Commission Receives $2.62 Million Grant to Defend America Against Biological Threats
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steve Aaron
SRA Communications
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steve@SRACommunications.com
COMMISSION RECEIVES $2.62 MILLION GRANT TO
DEFEND AMERICA AGAINST BIOLOGICAL THREATS
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 16, 2020) – The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense today announced a $2.62 million grant from Open Philanthropy. This is their fifth grant from Open Philanthropy, whose critical support of the Commission’s work now totals $7.31 million.
“Open Philanthropy has been very generous in supporting our efforts to identify and work with the public and private sectors to strengthen our national biodefense,” said Gov. Tom Ridge, first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and co-chair of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense. “Today’s announcement comes in the midst of our national response to novel coronavirus and other highly pathogenic diseases, the development of biological weapons by other nation-states, and the ongoing threat of bioterrorism. We thank Open Philanthropy for standing with us in our mission to defend America against the biological threats that threaten our Nation today.”
Open Philanthropy identifies outstanding giving opportunities, makes grants, follows the results, and publishes its findings. Its mission is to give as effectively as it can and share the findings openly so that anyone can build on them.
“The support we receive today from Open Philanthropy is absolutely critical in our ability to continue working with Congress and the Administration to implement our recommendations,” said former Senator Joe Lieberman, co-chair of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense. “The biological threats to our Nation remain all too real. We thank Open Philanthropy for their generosity and vision.”
About the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense was established in 2014 to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state of U.S. biodefense efforts, and to issue recommendations to foster change. The Commission’s 2015 report, A National Blueprint for Biodefense: Leadership and Major Reform Needed to Optimize Efforts, identified capability gaps, and recommended changes to U.S. policy and law to strengthen national biodefense while optimizing resource investments. Subsequent Commission publications have addressed critical needs for agrodefense, biodefense budgeting, and State, Local, Tribal and Territorial support. In September 2018, the White House released the National Biodefense Strategy, a top recommendation from the Blueprint. The Commission continues to assess biodefense challenges and to urge reform. Former Senator Joe Lieberman and former Governor Tom Ridge co-chair the Commission, and are joined by former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, former Representative Jim Greenwood, former Homeland Security Advisor Ken Wainstein, and former Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor Lisa Monaco. Hudson Institute is the Commission’s fiscal sponsor.