Anthrax Preparedness Bill Gains Additional Support
Arlington, VA - The American Biodefense Action Coalition (ABAC), a coalition of Americans concerned about the threat of biological warfare, today recognized the emerging groundswell of support from key Congressional Sub-Committee Chairmen for H.R. 2707, the Protecting American Families & Servicemembers From Anthrax Act. H.R. 2707 is bipartisan legislation that requires the Strategic National Stockpile and the Department of Defense to modernize their Anthrax preparedness strategy to ensure they meet countermeasure requirements, amid concerns of planned cuts to Anthrax preparedness.
H.R. 2707 recently received several additional cosponsors, who Chair key Congressional sub-committees of jurisdiction over national security issues. The latest cosponsors of H.R. 2707 include:
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-PA (Chairman, Subcommittee on National Intelligence of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence)
Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-FL (Chairman, Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security of the Committee on Homeland Security; Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Member of the Select Committee on the CCP)
These additions add to a robust bipartisan list of national security, preparedness, and public health-focused Congressional leaders:
Rep. Don Davis, D-NC (Original Sponsor)
Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-VA (Original Cosponsor)
Rep. Jack Bergman, R-MI
Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-NC
Rep. Deborah Ross, D-NC
Rep. Brad Finstad, R-MN
H.R. 2707 also received an endorsement from the Alliance for Biosecurity, America’s leading biodefense advocacy group, with Alliance Secretariat and former Congressman Jack Kingston commenting:
“H.R. 2707 is an important step in establishing a modernized and coordinated biodefense strategy that protects servicemembers, their families, and all Americans from biological threats.”
The Alliance for Biosecurity’s endorsement follows Congress’ bipartisan For Country caucus endorsing the inclusion of comparable language to H.R. 2707 in the upcoming NDAA.
BACKGROUND ON ANTHRAX & H.R. 2707
Amid concerns that America’s adversaries, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and terror groups, maintain offensive Anthrax programs, Anthrax holds a Material Threat Determination as designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This risk was noted in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s March 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, describing an increased risk of biological and chemical weapons that may include a “clandestine attack” against the United States.
Despite the enhanced Anthrax threat, there are concerns that Anthrax countermeasure therapeutics are scheduled to be reduced or eliminated altogether in the Strategic National Stockpile, as indicated in the 2024 PHEMCE Multi Year Budget.
President Trump’s January 20th, 2025 Executive Order called on the U.S. Government to “fortify biosecurity,” and any planned cut of Anthrax countermeasures in the Strategic National Stockpile is contrary to the President’s approach. Here’s why it matters: Should this cut remain as planned (the cuts were originally planned under the prior Administration), the nation’s industrial base for Anthrax therapeutic countermeasures would likely go out-of-business. This would leave the capability permanently lost, rendering the nation highly vulnerable to an Anthrax attack. Stockpile inventories are already significantly below existing requirements, even prior to any planned reduction, and any additional reduction would further cripple preparedness.
Learn more about this legislation and ABAC at AmericanBiodefense.org.
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The American Biodefense Action Coalition is a tax-exempt 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preparedness for biological threats. Given the risk of biological warfare to the United States, the coalition educates the public on the risk of biological threats and steps needed to deter and prepare for these threats.
Learn more about the Coalition at AmericanBiodefense.org.