Peters Convenes Hearing on Protecting Communities from Weapons of Mass Destruction and Bolstering Health Security at DHS

Statement

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing with senior government officials on the risks posed by chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological weapons, as well as on how the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office is working to address these threats. The hearing also covered the creation of the Office of Health Security at DHS -- which will work to ensure that the Department can address public health and medical related security threats. During the hearing, lawmakers examined how they can work to support ongoing efforts by Office of Health Security and the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office, including by swiftly passing Peters' bipartisan legislation that will help develop a comprehensive strategy to counter chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological and public health threats.

"Chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological materials, sometimes shortened to CBRN, is an umbrella term to describe hazardous agents that can be weaponized, and can cause everything from mass casualties and incapacitation, to agricultural destruction," said Peters during his opening statement. "As technology has advanced, the threats posed by these weapons only continue to grow and give malicious actors more opportunities to cause significant harm."

"Last month, Ranking Member Portman and I introduced bipartisan legislation to significantly enhance the federal government's ability to detect, recognize, and evaluate chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear threats," continued Peters. "All of these changes will ensure our nation can develop a comprehensive national strategy to protect all of our communities from these dangerous materials, and public health threats that can have catastrophic effects."

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