On July 31, 2018, the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense held a public special focus meeting to address The Cost of Resilience: Impact of Large-Scale Biological Events on Business, Finance, and the Economy.
A biological attack could have devastating economic, social, and political consequences. Despite recognition of the important role of industry and other private sector elements in defending the nation against biological threats, the United States has yet to adequately plan for and support private sector engagement in preparing for biological incidents. Therefore, the Panel examined private sector roles and responsibilities before, during, and after the response to large-scale biological events.
This meeting of the Study Panel, chaired by former Representative Jim Greenwood and co-chaired by former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, provided the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense with a better understanding of private sector views on:
- Financial impacts of large-scale biological incidents;
- Public-private partnerships and collaboration in advance of such incidents; and
- How the private sector can contribute to biodefense, especially before federal assets are mobilized and after federal resources are exhausted.
Congressional, industry, and academic leaders provided their perspectives, experiences, challenges, and recommended solutions with regard to the biological threats of greatest concern to them, vulnerabilities of various industries, and economic consequences.