108th Congress

National Resilience Development Act

H.R. 2370

Background

At a hearing on homeland security and bioterrorism before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Representative Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) spoke about the need for a better understanding of the psychological aspects of terrorism and the need for psychological care and services. Representative Kennedy referenced the March 1999 release of sarin in Tokyo and said that the Nation needs to be psychologically prepared if such a terrorist incident happens here.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

H.R. 2370, the National Resilience Development Act, would amend Title III of the Public Health Service Act to create an interagency task force on national resilience. The legislation would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convene and lead such a task force for the purpose of increasing the psychological resilience and mitigating distress reactions and maladaptive behaviors of the American public in preparation for and in response to a conventional, biological, chemical, or radiological attack on the United States. The task force would include the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Director of the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, and other members as the Secretary deems appropriate. The duties of the task force would include coordinating and facilitating the efforts of the member agencies in their endeavors to develop programs and protocols designed to increase the psychological resilience and mitigate distress reactions and maladaptive behaviors of the American public in preparation for and in response to a conventional, biological, chemical, or radiological attack. The task force would also consult with and provide guidance to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in its efforts to integrate efforts to reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism and consult with the U.S. Departments of Defense and of Veterans Affairs, the American Red Cross, national organizations of health care and health care providers, and such other organizations and agencies as the task force deems appropriate.

The task force would also consult with and provide guidance to the States for the purpose of enabling them to effectively respond to the psychosocial consequences of terrorism; develop strategies for encouraging State public health and mental health agencies to collaborate closely in the development of integrated, science based programs and protocols; and prepare and present to the Secretaries of HHS and Homeland Security specific recommendations on how task force members' respective departments, agencies, and offices can strengthen existing and planned terrorism preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation initiatives. The legislation encourages the task force to work with State mental health authorities, in close collaboration with their respective State public health authorities, to better understand and manage human emotional, behavioral, and cognitive responses to disasters. H.R. 2370 would require the Secretaries of HHS and Homeland Security to jointly submit a report to Congress, not less than 1 year after enactment, containing recommendations from the task force.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 2370 was introduced on June 5, 2003, by Representative Kennedy and was referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, on the Judiciary, and on Transportation and Infrastructure. On June 25, the legislation was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. No further action has occurred on this legislation.