,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eafj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #a1 #bjbb,mr4 ,cardin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,van ,hollen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to designate a laboratory as the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center ,authorization ,act of #bjbb or the ,,nbacc ,authorization ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,iii of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #aha et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cbc4 ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,under ,secretary for ,science and ,technology1 shall designate the laboratory described in subsection 7b7 as an additional laboratory pursuant to the authority under section #cjh7;c77#b71 which shall be the lead ,federal facility dedicated to defending the ,united ,states against biological threats by-- 7#a7 understanding the risks posed by intentional1 accidental1 and natural biological events2 and 7#b7 providing the operational capabilities to support the investigation1 prosecution1 and prevention of biocrimes and bioterrorism4 7b7 ,laboratory described ,the laboratory described in this subsection may be a federally funded research and development center-- 7#a7 known1 as of the date of enactment of this section1 as the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center2 7#b7 that may include-- 7,a7 the ,national ,bioforensic ,analysis ,center1 which conducts technical analyses in support of ,federal law enforcement investigations2 and 7,b7 the ,national ,biological ,threat ,characterization ,center1 which conducts experiments and studies to better understand biological vulnerabilities and hazards2 and 7#c7 transferred to the ,department pursuant to subparagraphs 7,a71 7,d71 and 7,f7 of section #cjc7a7 and section #cjc7b74 7c7 ,laboratory activities ,the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center shall-- 7#a7 conduct studies and experiments to better understand current and future biological threats and hazards and pandemics2 7#b7 provide the scientific data required to assess vulnerabilities1 conduct risk assessments1 and determine potential impacts to guide the development of countermeasures2 7#c7 conduct and facilitate the technical forensic analysis and interpretation of materials recovered following a biological attack1 or in other law enforcement investigations requiring evaluation of biological materials1 in support of the appropriate lead ,federal agency2 7#d7 coordinate with other national laboratories to enhance research capabilities1 share lessons learned1 and provide training more efficiently2 7#e7 collaborate with the ,homeland ,security ,enterprise1 as defined in section #bbaa7;h71 to plan and conduct research to address gaps and needs in biodefense2 and 7#f7 carry out other such activities as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7d7 ,work for ,others ,the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center shall engage in a continuously operating ,work for ,others program to make the unique biocontainment and bioforensic capabilities of the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center available to other ,federal agencies4 7e7 ,facility repair and routine equipment replacement ,the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center shall-- 7#a7 perform regularly scheduled and required maintenance of laboratory infrastructure2 and 7#b7 procure mission-critical equipment and capability upgrades4 7f7 ,facility mission needs assessment 7#a7 ,in general ,to address capacity concerns and accommodate future mission needs and advanced capabilities1 the ,under ,secretary for ,science and ,technology shall conduct a mission needs assessment1 to include scoping for potential future needs or expansion1 of the ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center4 7#b7 ,submission ,not later than #abj days after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,under ,secretary for ,science and ,technology shall provide the assessment conducted under paragraph 7#a7 to-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs and the ,subcommittee on ,homeland ,security ,appropriations of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and the ,subcommittee on ,homeland ,security ,appropriations of the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to support the activities of the laboratory designated under this section4 7h7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this section may be construed as affecting in any manner the authorities or responsibilities of the ,countering ,weapons of ,mass ,destruction ,office of the ,department4 4 7b7 ,technical and conforming amendment ,the table of contents in section #a7;b7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7,public ,law #ajg-bif2 #aaf ,stat4 #bace7 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cbb the following3 ,sec4 #cbc4 ,national ,biodefense ,analysis and ,countermeasures ,center4 4