The Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense hosted a meeting to address National Biodefense Strategy: Implementation and Implications.
The Nation continues to confront infectious disease events and the threat of biological attacks. This meeting of the Study Panel, chaired by former Senator Joe Lieberman and former Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, addressed implementation of the National Biodefense Strategy and its implications for the Office of Management and Budget, congressional authorization and appropriation, leadership, coordination, collaboration, and innovation.
A Member of Congress, senior White House staff, former government officials, and thought leaders drew upon current and previous experiences with implementing national strategies and high-level policy directives. These speakers also shared their thoughts on: (1) the biological threat, the priority they place on biodefense, and efforts to address their concerns; (2) what the Administration should consider as it goes about populating the Implementation Plan for the National Biodefense Strategy; and (3) how Congress should use the Strategy and its Implementation Plan to inform its biodefense oversight and legislative activities.