Do U.S. Medical Facilities Need Better Plans For Large-Scale Chemical Or Biological Emergencies? (H.R. 361)

What is H.R. 361?

(Updated April 12, 2019)

H.R. 361 would authorize the use of grant funding to enhance medical preparedness in the event of a chemical or biological event.

The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) could be used under this bill to distribute funding to:

• Improve the ability of medical facilities to respond to a surge in patients seeking medical attention.

• Develop and maintain a pharmaceutical stockpile that includes medical equipment, medication, and other necessary supplies.

• Acquire diagnostic tools in sufficient quantities to protect first responders, their families, immediate victims, and vulnerable populations.

Argument in favor

The U.S. medical system needs to be able to respond rapidly to a chemical or biological attack. Creating a pharmaceutical stockpile, and protecting healthcare workers will be essential for stopping an epidemic.

Argument opposed

This bill does not outline any oversight to ensure that the grant funding is actually used for preparing medical facilities and personnel for a national disaster.

Impact

People affected by a chemical or biological event, first responders, medical personnel, medical facilities receiving and distributing funding through UASI & SHSGP, and FEMA.

Cost of H.R. 361

The CBO cost estimate is unavailable. However, a CBO estimate of this bill's previous version (H.R. 1791) found that enacting this bill would have no impact on the federal budget, and would not increase direct spending. To get an idea of how much money this bill could be authorizing: FEMA’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) and State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) - the grant programs impacted by this legislation - received $913 million in funding during the 2013 fiscal year.

Additional Info

In-Depth:

The threat of bioterrorism involving the use of chemical or biological weapons has been a concern for U.S. national security strategists for years, and for good reason:

• America suffered its largest bioterror attack in 1984, when a series of deliberate salmonella poisonings infected more than 750 people in Oregon. 
• In the aftermath of September 11th there were several anthrax attacks that killed five people.
  
• In 2014, it was discovered that ISIS militants were attempting to weaponize the bubonic plague for use in terror attacks.
  
• A New York Times story revealed that between 2004 and 2011, U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq located stockpiles of chemical weapons, some of which were located in areas ISIS controlled in 2014.

The Ebola epidemic that has primarily been focused in Western Africa, has led to the infection of health care workers and other people in the U.S. Concerns about the potential of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S. have underscored the difficulty in containing the virus. Suppliers of medical equipment — such as HAZMAT suits — have seen a dramatic increase in sales, and healthcare workers are concerned with a lack of equipment.

Media:

Washington Post