technology used by 
                components of the Department regarding the collection, 
                storage, and oversight of medical records; and''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsections:
    ``(d) Assistance and Agreements.--In furtherance of this section, 
the Chief Medical Officer, at the direction of the Secretary, may--
            ``(1) provide technical assistance, training, information, 
        and distribute funds through grants and cooperative agreements 
        to State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, and 
        nongovernmental organizations;
            ``(2) enter into agreements with appropriate Federal 
        departments and other executive agencies; and
            ``(3) accept services from personnel of components of the 
        Department and appropriate Federal departments and other 
        executive agencies on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis.
    ``(e) Office of Health Security Privacy Officer.--
            ``(1) In general.--There shall be a Privacy Officer of the 
        Office of Health Security, designated by the Chief Medical 
        Officer in consultation with the Privacy Officer of the 
        Department, with primary responsibility for privacy policy and 
        compliance within the Office and with respect to the carrying 
        out of responsibilities described in subsection (c).
            ``(2) Duties.--The Privacy Officer of the Office of Health 
        Security shall--
                    ``(A) report directly to the Chief Medical Officer;
                    ``(B) coordinate with and, as requested, support 
                the activities of the Privacy Officer appointed under 
                section 222; and
                    ``(C) ensure privacy protections are integrated 
                into all activities of the Office of Health Security, 
                subject to the review and approval of the Privacy 
                Officer of the Department.
    ``(f) Annual Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this subsection and annually thereafter, the Chief Medical 
Officer shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the 
Office of Health Security for the immediately preceding year.'';
            (5) by redesignating section 710 (6 U.S.C. 350) as section 
        2302 and transferring such section to appear after section 2301 
        (as redesignated and transferred pursuant to paragraph (3));
            (6) in section 2302, as so redesignated and transferred--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``Under 
                Secretary for Management'' each place such term appears 
                and inserting ``Chief Medical Officer''; and
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
                        by striking ``Under Secretary for Management, 
                        in coordination with the Chief Medical 
                        Officer,'' and inserting ``Chief Medical 
                        Officer''; and
                            (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``as 
                        deemed appropriate by the Under Secretary,'';
            (7) by redesignating section 528 (6 U.S.C. 321q) as section 
        2303 and transferring such section to appear after section 
        2302, as so redesignated and transferred; and
            (8) in subsection (a) of section 2303, as so redesigned and 
        transferred, by striking ``Assistant Secretary for the 
        Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office'' and inserting 
        ``Chief Medical Officer''.
    (b) Medical Countermeasures Program.--The Homeland Security Act of 
2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) is amended by redesignating section 1932 (6 
U.S.C. 597a) as section 2304 and transferring such section, as so 
redesignated, to appear after section 2303 (as redesignated and 
transferred pursuant to subsection (a)(7)) of title XXIII.
    (c) Transition and Transfers.--
            (1) In general.--The individual appointed pursuant to 
        section 1931(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
        597) (as such section appeared on the day before the date of 
        the enactment of this Act) of the Department of Homeland 
        Security and serving as the Chief Medical Officer of the 
        Department of Homeland Security on the day before such date of 
        enactment, shall continue to serve as the Chief Medical Officer 
        of the Department after such date without the need for 
        reappointment.
            (2) Saving clause.--The rule of construction set forth in 
        section 2(hh) of the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and 
        Streamlining Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-166, 5 U.S.C. 3132 
        note) shall not apply to the Chief Medical Officer of the 
        Department of Homeland Security (including the incumbent who 
        holds the position on the day before the date of the enactment 
        of this Act), and such officer shall be a Senior Executive 
        Service position (as that term is defined in section 3132(a) of 
        title 5, United States Code) and receive the rate of basic pay 
        for level IV of the Executive Schedule (in accordance with 
        section 5315 of such title).
            (3) Transfer.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
        transfer to the Chief Medical Officer all functions, personnel, 
        budget authority, and assets of--
                    (A) the Under Secretary for Management, relating to 
                workforce health and medical support,
                    (B) the Assistant Secretary for the Countering 
                Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, relating to the 
                Chief Medical Officer (including the Medical Operations 
                Directorate of the Countering Weapons of Mass 
                Destruction Office), and
                    (C) the Assistant Secretary for the Countering 
                Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, with respect to 
                food, agriculture, and veterinary defense programs of 
                such Office,
        as in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
    (d) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 529 (6 U.S.C. 321r) as section 
        528;
            (2) in section 704(e)(4) (6 U.S.C. 344(e)(4)), by striking 
        ``section 711(a)'' and inserting ``section 710(a)'';
            (3) by redesignating sections 711 (6 U.S.C. 351), 712 (6 
        U.S.C. 352), and 713 (6 U.S.C. 353) as sections 710, 711, and 
        712, respectively; and
            (4) in title XIX, by striking the enumerator and heading of 
        subtitle C.
    (e) Clerical Amendments.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 528 (as in 
        existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
        Act);
            (2) by redesignating the item relating to section 529 as 
        the item relating to section 528;
            (3) by striking the item relating to section 710 (as in 
        existence on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
        Act);
            (4) by redesignating the items relating to sections 711, 
        712, and 713 as the items relating to sections 710, 711, and 
        712, respectively;
            (5) by inserting after the item relating to section 1900 
        the following new item:

