{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-applauds-call-for-reforms-to-strengthen-america-s-ability-to", "Brooks Applauds Call for Reforms to Strengthen Americas Ability to Confront Biological Threats", "2015-10-29", "2015", "2015-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Following yesterdays release of the first comprehensive examination of U.S. biodefense efforts in over a decade by the bipartisan Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense, Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN) released the following statement:\nAs the events of last years Ebola outbreak suggest, America is not only vulnerable to current and emerging biothreats, but is woefully unprepared to defend against the next pandemic outbreak or bioterrorism attack. We must act now to bolster our capacity to respond to these events so that we can quickly and effectively mobilize our resources in the future. This includes ensuring that vaccines and medicine are developed and available when disaster strikes.\nI commend the Panels extensive and thoughtful work on this report and the effort that went into crafting these 33 tangible recommendations and action items for Congress and the Administration to implement in order to strengthen our nations biodefense capabilities. The MESH Coalition of Indiana contributed significantly to the recommendations, and I appreciate their involvement in the Panels work. I am pleased as well that there are strong ties between this report and my efforts in Congress, specifically the inclusion of a number of recommendations reflected in legislation I introduced earlier this year, the Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015. Specifically, the Panels work underscores the critical importance of refocusing, from the top-down, our nations biodefense priorities by reforming the drug acquisition process and incentivizing research into combatting the next deadly disease to ensure that the necessary medical countermeasures are available in order to better respond to the next pandemic outbreak or biothreat.\nMore information about the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense and the recommendations in its report is available here.\nMore information about H.R. 3299, the Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015, is available here. The legislation reforms our nations medical countermeasure acquisition process, incentivizes research to combat the next generation of deadly diseases, and increases accountability of preparedness spending.", 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": ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-applauds-call-for-reforms-to-strengthen-america-s-ability-to"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8922070264816284, "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"}