Congress, it’s time to act - we must pass H.R. 2707.
Protect American Families & Servicemembers From Anthrax .
H.R. 2707:
Protecting American Families and Servicemembers from Anthrax Act
The American Biodefense Action Coalition fully endorses H.R. 2707. Here’s why:
H.R. 2707 ensures that the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) fully meets the requirement for Anthrax countermeasures - whereas currently, the SNS is far short of meeting the requirement.
There are concerns that the SNS is phasing out, depleting, or out-right eliminating medical countermeasures for this threat. This legislation ensures that this elimination is reversed and that Americans may remain protected from this deadly threat.
H.R. 2707 requires the SNS to modernize their strategy for preparedness for the Anthrax threat.
H.R. 2707 also requires the Department of Defense to ensure that deployed military and their families are protected with countermeasures available for them on oversees bases.
This legislation holds the Stockpile accountable to preserving Anthrax defenses, by requiring annual reports to Congress on activities that meets these legislative aims.
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Anthrax is a Category A agent as designated by the CDC for its deadly harms, widespread damage, and ease to manufacture and distribute. Our adversaries in Russia, Iran, China, North Korea, terror groups, and other threat streams are known to actively be developing offensive Anthrax weapons - leading to the Department of Homeland Security designating a Material Threat Determination for Anthrax.
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Treatment of Anthrax, per the CDC guidelines, requires the combination use of an antitoxin and antibiotic - one to treat the Anthrax toxin, one to treat the Anthrax bacteria. At the time of the 2001 Anthrax attack, antitoxins were not available, leading to the toxin killing several Americans; this prompted the US Government to invest in new antitoxin technologies that are stockpiled today.
Vaccines are also available for protection against Anthrax, but this generally requires advanced vaccination prior to an attack. Vaccines are an important tool in the treatment paradigm, especially for the warfighter, but full preparedness for Anthrax requires vaccines, antitoxins, and antibiotics.
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The Stockpile is chronically under-funded and under-resourced, leading to concerns that the Stockpile currently falls well short of the current requirement for Anthrax. The Stockpile has indicated they may curtail future investments in replenishment of expiring countermeasures for Anthrax, leaving the nation exposed with no medical countermeasures available to protect families and servicemembers. This is an unacceptable risk and burden to place on the American people.
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H.R. 2707 ensures that the stockpile modernizes their strategy for Anthrax defense, ensures the stockpile meets the requirement, and holds them accountable by requiring annual reports to Congress. It also requires the DoD to ensure that American families on bases continue to be protected from Anthrax. These families are on the frontlines from an attack from an adversary.
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Manufacturing of medical countermeasures for Anthrax can take between 12-24 months, due to the complex manufacturing process, FDA guidelines, etc. For these reasons, it is impossible to manufacture the countermeasures at the time of an attack - they must be stockpiled in advance. If we wait until an attack to stockpile countermeasures, it’s too late.
The Amerithrax Attacks
The Amerithrax attacks in 2001 are a strong reminder of the importance of preparedness.
An Anthrax attack could kill millions of Americans and cripple military readiness. Furthermore, some U.S. Government estimates suggest that an Anthrax attack on the United States could even cost “$26.2 billion per 100,000 persons exposed.”
Preparedness for the Anthrax threat is like buying an insurance policy - we can’t be caught off guard without one.
That’s why Congress must pass H.R. 2707.