S. 3162: To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall develop and implement a comprehensive wastewater surveillance system at certain installations of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to establish a pilot program aimed at improving the monitoring of wastewater at certain military installations. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Pilot Program Implementation

The Secretary of Defense must start a pilot program within 180 days after the bill is enacted. This program will focus on developing and implementing a comprehensive wastewater surveillance system at a minimum of four military installations.

Purpose of the Program

The main goals of this program are:

• To enhance the testing, identification, and analysis of the use of specific drugs categorized as "covered drugs".
• To identify the prevalence of infectious diseases among military personnel at the installations.

Requirements for the System

The wastewater surveillance system must include the following:

• A monitoring system specifically designed for tracking the usage of covered drugs at one of the installations.
• A monitoring system for detecting infectious diseases at another installation.

Additionally, the system will employ appropriate technologies and a standardized data system across the Department of Defense.

Duration of the Pilot Program

The pilot program is set to last for two years, starting from its commencement date.

Reporting Requirements

Once the pilot program concludes, the Secretary of Defense is required to submit a report to congressional defense committees within 90 days. This report must include:

• A summary of findings from the wastewater surveillance activities.
• Recommendations for potential policy changes based on observed trends.
• An evaluation of how effective the pilot program was in improving health protection and readiness among service members.

Use of Existing Resources

The Secretary is encouraged to utilize existing resources and authorities already available within the Department of Defense to carry out this pilot program.

Definitions

In the context of this bill:

• Congressional defense committees: Refers to specific congressional groups tasked with defense-related oversight.
• Covered drug: Typically refers to drugs classified under certain schedules in the Controlled Substances Act, specifically those that are seen as having a significant potential for abuse.

Relevant Companies

None found.