The Issue
Biosecurity protecting humans, animals, and plants from biological threats is an essential government mission, the importance of which has been dramatically highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The government’s pandemic response has been enabled by the emerging bioeconomy, which provides core biosecurity capabilities that are essential to the success of the mission. The government’s engagement with the bioeconomy has grown in recent years, encompassing a range of agencies with a focus on laboratory and product safety and an emphasis on supporting research and development (R&D). However, the government lacks mechanisms for providing a broader strategic focus that integrates priorities, including biosecurity, in partnering with the bioeconomy. As a result, the government’s engagement with the bioeconomy remains insufficient to support the translation and integration of R&D into the delivery of biosecurity capabilities. The government is often not able to fully capital
They requested briefings from the National Bioforensic Analysis Center and the National Biological Threat Characterization Center. Both agencies, which are overseen by DHS, study the makeup, origin and distribution of biological weapons.
The two centers, lawmakers believe, have “conducted work that would be useful to advancing an investigation into the origins of COVID-19” that has not been made public.
DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this story.
The COVID-19 pandemic rocked the world economy in 2020 and so far is blamed for more than 3.4 million deaths worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The GOP members on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has purview over public health matters, have separately called for the Biden administration to launch an investigation into the coronavirus outbreak.