{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/following-cardin-van-hollen-and-delaney-efforts-ndaa-provision-requiring-study", "Following Cardin, Van Hollen and Delaney Efforts, NDAA Provision Requiring Study on Ft. Detrick Biodefense Lab Signed Into Law", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "John Delaney", "D000620", "delaney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013\u00a0U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, and Congressman John K. Delaney (all D-Md.) applaud the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report signed this week by the President, which includes a provision that would require a thorough study of the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) at Fort Detrick. Using language similar to Senator Cardin's amendment passed in the Senate version of NDAA, which was cosponsored by Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Delaney\u2019s amendment passed in the House version of NDAA, the mandated study would require a report on the implications of recent moves by the Trump Administration to close a unique lab that supports federal law enforcement investigations and identifies biological threats. The Maryland lawmakers wrote to President Trump in July urging him to reverse course on his budget plan to close the NBACC lab.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe Trump Administration\u2019s move to close the NBACC are ill-advised and this congressionally mandated study should provide the thoughtful analysis needed to upend such plans that would run counter to our national security,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cThe need to protect the American people from biological threats continues to be very real and should not be brought to a screeching halt for arbitrary or political reasons,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Cardin.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cBiological attacks are a serious threat to our homeland, and without the work of the NBACC we would undoubtedly be more vulnerable,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen. \u201cI hope this study will provide the Administration with a clear picture of NBACC\u2019s mission and their vital importance to our country. I will continue to fight this Administration\u2019s puzzling efforts to strip our homeland defense of such an important tool.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe country needs NBACC and the efforts by the Trump Administration to abruptly close it have never made much sense. We know NBACC because it\u2019s close to home, but the fact is this is of national importance because it is such a unique and critical facility,\u201d said Congressman Delaney. \u201cThe inclusion of this provision protecting NBACC in the NDAA Conference Report reflects a strong bipartisan consensus that we need to hit the brakes here. I would hope that this provision being signed into law sends a clear message to the Administration that NBACC needs to be off the chopping block for good.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThe NDAA conference report provision (Section. 1053) requires a joint report from the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DOD) by March 1, 2018, on the functions and end users of the NBACC.\u00a0The report must detail the cost and mission impact for users if NBACC is closed, including an analysis on NBACC functions that cannot be replicated elsewhere, and must include a transition plan for essential functions.\u00a0The language requires DHS and DOD to consult with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Attorney General, Director of National Intelligence, and other DHS components, when drafting the report, which may include a classified annex.\u00a0This provision prevents the use of any funds authorized under the NDAA to close or transfer NBACC until the report is submitted to Congress, and the heads of the Federal agencies that use the NBACC certify that its closure would not have a negative effect on biological defense capabilities.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://delaney.house.gov/news/press-releases/following-cardin-van-hollen-and-delaney-efforts-ndaa-provision-requiring-study"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5678138006478548, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}