Chairman Linder Holds Hearing On Terrorist' Ability to Develop and Use Catastrophic Biological Weapons

CHAIRMAN LINDER HOLDS HEARING ON TERRORISTS' ABILTY TO DEVELOP AND USE CATASTROPHIC BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

On July 13, 2005, Congressman John Linder (R-GA), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, held a hearing on "Engineering Bio-Terror Agents: Lessons from the Offensive U.S. and Russian Biological Weapons Programs." The hearing evaluated terrorists' ability to develop and use catastrophic biological weapons, as part of the Subommittee's broader review of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) bio-threat assessment activities. The hearing also examined the known biological warfare capabilities developed by the U.S. and Russian offensive programs, and the potential of those capabilities being utilized in future terrorist attacks.

"Today's hearing is the beginning of a series of hearings that will address the biological threat, and will lay the groundwork for assessing the role and responsibility of DHS in preventing a bioterrorist event from occurring in this country." Linder said. "The key to prevention is the analysis of threats, and this analysis is critical in determining where we should invest our resources. This government must be able to distinguish between any number of terrorist threats, whether it is a nuclear weapon or a "dirty bomb." We must be able to identify whether terrorists are attempting to spread smallpox, or, worse yet, a bio-engineered agent that is designed to circumvent any known vaccine. Or, we should know whether they are simply looking to blow up an office building. Undoubtedly, these are hard choices to make, but they are required of this government, and we must use both risk and consequence as a means of determining where best to spend our money and resources."

The development and use of biological weapons by nation states dates back centuries, and technological advancements have now made it possible for non-state actors to engage in such activities more easily. Unfortunately, in many cases, it is as straightforward as a college-level afternoon science project to make Cipro-resistant anthrax or, for that matter, anthrax resistant to multiple antibiotics.

"Since September 2001, Federal-wide investment in biological defense measures is estimated at more than $20 billion," Linder continued. "Congress must now work to ensure that this substantial investment is properly focused, so that we make clear progress toward eliminating the most serious biological threats."

Witnesses at the hearing included: Dr. Kenneth Alibek, Executive Director, Center for Biodefense, George Mason University; Dr. Roger Brent, Director and President, Molecular Sciences Institute; and Dr. Michael V. Callahan, Director, Biodefense & Mass Casualty Care, CIMIT/Massachusetts General Hospital.

http://linder.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=190&Month=7&Year=2005