Political Quotes

“I thank Chairman Green for his support, as well as that of my colleagues who join me in introducing this legislation, H.R. 6174, the DHS Biodetection Improvement Act. Threats from America's enemies have continued to evolve and become more complex. The anthrax attack of 2001 opened our eyes to a new threat landscape that includes acts of bioterrorism. In the wake of the 2001 attacks, the Department of Homeland Security established the BioWatch program, which monitors, collects, and tests air samples for biological agents likely to be used in a terrorist attack. This technology is vital in protecting Americans against bioweapons, and we must have full confidence that it will deliver timely, accurate, and comprehensive information to our partners that operate this system. As a first responder myself, I know the difference that early detection makes. This becomes more vital when responding to an act of bioterrorism, which could have catastrophic consequences. We have worked across all levels of government to improve prevention, detection, and response capabilities, but there remains work to be done. DHS has faced continuous challenges in developing and acquiring new technologies to move toward the next generation of national biodetection.…”