Biosecurity Briefing: June 27, 2008 What's New Billions for Biodefense: The Center has published its 5th annual update of federal biodefense spending since 2001, with actual figures for FY2008 and the final budget request of the Bush Administration. Read the article (posted June 25, 2008). The Center for Biosecurity has endorsed the Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2008 (S.3217), introduced by Senators Burr and Kennedy on June 12, 2008. If passed, this important piece of legislation will reauthorize the Select Agent Program and improve oversight of high containment laboratories. See: Center for Biosecurity’s letter of endorsement | PDF of S.3217l | Recent testimony by G. Kwik Gronvall | "High-Containment Biodefense Research Laboratories: Meeting Report and Center Recommendations" (posted June 18, 2008) The FY 2009 Biodefense Budget: Eric Toner and Brad Smith participated in a June 12, 2008, briefing on Capitol Hill sponsored by AAAS to discuss the proposed FY2009 federal budget for biodefense. They emphasized the urgent need for both adequate BARDA funding to support medical countermeasure development and improved hospital preparedness for disasters. See: "Billions for Biodefense: Federal Agency Biodefense Funding FY2008–FY2009" | The Center's Recommendations for BARDA funding for FY2009 | BARDA FY09 Advanced Development Cost Estimates for Medical Countermeasures Against Biological Threats | AAAS Briefing webpage (posted June 18, 2008)
New Center Publications Billions for Biodefense: Federal Agency Biodefense Funding, FY2008–FY2009. Franco C. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. 2008;6(2). Editorial: Community Resilience for Catastrophic Health Events. Schoch-Spana M. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. 2008;6(2). | 
