WASHINGTON, DC - Bipartisan House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders are continuing their oversight efforts in examining the CDC’s Laboratory Response Network (LRN), which is composed of laboratories at multiple levels examining food and environmental factors. Building on its past work, full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO) today sent a letter to the CDC requesting information regarding their LRN capabilities.
“The goal of the CDC Laboratory Response Network was to ensure that the nation has appropriate coverage and rapid detection technology and assays to quickly test suspicious materials and detect potential events suspected to be a result of bioterrorism in a timely manner to initiate immediate clinical intervention, surveillance, initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis, and other public health measures such as quarantine to save lives," wrote Upton, Pallone, Murphy, and DeGette.
The leaders continued, “The key to a successful response to a potential bioterrorism event relies on our ability to rapidly detect and diagnose suspected clinical cases. This task was clearly assigned to the CDC LRN for implementation and preparation of this aspect of the nation’s biodefense. As part of the Committee’s overall oversight of biodefense preparedness, the Committee seeks information about the current capabilities of the CDC LRN."
The committee is seeking to gain additional information on how many labs there are in the United States and their capability and readiness to address select agents and toxins.
The leaders request a response to their 9 questions by Aug. 25, 2016.
