USA PATRIOT Act and Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act

Claremont McKenna College adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act) and the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response act.

The USA PATRIOT Act provides criminal penalties for possession of any biological agent, toxin, or delivery system of a type or in a quanitity that is not reasonably justified by a prophylactic, protective, bona fide research, or other peaceful purpose. The Act also established restrictions on access to specified materials. “Restriced persons,” as defined by the Act, may not possess, ship,transport, or receive any biological agent or toxin that is listed as a select agent, which can be found on the CDC Federal Select Agents and Toxins List webpage.
The Public Health and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act is designed to provide protection against misues of select agens and toxins, noted above, whether inadvertent or the result of terrorist acts against the U.S. homeland or other criminal acts.

Legislation requires all persons possessing biological agents/toxins deemed a threat to animal or plant health and/or animal or plant products to notify the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service). Legislation also requires all persons possessing biological agents/toxins deemed a threat to public health to notify the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) CDC (Centers for Disease Control).

For institutions possessing select agents/toxins, the requirements include:

Registering with the USDA and DHHS Secretaries
Implementing training, safety, and security measures
Assuring completion of background checks by the U.S. Attorney General for anyone having access to select agents/toxins
Denying access to select agents/toxins to anyone who does not pass the background check, including anyone who is a restricted person under the USA PATRIOT Act