November 28, 2012

Congressman Bilirakis sponsored H.R. 5997, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act, to ensure preparedness activities in times of disaster. Congressman Bilirakis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, introduced the legislation after a series of hearings, where emergency response personnel identified a need to stockpile medical countermeasures in the event of a WMD attack. The legislation does not authorize new funding. Rather, it clarifies that grant funds under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative can be used to enhance medical preparedness and purchase medical countermeasures.