Biological Weapons: A Primer (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
July 24, 2001 |
| Report Number |
RL31059 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Steve Bowman, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
In the past decade, public and congressional concerns over biological weapons (BW), and
bioterrorism in particular, have sharply increased. Though the use of living organisms (e.g. bacteria,
viruses, fungi) to harm or kill humans, livestock, or plants has never occurred on a large scale, many
government officials are viewing a BW attack as a "when, not if" scenario. Some experts, however,
question this assertion, noting that BW production and employment is significantly more difficult
than often portrayed, and that there are significant political down sides for any nation or group who
would employ them. There have been a number of calls from Congress, the GAO, and
congressionally--mandated commissions for a comprehensive integrated national threat assessment
to be performed, so that perceived vulnerabilities alone do not drive government's response.
The United States has both statutes and regulations that govern possession and use of dangerous
biological agents, though some have deemed these too loose to maintain effective control of these
agents. Though no legislation has been introduced to date in the 107th Congress, legislation
considered in the 106th Congress may be reintroduced later in the session.
Federal programs intended to deter, respond to, and/or mitigate a BW attack exist in a broad
range of government departments and agencies, and have been subject to criticism for lack of
coordination. Vice-president Cheney is overseeing a review of all programs related to
chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear threat response, and in October 2001 is expected to provide
recommendations, which would be implemented under the direction of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
As a state party to the Biological Weapons Convention, the United States has participated in
a decade-long effort to negotiate a protocol to the Convention that would improve assurance of
compliance. It had been hoped that a draft protocol would be ready for consideration by the BWC
Review Conference in November 2001, however significant remaining disagreements ( both between
the United States and its Western Group allies and with developing countries) over the effectiveness
of verification measures, technology assistance, and protection of commercial proprietary
information appear to have stalled this effort.
