Bioterrorism Preparedness—What Progress has Congress Made Since September 2001?

Abstract

The U.S. government has long been aware of the potential for a homeland attack using biological agents. Historically, there have been some limited efforts to respond to this threat. During the Korean War, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established the Epidemic Intelligence Service as an early warning system to counter possible bioterrorist attacks. The Department of Defense has also developed biological defense programs and provided troops serving in high-risk areas with anthrax vaccine. In 1999, Congress appropriated funds for the first time for state and local bioterrorism preparedness. This article discusses congressional action since the fall of 2001 to respond and prepare for an act of bioterrorism.

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References

Sutton, V. (2001). Bioterrorism preparation and response legislation—The struggle to protect states’ sovereignty while preserving national security. The Georgetown Public Policy Review, 6(2), 93-106.