House Bills - 109th Congress

H.R. 4245—Influenza Preparedness and Prevention Act of 2005

On November 7, 2005, Representative Jerry Lewis (R-CA) introduced H.R. 4245, the Influenza Preparedness and Prevention Act of 2005. In his introductory remarks, Representative Lewis stated that the legislation supports and compliments the Administration’s pandemic flu strategy. The bill seeks to establish a course to quickly develop and purchase vaccines and antivirals, ensure a stockpile of sufficient antivirals to treat 25 percent of the U.S. population and doses of a viable vaccine, and provide limited liability protections for vaccine manufacturers and providers. NIH-related provisions would require the Director of NIH, in collaboration with the Director, CDC, to expand and intensify human and animal influenza research, including vaccine development and manufacture, effectiveness of inducing heterosubtypic immunity, antigen-sparing studies, antivirals development, drug safety, alternative routes of delivery, modes of transmission, and other areas determined by the Director, NIH. H.R. 4245 has six co-sponsors and was referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Resources and Agriculture.

Legislative Update (December 2006): Attacking Viral Influenza Across Nations Act of 2005