``Sec. 1900A. Rule of construction.'';
            (6) by inserting after the item relating to section 1928 
        the following new item:

``Sec. 1929. Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory 
                            Committee.'';
            (7) by striking the items relating to subtitle C of title 
        XIX (as in existence on the day before the date of the 
        enactment of this Act); and
            (8) by adding at the end the following new items:

                ``TITLE XXIII--OFFICE OF HEALTH SECURITY

``Sec. 2301. Office of Health Security.
``Sec. 2302. Workforce health and medical support.
``Sec. 2303. Coordination of Department of Homeland Security efforts 
                            related to food, agriculture, and 
                            veterinary defense against terrorism.
``Sec. 2304. Medical countermeasures.''.

        TITLE II--COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OFFICE

SEC. 201. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION 
              ADVISORY COMMITTEE; DEPARTMENTAL BIODEFENSE STRATEGY.

    Title XIX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 591 et 
seq.) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subtitle A, by inserting after 
        section 1900 the following new section:

``SEC. 1900A. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    ``Nothing in this title may be construed as affecting in any manner 
or respect the operation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism 
Standards Program of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
Agency or title XXI.'';
            (2) in subtitle A, in section 1901(c) (6 U.S.C. 591(c))--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``serve as the Secretary's principal advisor 
                on''; and
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and 
                inserting the following new paragraphs:
            ``(1) serve as the Secretary's principal advisor on matters 
        and strategies relating to--
                    ``(A) countering weapons of mass destruction; and
                    ``(B) non-medical aspects of chemical, biological, 
                radiological, and nuclear threats, and non-conventional 
                emerging terrorism threats;
            ``(2) coordinate the efforts of the Department to counter--
                    ``(A) weapons of mass destruction;
                    ``(B) non-medical aspects of chemical, biological, 
                radiological, and nuclear threats; and
                    ``(C) other related emerging terrorism threats; and
            ``(3) enhance the ability of Federal, State, local, Tribal, 
        and territorial partners to prevent, detect, protect against, 
        and mitigate the impacts of terrorist attacks in the United 
        States involving--
                    ``(A) weapons of mass destruction; or
                    ``(B) non-medical aspects of chemical, biological, 
                radiological, and nuclear threats, and non-conventional 
                emerging terrorism threats.''; and
            (3) in subtitle B--
                    (A) in section 1921 (6 U.S.C. 591g), by striking 
                ``The Office shall be responsible'' and all that 
                follows through ``interests of the United States.'' and 
                inserting the following: ``The Office shall be 
                responsible for--
            ``(1) coordinating the Department's efforts and with other 
        Federal Departments and agencies to counter weapons of mass 
        destruction and non-medical aspects of chemical, biological, 
        radiological, and nuclear threats, and non-conventional 
        emerging terrorism threats; and
            ``(2) enhancing the ability of Federal, State, local, 
        Tribal, and territorial partners to prevent, detect, protect 
        against, and mitigate the impacts of--
                    ``(A) weapons of mass destruction; and
                    ``(B) non-medical aspects of chemical, biological, 
                radiological, and nuclear threats, and non-conventional 
                emerging terrorism threats.'';
                    (B) in section 1923(a) (6 U.S.C. 592(a))--
                            (i) by redesignating paragraphs (13) and 
                        (14) as paragraphs (19) and (20), respectively; 
                        and
                            (ii) by inserting after paragraph (12) the 
                        following new paragraphs:
            ``(13) serve as the primary entity within the Department 
        responsible for developing, acquiring, deploying, supporting, 
        and operating a national biosurveillance system in support of 
        Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments;
            ``(14) support the enhancement of chemical and biological 
        detection efforts of Federal, State, local, Tribal, and 
        territorial governments, and provide guidance, tools, and 
        training to help ensure a managed, coordinated response among 
        such entities;
            ``(15) collaborate with relevant Federal stakeholders, and 
        receive input from industry, academia, and the national 
        laboratories regarding chemical and biological surveillance 
        efforts;
            ``(16) carry out a program to test and evaluate, in 
        consultation with the Science and Technology Directorate and, 
        as appropriate, State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners, 
        and in coordination with other relevant Federal agencies, 
        technology to detect and report on chemical, biological, 
        radiological, and nuclear weapons or unauthorized material for 
        use by the Department and such partners, and establish 
        performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of individual 
