Hearing of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Wilson, Hearing on "Outside Views on Biodefense for the Department of Defense"

Hearing

"I am pleased to welcome everyone here for today's hearing on outside view on biodefense for the Department of Defense. This hearing will provide an overview of the findings and recommendations from the recent bipartisan report of the blue ribbon study panel on biodefense.

It is critical that the United States maintain a dynamic national defense against the growing threat posed by biological weapons and naturally occurring diseases. The Department of Defense plays a large role in the U.S. biodefense enterprise, contributing bio-detection tools, medical countermeasures, and protection and decontamination technologies. The recent response to the Ebola outbreak illustrates the importance of the Department of Defense's biodefense contributions to broader government and global efforts.

This hearing is especially timely in preparing for our subcommittee hearing next week with the Department of Defense on countering weapons of mass destruction policy and programs for Fiscal Year 2017. The findings and recommendations discussed today will be important aspects of our review of the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Defense biodefense enterprise.

Our witnesses before us today are:

The Honorable Ken Wainstein

Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense Panel Member

Dr. Gerald W. Parker, D.V.M., PhD

Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense Panel Ex Officio Member"

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