- Vision [1]
- The Panel, under the provisions of section 1082 of Public Law 110-181 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C.,
Appendix, as amended), shall provide independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense, and to the Committees
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the capabilities of the Department of Defense to provide
support to U.S. civil authorities in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive incident.The
Panel shall:1. Evaluate the authorities and capabilities of the Department of Defense to conduct operations in support to
U.S. civil authorities in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive incident, including
the authorities and capabilities of the Military Departments, the Defense Agencies, the U.S. Combatant Commands, any supporting
commands, and the reserve components of the Armed Forces (including the national Guard in a federal and non-federal status);2.
Assess the adequacy of existing plans and programs of the Department of Defense for training and equipping dedicated, special,
and general purposes forces for conducting operations described in paragraph 1 across a broad spectrum of scenarios, including
current National Planning Scenarios as applicable;3. Assess policies, directives, and plans of the Department of Defense in
support of civilian authorities in managing the consequences of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield
explosive incident;4. Assess the adequacy of policies and structures of the Department of Defense for coordination with other
federal department and agencies, especially the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, the Department
of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services, in the provision of support described in paragraph 1;5. Assess
the adequacy and currency of information available to the Department of Defense, whether directly or through other federal
departments and agencies, from State and local governments in circumstances where the Department provides support described
in paragraph 1 because State and local response capabilities are not fully adequate for comprehensive response;6. Assess the
equipment capabilities and needs of the Department of Defense to provide support described in paragraph 1;7. Assess and make
recommendations on: (a) Whether there should be any additional Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams, beyond the
55 already authorized and, if so, how many additional Civil support Teams, and where they should be located; and (b) What
criteria and considerations are appropriate to determine whether additional Civil Support Teams are needed and, if so, where
they should be located.The Panel, no later than 12 months after the date of the initial meeting of the Panel, shall submit
a report on its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate
and the House of Representatives.The report shall contain:1. The findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Panel for
improving DoD capabilities to provide support to U.S. civil authorities in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological,
nuclear, or high-yield explosive incident; and2. Any other findings, conclusions, and recommendations for improving DoD capabilities
for homeland defense the Panel considers appropriate.
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