H.R. 8610: Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

117th Congress · introduced 2022-07-29 · Emergency Management · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 469.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2022-07-29 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 469. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

Plain 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; requires DHS to report to Congress regarding the Securing the Cities program (which seeks to reduce the risk of a successful deployment of radiological or nuclear weapons against major metropolitan areas in the United States); 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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House, Part I), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House, Part I)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 8610, Health Security and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act (2022-11-22)

Cosponsors on this site

Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House, Part I)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr8610.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr8610 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117