        detectors and detection systems in detecting such weapons or 
        material--
                    ``(A) under realistic operational and environmental 
                conditions; and
                    ``(B) against realistic adversary tactics and 
                countermeasures;
            ``(17) conduct, support, coordinate, and encourage, in 
        consultation with State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
        partners, and in coordination with the Science and Technology 
        Directorate, transformational research and development efforts 
        to generate new technologies to detect, protect against, and 
        report on the illicit entry across the United States borders, 
        or the transport, assembly, or use within the United States of 
        chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons or 
        unauthorized material;
            ``(18) support and enhance the effective sharing and use of 
        appropriate information regarding chemical, biological, 
        radiological, and nuclear threats and non-conventional emerging 
        terrorism threats generated by elements of the intelligence 
        community (as such term is defined in section 3 of the National 
        Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)), law enforcement 
        agencies, other Federal agencies, State, local, Tribal, and 
        territorial governments, and foreign governments, as well as 
        provide appropriate information to such entities;'';
                    (C) in section 1924 (6 U.S.C. 593)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``section 1101 of the Strom Thurmond National 
                        Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 
                        (5 U.S.C. 3104 note)'' and inserting ``section 
                        4092 of title 10, United States Code, except 
                        that such authorities shall be limited to 
                        facilitate the recruitment of experts in the 
                        chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear 
                        specialties''; and
                            (ii) by striking the second sentence;
                    (D) in section 1928 (6 U.S.C. 596b)--
                            (i) in subsection (c)(1), by striking 
                        ``from among high-risk urban areas under 
                        section 2003'' and inserting ``based on the 
                        capability and capacity of the jurisdiction, as 
                        well as the relative threat, vulnerability, and 
                        consequences from terrorist attacks and other 
                        high-consequence events utilizing nuclear or 
                        other radiological materials''; and
                            (ii) by amending subsection (d) to read as 
                        follows:
    ``(d) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of enactment 
of the Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report regarding the STC 
program.''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 1929. COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Office a 
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory Committee (in this 
section referred to as the `Advisory Committee'). The Advisory 
Committee shall make recommendations with respect to the activities of 
the Office.
    ``(b) Membership.--The Assistant Secretary shall appoint not more 
than 18 individuals to serve as members of the Advisory Committee. Such 
individuals shall represent, to the extent practicable, a geographic 
(including urban and rural) and substantive cross section of officials 
from State, local, and Tribal governments, academia, the private 
sector, and nongovernmental organizations. The Assistant Secretary 
shall seek to ensure one-third of the members are selected from the 
emergency management field and emergency response providers and State, 
local, and Tribal government officials. The Assistant Secretary shall 
seek to ensure the remaining members are--
            ``(1) individuals from the public or private sectors with 
        expertise in chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear 
        agents and weapons;
            ``(2) representatives from the national laboratories; and
            ``(3) such other individuals as the Assistant Secretary 
        determines appropriate.
    ``(c) Responsibilities.--The Advisory Committee shall--
            ``(1) advise the Assistant Secretary on all aspects of 
        countering weapons of mass destruction;
            ``(2) incorporate State, local, and Tribal government, 
        national laboratories, and private sector input in the 
        development of the strategy and implementation plan of the 
        Department for countering weapons of mass destruction; and
            ``(3) establish performance criteria for a national 
        biological detection system and review any associated testing 
        protocols for biological detection prototypes.
    ``(d) Consultation.--The Assistant Secretary shall regularly 
consult and work with the Advisory Committee regarding the Office's 
activities, including with respect to activities associated with the 
administration of Federal assistance provided by the Department, and 
the development of requirements for countering weapons of mass 
destruction programs.
    ``(e) Voluntary Service and Terms.--The members of the Advisory 
Committee shall serve on the Advisory Committee on a voluntary basis. 
Members of may serve for up to three consecutive years, but a member 
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term 
for which such member's predecessor was appointed may be appointed for 
the remainder of such term.
    ``(f) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) 
shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.''.

