[House Document 108-17]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

108th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-17


 
NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE TRANSFER OF ACTIVITIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                           HOMELAND SECURITY

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              TRANSMITTING

 NOTIFICATION OF THE FUNCTIONS, PERSONNEL, ASSETS, AND LIABILITIES OF 
  THE LIFE SCIENCES ACTIVITIES RELATED TO MICROBIAL PATHOGENS OF THE 
  BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
  ENERGY, INCLUDING THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY RELATING 
  THERETO, SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY




 January 7, 2003.--Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, December 31, 2002.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Pursuant to section 306(d) of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (the ``Act''), and in accordance 
with the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of 
November 25, 2002 (the ``Reorganization Plan''), notification 
is hereby given that the functions, personnel, assets, and 
liabilities of the life sciences activities related to 
microbial pathogens of the Biological and Environmental 
Research Program of the Department of Energy (the ``transferred 
life sciences activities''), including the functions of the 
Secretary of Energy relating thereto, shall be transferred to 
the Secretary of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. In 
accordance with section 306(d) of the Act, please transmit this 
notification to the appropriate congressional committees.
    The reason for such transfer is that the transferred life 
sciences activities were inaugurated to assist in 
counterterrorism research and development by identifying 
biomolecular ``signatures'' (often referred to as 
``biosignatures'') of pathogens in order to enhance the 
capability of the United States Government to detect an act of 
bioterrorism and to identify the source of the biological agent 
used in any such act. Pursuant to the Act, the primary 
responsibility within the United States Government for the 
research and development of biosignatures of pathogens for use 
in counterterrorism efforts will now rest with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, and therefore the Department of Homeland 
Security will be the proper location for the transferred life 
sciences activities.
    The effect of such transfer on the activities of the 
Department of Energy will be to transfer the primary 
responsibility for research and development of biosignatures of 
pathogens for use in counterterrorism efforts, and the 
functions, assets (including funds), and liabilities relating 
to such activities, from the Department of Energy to the 
Department of Homeland Security. It is not anticipated that any 
Department of Energy personnel will be transferred to the 
Department of Homeland Security in connection with such 
transfer, because no Department of Energy personnel are 
dedicated exclusively to the transferred life sciences 
activities. Notwithstanding the transfer of the transferred 
life sciences activities, it is presently anticipated that a 
substantial portion of the affected research and development 
activities will continue to be conducted at Department of 
Energy national laboratories and sites in accordance with 
section 309 of the Act.
    Pursuant to sections 303(1)(B) and 303(1)(D) of the Act, I 
previously designated in the Reorganization Plan that the 
transferred life sciences activities and the nuclear smuggling 
programs and activities within the proliferation detection 
program of the nonproliferation and verification research and 
development program of the Department of Energy, including the 
functions of the Secretary of Energy relating thereto, shall be 
transferred to the Secretary of Homeland Security on March 1, 
2003.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.