Impact

Impact of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense

The Report
  • October 28, 2015
    Panel releases A National Blueprint for Biodefense: Leadership and Major Reform Needed to Optimize Efforts
The Public
  • Press conference held at Reserve Officers Association to launch report, generating 129,462,196 media impressions
    Presenters: Lieberman, Ridge, Wainstein | October 28, 2015
  • Institute of Medicine Standing Committee for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Strategic National Stockpile invites staff to present
    Presenter: Carlin | February 5, 2016
  • Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies holds annual conference on International Cooperation in Combatting Terrorism at the National Press Club, invites Panel to present
    Presenters: Lieberman, Ridge | February 8, 2016
  • The New York Times publishes news analysis, “Can Health Care Providers Afford to Be Ready for Disaster?” by Sheri Fink, citing Shalala testimony on hospital preparedness
    February 12, 2016
  • Institute of Medicine Medical Preparedness Forum invites staff to present
    Presenter: George | February 24, 2015 and February 25, 2016
  • Chairman Fred Upton of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce cites Panel in Washington Examiner Op-Ed on Zika preparedness, “Here’s What We Know about the Zika Virus”
    March 10, 2016
  • Infocast Annual Vaccine + Therapeutics Conference invites staff to present
    Presenters: George, Carlin | June 3, 2015 and May 18, 2016
  • Lieberman, Ridge publish Op-Ed in Roll Call, “America Needs to Strengthen Biodefense Now”
    June 12, 2015
  • Lieberman, Ridge publish Op-Ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer, “U.S. Path to Better Biodefense”
    October 28, 2015
  • The Washington Post covers launch, “Blue Ribbon Panel Report: United States Lacking in Biodefense”
    October 28, 2015
  • FOX News interviews Ridge on America’s Newsroom, Newsmax TV interviews Lieberman on Newsmax Prime
    October 28, 2015
The Congress
  • FY2016: Congress funds National Animal Health Laboratory Network to authorized levels (Recommendation 14b)
  • FY2016: Congressional appropriations exceed President’s request for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program (Recommendation 17a)
  • House Committee on Homeland Security holds hearing, “Defending Against Terrorism: How Vulnerable is America?”
    Witnesses: Lieberman, Ridge | November 3, 2015
  • Panel’s report inspires series of hearings, roundtables held by the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the House Committee on Homeland Security:

    • Industry roundtable on biodetection solutions | February 10, 2016
    • Hearing, “Improving the Department of Homeland Security’s Biological Detection and Surveillance Programs” | February 11, 2016
    • Hearing, “Food for Thought: Efforts to Defend the Nation’s Agriculture and Food” | February 26, 2016
  • Rep. Susan Brooks meets with Ken Wainstein to discuss biodefense oversight and legislative opportunities
    February 3, 2016
  • Representative Joe Wilson presents one-minute speech on the House Floor, citing work of Panel
    February 11, 2016
  • Reps. Susan Brooks and Anna Eshoo cite work of Panel in Dear Colleague letter seeking support for H.R. 3299, Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015
    January 12, 2016
  • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions passes S. 2055, The Medical Countermeasure Innovation Act of 2015 (Recommendations 29a, 29c)
    March 9, 2016
  • Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs holds hearing, “Assessing the State of our Nation’s Biodefense”
    Witnesses: Lieberman, Ridge | October 28, 2015
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the House Committee on Armed Services holds hearing, “Outside Views on Biodefense for the Department of Defense”
    Witnesses: Wainstein, Parker | February 3, 2016
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce holds hearing, “Outbreaks, Attacks, and Accidents: Combatting Biological Threats”
    Witnesses: Shalala, Greenwood | February 12, 2016
The Administration
  • Office of the Vice President and National Security Council staff meet with Panel staff for policy follow-up to Vice President meeting
    January 27, 2016
  • 2016: CDC undertakes planning to forward deploy SNS assets to New York City (Recommendation 23b)
  • FY2016: President, Congress double BioShield Special Reserve Fund and provide substantial increase for BARDA advanced development funding (Recommendation 28a)
  • Vice President Joe Biden meets with Lieberman, Ridge, Chairman Ron Johnson and Ranking Member Tom Carper of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs