[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                BIOSURVEILLANCE ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Biosurveillance Enhancement Act of 2007.
  Biointelligence and biosurveillance provide the early warning systems 
necessary to detect the spread of disease, whether natural or 
intentional. To date, these systems have not yet been adequately 
developed, although progress is being made. The Biosurveillance 
Enhancement Act of 2007 will further their development by building upon 
past efforts in order to provide the United States with a truly 
effective biosurveillance capability.
  The legislation I am introducing today authorizes the National 
Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC), which will be the primary 
nexus of the Federal Government's biosurveillance efforts. The NBIC 
will serve as a centralized system for consolidating data from 
biological surveillance systems and will be staffed by an interagency 
group of biosurveillance experts. Relevant data feeds will be brought 
together and analyzed to monitor any unusual health activity, including 
human, animal, agricultural, food, and environmental health problems. 
This analysis will enable federal, State, and local governments, and 
private sector entities, to quickly detect and respond to a biological 
attack or an outbreak of any natural disease.
  My legislation requires the Director to develop, maintain and operate 
the NBIC and ensure data is integrated from relevant surveillance 
systems to identify and characterize biological events in as near real-
time as possible. This bill will also ensure that the Director 
continually enhances the NBIC's performance by regularly adding new 
data feeds, improving statistical and analytical tools, establishing 
procedures for reporting suspicious events, and providing technical 
assistance to State and local Governments and private entities.
  This legislation will now give us the capability to integrate data 
from biosurveillance systems with other intelligence information to 
provide a comprehensive and timely picture of all existing biological 
threats. Information assembled within the NBIC, such as incident or 
situational awareness reports, will be shared with the heads of other 
agencies via information sharing networks.
  The NBIC is designed to be a beacon of interagency partnering. 
Participating agencies will integrate biosurveillance information 
through the NBIC, provide timely information and connectivity of data 
systems, detail personnel to the NBIC, and participate in shaping the 
NBIC's operating practices. In addition, the Director may invite 
officials of other government agencies, including interagency partners, 
to participate in a working group to advise and steer the activities of 
the NBIC.
  Situational awareness and early detection can mean the difference 
between an outbreak and an epidemic, or between a foiled and a 
successful biological attack. A strong biosurveillance capability will 
help protect our citizens and will enable us to more effectively 
respond to the worst-case scenarios. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this legislation.

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