House Bills - 109th Congress

H.R. 5533—The Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2006

On June 6, 2006, Representative Michael Rogers (R-MI) introduced H.R. 5533, the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2006. Among its many provisions, the bill would require establishment of (1) a Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority 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 Science Board and working groups to provide the Secretary, HHS, with expert advice and guidance on scientific, technical and other matters of special interest to the Department regarding current and future chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents, whether naturally occurring, accidental, or deliberate, (3) a Biodefense Medical Countermeasure Development Fund, and (4) one or more research and development centers. Although many of the bill's provisions are almost identical to those in S. 2563, introduced by Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) on April 6, H.R. 5533 does not contain provisions that would provide orphan drug market exclusivity for countermeasure products. H.R. 5533 has four cosponsors and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

COMMITTE ACTION

September 20, 2006 - The House Committee on Energy and Commerce marked up and reported out H.R. 5533.

September 26, 2006 - The House passed H.R. 5533 under suspension of the rules.

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