Washington, D.C.
Two select agent and biosafety bills were proposed in Congress in February of 2009. In the Senate, the Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009 would monitor federal oversight of biocontainment laboratories, improve training, and create a system for accident reporting. The act would also provide funding for the U.S. Select Agent Program. In the House of Representatives, the Harman/Rogers bill would reauthorize and update the Select Agent Program, monitoring the transfer of select agents, updating lab standards and training procedures, and improving information systems. The Harman/Rogers bill would also require the National Academy of Sciences to review the Select Agent Program and recommend improvements.
