[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2803-S2804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 704. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2024 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal

[[Page S2804]]

year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. NATIONAL BIODEFENSE ANALYSIS AND COUNTERMEASURES 
                   CENTER.

       (a) In General.--Title III of the Homeland Security Act of 
     2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 324. NATIONAL BIODEFENSE ANALYSIS AND COUNTERMEASURES 
                   CENTER.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Under 
     Secretary for Science and Technology, shall designate the 
     laboratory described in subsection (b) as an additional 
     laboratory pursuant to the authority under section 308(c)(2), 
     which shall be the lead Federal facility dedicated to 
     defending the United States against biological threats by--
       ``(1) understanding the risks posed by intentional, 
     accidental, and natural biological events; and
       ``(2) providing the operational capabilities to support the 
     investigation, prosecution, and prevention of biocrimes and 
     bioterrorism.
       ``(b) Laboratory Described.--The laboratory described in 
     this subsection may be a federally funded research and 
     development center--
       ``(1) known, as of the date of enactment of this section, 
     as the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures 
     Center;
       ``(2) that may include--
       ``(A) the National Bioforensic Analysis Center, which 
     conducts technical analyses in support of Federal law 
     enforcement investigations; and
       ``(B) the National Biological Threat Characterization 
     Center, which conducts experiments and studies to better 
     understand biological vulnerabilities and hazards; and
       ``(3) transferred to the Department pursuant to 
     subparagraphs (A), (D), and (F) of section 303(1) and section 
     303(2).
       ``(c) Laboratory Activities.--The National Biodefense 
     Analysis and Countermeasures Center shall--
       ``(1) conduct studies and experiments to better understand 
     current and future biological threats and hazards and 
     pandemics;
       ``(2) provide the scientific data required to assess 
     vulnerabilities, conduct risk assessments, and determine 
     potential impacts to guide the development of 
     countermeasures;
       ``(3) conduct and facilitate the technical forensic 
     analysis and interpretation of materials recovered following 
     a biological attack, or in other law enforcement 
     investigations requiring evaluation of biological materials, 
     in support of the appropriate lead Federal agency;
       ``(4) coordinate with other national laboratories to 
     enhance research capabilities, share lessons learned, and 
     provide training more efficiently;
       ``(5) collaborate with the Homeland Security Enterprise, as 
     defined in section 2200, to plan and conduct research to 
     address gaps and needs in biodefense; and
       ``(6) carry out other such activities as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       ``(d) Work for Others.--The National Biodefense Analysis 
     and Countermeasures Center shall engage in a continuously 
     operating Work for Others program to make the unique 
     biocontainment and bioforensic capabilities of the National 
     Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center available to 
     other Federal agencies.
       ``(e) Facility Repair and Routine Equipment Replacement.--
     The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center 
     shall--
       ``(1) perform regularly scheduled and required maintenance 
     of laboratory infrastructure; and
       ``(2) procure mission-critical equipment and capability 
     upgrades.
       ``(f) Facility Mission Needs Assessment.--
       ``(1) In general.--To address capacity concerns and 
     accommodate future mission needs and advanced capabilities, 
     the Under Secretary for Science and Technology shall conduct 
     a mission needs assessment, to include scoping for potential 
     future needs or expansion, of the National Biodefense 
     Analysis and Countermeasures Center.
       ``(2) Submission.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
     of enactment of this section, the Under Secretary for Science 
     and Technology shall provide the assessment conducted under 
     paragraph (1) to--
       ``(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
     Affairs and the Subcommittee on Homeland Security 
     Appropriations of the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate; and
       ``(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and the 
     Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations of the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
       ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to support 
     the activities of the laboratory designated under this 
     section.
       ``(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed as affecting in any manner the authorities or 
     responsibilities of the Countering Weapons of Mass 
     Destruction Office of the Department.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
     (Public Law 107-296; 116 Stat. 2135) is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 323 the following:

``Sec. 324. National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center.''.
                                 ______