SEC. 202. BIODEFENSE REVIEW AND STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--Title V of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
U.S.C. 311 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 515 (6 U.S.C. 
321d) the following new section:

``SEC. 516. DEPARTMENT-WIDE BIODEFENSE REVIEW AND STRATEGY.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with 
appropriate stakeholders representing Federal, State, Tribal, 
territorial, academic, private sector, and nongovernmental entities, 
shall conduct a Department-wide review of biodefense activities and 
strategies.
    ``(b) Review.--The review required under subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) identify with specificity the biodefense lines of 
        effort of the Department, including relating to biodefense 
        roles, responsibilities, and capabilities of components and 
        offices of the Department;
            ``(2) assess how such components and offices coordinate 
        internally and with public and private partners in the 
        biodefense enterprise;
            ``(3) identify any policy, resource, capability, or other 
        gaps in the Department's ability to assess, prevent, protect 
        against, and respond to biological threats; and
            ``(4) identify any organizational changes or reforms 
        necessary for the Department to effectively execute its 
        biodefense mission and role, including with respect to public 
        and private partners in the biodefense enterprise.
    ``(c) Strategy.--Not later than one year after completion of the 
review required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue a 
biodefense strategy for the Department that is informed by such review 
and is aligned with section 1086 of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (6 U.S.C. 104; relating to the development of 
a national biodefense strategy and associated implementation plan, 
including a review and assessment of biodefense policies, practices, 
programs, and initiatives) or successor strategy. Such strategy shall--
            ``(1) describe the Department's biodefense mission and 
        role, as well as how such relates to the biodefense lines of 
        effort of the Department;
            ``(2) clarify, as necessary, biodefense roles, 
        responsibilities, and capabilities of the Department's 
        components and offices involved in the biodefense lines of 
        effort of the Department;
            ``(3) establish how biodefense lines of effort of the 
        Department are to be coordinated within the Department;
            ``(4) establish how the Department engages with public and 
        private partners in the biodefense enterprise, including other 
        Federal agencies, national laboratories and sites, and State, 
        local, Tribal, and territorial entities, with specificity 
        regarding the frequency and nature of such engagement by 
        Department components and offices with State, local, Tribal and 
        territorial entities; and
            ``(5) include information relating to--
                    ``(A) milestones and performance metrics that are 
                specific to the Department's biodefense mission and 
                role described in paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) implementation of any operational changes 
                necessary to carry out paragraphs (3) and (4).
    ``(d) Periodic Update.--Beginning not later than five years after 
the issuance of the strategy and implementation plans required under 
subsection (c) and not less often than once every five years 
thereafter, the Secretary shall review and update, as necessary, such 
strategy and plans.''.
    (b) Congressional Oversight.--Not later than 30 days after the 
issuance of the biodefense strategy and implementation plans for the 
Department of Homeland Security required under section 516(c) of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall brief the Committee on Homeland 
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate regarding such strategy 
and plans.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the 
item relating to section 515 the following new item:

``Sec. 516. Department-wide biodefense review and strategy.''.

SEC. 203. SUNSET REPEALED.

    Subsection (e) of section 1901 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 591) is repealed.

SEC. 204. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall report to the 
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 
regarding the implementation of section 516 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002, as added by section 202, including information relating to 
the following:
            (1) The Office's efforts to prioritize its programs and 
        activities to conduct the Office's mission to safeguard against 
        chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
            (2) The consistency and effectiveness of the Office's 
        efforts at coordinating with State, local, Tribal, and 
        territorial entities and international partners across its 
        mission areas.
            (3) The Office's efforts to manage the lifecycle of 
        research and development within the Office and with other 
        operational and support components of the Department of 
        Homeland Security, including the Science and Technology 
        Directorate.
            (4) Any actions by the Office to measure progress in 
        addressing employee engagement and improving employee morale 
        across the Office.
            (5) The extent and effectiveness of the Office's 
        coordination with other operational and support components, 
        including the Science and Technology Directorate, of the 
        Department regarding research and development projects.
            (6) The Office's efforts to prioritize its research and 
        development funding, including to address emerging chemical, 
        biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 469

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 8610

                      [Report No. 117-650, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Office of 
Health Security, make technical corrections to the authorization of the 
 Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, establish a Countering 
      Weapons of Mass Destruction Advisory Committee, establish a 
       departmental biodefense strategy, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           December 20, 2022

   Reported from the Committee on Homeland Security with an amendment

                           December 20, 2022

Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged; committed to the Committee 
 of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed