# 117-hr-8610: Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

117-hr-8610, Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] (D-FL); status Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 469. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8610
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-8610
- Congress: 117
- Title: Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act
- Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 469.
- Introduced: 2022-07-29
- Sponsor: Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] (D-FL)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Emergency Management
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act This bill makes changes to the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and provides statutory authority for and expands DHS's Office of Health Security (OHS). Specifically, the bill establishes the new OHS to advise DHS on medical, public health, and workforce safety matters; sets forth the responsibilities of the Chief Medical Officer and a Privacy Officer in OHS; repeals the terminating date for the CWMD office and sets forth the responsibilities of that office, including efforts to counter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, as well as other emerging terrorism threats; establishes a CWMD Advisory Council; and requires a biodefense review and issuance of a DHS biodefense strategy. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on efforts of the CWMD office to prioritize its programs and activities to safeguard against CBRN threats and on other activities of that office.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2022-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2022-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2022-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] (R-IA), 2022-09-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 Crown Road Southwest in Atlanta, Georgia, as the "John R. Lewis Post Office Build…
- 117-hr-4104: Vanessa Guillén Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act
- 117-hr-3630: Lymphedema Treatment Act
- 117-hr-2249: Willie O’Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 117-hr-2252: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021

## Sources
- [117-hr-8610 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8610)

## Related
- [117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1842)
- [117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 C…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5577)
- [117-hr-4104: Vanessa Guillén Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4104)
- [117-hr-3630: Lymphedema Treatment Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3630)
- [117-hr-2249: Willie O’Ree Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-2249)
- [117-hr-2252: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-2252)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8610 (as of 2025-11-18).