6 U.S.C. § 104 — National biodefense strategy

(a) Strategy and implementation plan required. The Secretaries of Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Agriculture must jointly develop a national biodefense strategy and a plan to carry it out, including a review of existing biodefense policies, practices, programs, and efforts. They must review, and update as needed, this strategy every two years. (b) Elements. The strategy and plan must include: (1) an inventory and review of all existing biodefense strategies, plans, policies, laws, and interagency agreements, covering prevention, deterrence, preparedness, detection, response, attribution, recovery, and mitigation; (2) a description of biological threats, including biological warfare, bioterrorism, naturally occurring disease, and accidental exposure; (3) a description of current U.S. government programs to prevent biological weapons, prevent accidental or natural outbreaks, and lessen the effects of a biological epidemic; (4) a description of each agency's roles, responsibilities, and information-sharing procedures for identifying and warning against terrorism using biological agents, and against accidental or natural outbreaks; (5) a description of the interagency abilities and government-wide actions needed to support the strategy; (6) recommendations for strengthening current biodefense abilities, legal authorities, and command structures; (7) recommendations for improving and formalizing interagency coordination and support for national biodefense; and (8) any other matters the four Secretaries decide are necessary. (c) Submittal to Congress. Within 275 days after December 23, 2016, the four Secretaries must send Congress's relevant committees the strategy and implementation plan. It must be unclassified, though it can include a classified annex. (d) Briefings. By March 1, 2017, and every year after through March 1, 2025, the four Secretaries must jointly brief the House Armed Services, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, and Agriculture Committees on the strategy and how it's being carried out. (e) GAO Review. Within 180 days after the strategy and plan are sent to Congress, the Comptroller General must review them, checking for gaps and comparing available resources against the strategy's requirements and existing U.S. biodefense policy. (f) Appropriate congressional committees defined. This term means: (1) the congressional defense committees; (2) the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; (3) the House Homeland Security Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; and (4) the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.