WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), today held a hearing continuing its review of the Federal Select Agent Program (FSAP). The hearing comes on the heels of recent reports regarding the shipments of live anthrax from a Department of Defense (DOD) laboratory.
“As Yogi Berra said, it’s like déjà vu all over again. … These dangerous safety lapses at our high-containment labs are threatening our nation’s security and public health," Murphy said. “This subcommittee will not relent in its oversight of federal laboratories’ compliance with select agent regulations, and will further explore the possibility of an independent agency to oversee these labs."
Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) added, “These blunders need to stop now. We need to learn from the mistakes of the past and stop repeating them once and for all. Otherwise I am afraid we’ll be right back here next summer discussing the latest security lapse."
Dr. Marcia Crosse, Health Care Director at the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, explained the findings from the watchdog’s recent report. “The safety lapses of 2014 and 2015 continue to raise questions about the adequacy of (1) federal biosafety and biosecurity policies and procedures and (2) department and agency monitoring and evaluation activities, including appropriate levels of senior management involvement."
Subcommittee Chairman Murphy pointed out that the DOD process for inactivating anthrax was insufficient, operating outside of the scientifically validated “kill curves" that are typically used to determine whether all the anthrax spores have been inactivated:
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Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) questioned the panel on where responsibility lies to address these concerns:
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Witnesses from the DOD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG) described past processes and future plans to address these safety lapses.
Gregory Demske from HHS OIG added, “On the basis of our enforcement work, OIG has identified opportunities to strengthen FSAP that CDC should consider as it reviews how FSAP can be improved. In addition, OIG will continue to provide oversight through audits and evaluations of FSAP and use our CMP authority to take enforcement actions."
Dr. D. Christian Hassell from DOD said, “The Department is committed to putting in place the systems so that ensure that this does not occur again, and will implement the recommendations of the Report and the further directives outlined by Deputy Secretary Work on July 23. Our top priority is the safety of all involved, and we remain fully committed to complete transparency of information."
Read full witness testimony and watch the hearing online HERE.
