[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE ``SELECT AGENT PROGRAM AND BIOSAFETY IMPROVEMENT 
                             ACT OF 2008''

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                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2008

  Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, today my colleague Mike Rogers of Michigan 
and I are introducing the House companion to a bill introduced by 
Senators Burr and Kennedy--the Select Agent Program and Biosafety 
Improvement Act.
  The bill will provide an important link in the chain of defenses 
needed to fight the potential threat of bioterrorism.
  The bill reauthorizes and updates the Select Agent Program, which 
limits access to and controls the transfer of dangerous biological 
agents and toxins.
  It requires the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a 
comprehensive evaluation of the program, and recommend ways in which it 
can be restructured to enhance biosecurity and international scientific 
collaboration.
  It requires that the program consider newly discovered agents--such 
as genetically modified organisms, synthetic compounds, and other 
agents identified in Homeland Security risk assessments--to ensure that 
the list of agents is current and comprehensive.
  It encourages the sharing of information with state emergency 
planning officials, which is vital to ensuring that our first 
responders have the tools they need to prevent or respond to an attack.
  And it ensures minimum biosecurity and biosafety standards for the 
training of workers in the laboratories that deal with the most 
dangerous substances.
  These measures are of vital importance. Over the past several decades 
we have seen revolutions in technology, economics, and politics that 
are fundamentally changing the world we live in.
  The upside of these developments is obvious. The world is more 
prosperous, healthy, and interconnected than it has ever been before. 
But with these revolutions also come challenges.
  The same advances in biotechnology that help save lives, can also be 
used to develop dangerous biological agents and toxins that can take 
lives.
  The new global information infrastructure that is now the backbone of 
our economy can be used to spread knowledge of how to create and 
disperse biological weapons.
  It is more important than ever that the U.S. government be able to 
track and control the dangerous materials that can be used to construct 
these weapons. This bill will help that effort.
  In closing, I'd like to say a special word about Senator Kennedy. He 
has been a legislative hero of mine since my days working as a staffer 
on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He and Vicki are good friends, and 
are in my prayers.
  Rep. Rogers has amassed an impressive amount of knowledge on this 
subject, and will play a major role in securing its passage.




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