Senate Bills - 109th Congress

S. 1873—The Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005

On October 17, 2005, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced S. 1873, the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005. Among its many provisions, the bill would require establishment of (1) a Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate and oversee activities that support and accelerate advanced research and development of qualified countermeasures or pandemic or epidemic products, (2) a National Biodefense Advisory Board to provide the Secretary, HHS, with expert advice and guidance on threats, challenges, and opportunities presented by advances in the biological and life sciences and threats from naturally occurring infectious diseases and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, and (3) a National Pathology Center at NIH and the transfer of certain functions of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology to the Center. S. 1873 would also provide orphan drug market exclusivity for countermeasure products and liability protections for pandemic and epidemic products and countermeasures, and require the Secretary, through the Director, NIH, to establish and award grants to study and validate animal models for chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents or toxins or potential pandemic infectious diseases. S. 1873 has four cosponsors and was referred to the Senate HELP Committee.

COMMITTEE/SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION

October 18, 2005 - The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) marked up S. 1873.

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