Meeting of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense to Address Devastating Economic, Corporate, and Financial Consequences of a Biological Attack Against the U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  (July 26, 2018) – Business leaders, U.S. Senators, and other experts will gather at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. on July 31 to discuss the impacts of large-scale biological events on business, finance, and the American economy. The transnational spread of disease can have huge, long lasting economic impacts, draining the coffers of local, tribal, territorial, and state budgets as much as they do federal resources. The bipartisan Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense is working to change the way America defends against biological threats. This public special focus meeting will take a closer look at the cost of resilience and foster greater dialogue about public and private sector stakeholders to determine how they can work together to address the threat.  “We know unequivocally that terrorists have the desire to create and use pathogens as weapons,” said Panel Member and former Representative Jim Greenwood, who is chairing this special focus meeting. “The Director of National Intelligence reiterates this point before Congress year after year. Globalization has empowered the modern bioterrorist. While some in the business community understand the need to address the biological threat, too few have taken steps to prepare for the spread of diseases that could bring their business operations to a halt and result in significant financial losses.”

The meeting will feature a prestigious panel of experts, including United States Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chairman, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Co-Chair, Senate Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism Caucus and Member, Senate National Security Working Group. Also speaking will be Peter Daszak, President, EcoHealth Alliance and Henrik Birk, COO, Bavarian Nordic. The meeting is set to begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C.  The complete agenda can be found here. Your coverage is welcome. Media should RSVP to either attend the event or watch a live stream by contacting steve@SRACommunications.com.

About the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense 
The Blue Ribbon Study Panel 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 Panel’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. The Panel continues to assess biodefense challenges and to urge reform. Former Senator Joe Lieberman and former Governor Tom Ridge co-chair the Panel, and are joined by former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, former Representative Jim Greenwood, and former Homeland Security Advisor Ken Wainstein. Hudson Institute is the Panel’s fiscal sponsor.