Bush signs BioShield legislation

Anthrax
Bioterrorism
Smallpox

Jul 21, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – President Bush today signed the bill establishing Project BioShield, a $5.6 billion program to speed the development of drugs and vaccines to combat the effects of biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological agents.

The 10-year program guarantees that the government will buy promising drugs and vaccines for agents such as smallpox and anthrax, which probably would not be profitable otherwise. It also empowers the government to authorize emergency use of medical measures that have not won normal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

"By authorizing unprecedented funding and providing new capabilities, Project BioShield will help America purchase, develop and deploy cutting-edge defenses against catastrophic attack," Bush stated in a signing ceremony in the White House Rose Garden. "We will rally the great promise of American science and innovation to confront the greatest danger of our time."

Bush also said, "The Department of Health and Human Services has already taken steps to purchase 75 million additional doses of an improved anthrax vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile. Under Project BioShield, HHS is moving forward with plans to acquire a safer, second generation smallpox vaccine, an antidote to botulinum toxin, and better treatments for exposure to chemical and radiological weapons."

HHS is also launching new research programs to develop treatments for victims of biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks, according to Bush's statement. Under BioShield, HHS is expected to be able to process research grants in about 6 months, compared with 18 to 24 months normally, he said.

He added that HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson has ordered the FDA to prepare guidelines and procedures for using its new authority to authorize the emergency use of unapproved drugs and vaccines in case of a biological attack.

Bush first proposed the BioShield program in his state-of-the-union speech in January 2003. The bill signed today passed the Senate unanimously in May and passed the House in a 414-2 vote on Jul 14.

See also:

Bush's statement
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/07/print/20040721-2.html

Jul 16 CIDRAP News story, "House send BioShield bill to Bush"

This week's top reads

  1. Vietnam reports H5N1 avian flu case with encephalitis

    Tests on respiratory samples were negative, but results were positive for the cerebrospinal fluid sample.

    Lisa Schnirring
    ICU monitors

  2. Studies detail high rates of long COVID among healthcare, dental workers

    The most common symptom reported by healthcare workers was fatigue.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    health worker in mask

  3. CIDRAP launches Vaccine Integrity Project to help safeguard US vaccine use

    The steering committee will make recommendations on how non-governmental groups can help ensure that vaccine use is evidence-based.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    MMR vaccine vial on table

  4. Top virologists urge world leaders to act on rising avian flu threat

    Global Virus Network scientists highlight the need for robust surveillance, enhanced biosecurity, and readiness for potential human-to-human viral transmission.

    Mary Van Beusekom

  5. Tick-borne meat allergy may be related to urbanization in mid-Atlantic US

    The study identified open-space development and low population density as risk factors for Alpha-gal syndrome. 

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Lone star tick

  6. US measles cases climb higher, approach 900

    Thirty states have cases, and 83% of infections are part of outbreaks, the largest centered  in West Texas.

    Lisa Schnirring
    young boy with measles

  7. New agreement geared toward universal avian flu vaccine

    The mRNA vaccine targets all major clades of the H5 avian flu subtype.

    Stephanie Soucheray

  8. USDA withdraws proposal to reduce Salmonella in poultry

    The Biden-era rule would have prevented the sale of raw chicken or turkey with certain levels or strains of Salmonella.

    Chris Dall
    Raw poultry in processing plant

  9. Quick takes: Mpox outbreak in Malawi, more H5N1 in Idaho and California dairy cows

    The cases in Malawi bring the number of African countries affected by mpox to 23.

    Lisa Schnirring

  10. Measles cases in Europe, the Americas skyrocket

    Almost 90% of the European cases were reported in Romania.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    measles vax

Our underwriters