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HR 8610 117th Congress House Emergency Management Arms control and nonproliferation Chemical and biological weapons Congressional oversight Department of Homeland Security Emergency medical services and trauma care Emergency planning and evacuation Executive agency funding and structure Federal officials Federal-Indian relations Health personnel Intergovernmental relations Nuclear weapons State and local government operations Terrorism Urban and suburban affairs and development

Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

Introduced: July 29, 2022 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 11 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 20, 2022
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 469.
Dec 20, 2022
Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
Dec 20, 2022
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 117-650, Part I.
Sep 14, 2022
Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability Discharged.
Sep 14, 2022
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Discharged.
Sep 14, 2022
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 14, 2022
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Aug 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability.
Aug 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.
Jul 29, 2022
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jul 29, 2022
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

This bill makes changes to the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provides statutory authority for and expands DHS's Office of Health Security (OHS).

Specifically, the bill

  • establishes the new OHS to advise DHS on medical, public health, and workforce safety matters;
  • sets forth the responsibilities of the Chief Medical Officer and a Privacy Officer in OHS;
  • repeals the terminating date for the CWMD office and sets forth the responsibilities of that office, including efforts to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as other emerging terrorism threats;
  • requires DHS to report to Congress regarding the Securing the Cities program (which seeks to reduce the risk of a successful deployment of radiological or nuclear weapons against major metropolitan areas in the United States);
  • establishes a CWMD Advisory Council; and
  • requires a biodefense review and issuance of a DHS biodefense strategy.

The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on efforts of the CWMD office to prioritize its programs and activities to safeguard against CBRN threats and on other activities of that office.

What's happening now December 20, 2022

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 469.

 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 3 Republican 1
R
Miller-Meeks, Mariannette
Iowa · Sep 28, 2022
 D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Jul 29, 2022
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Jul 29, 2022
 D
Underwood, Lauren
Illinois · Jul 29, 2022
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8610: Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8610/
MLA
"H.R. 8610: Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8610/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8610, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8610/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8610: Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-8610/)
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