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News Release

STATEMENT BY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Secretary of Health and Human Services
On Senate Passage of President Bush's Project BioShield

I commend Chairman Gregg and the members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for their quick and visionary action to approve President Bush's Project BioShield proposal.

While our soldiers defend freedom around the globe, our nation's scientists continue to protect our liberty by enhancing our defense against the biological and chemical weapons of our enemies. Project BioShield will enhance our effort to develop and make available modern, effective drugs and vaccines to protect against attack by biological and chemical weapons or other dangerous pathogens.

Unfortunately, medical treatments available for some types of terrorist attacks have improved little in decades. By bringing researchers, medical experts and the biomedical industry together in a new and focused way, our nation can achieve the same kind of treatment breakthroughs for bioterrorism and other threats that have significantly reduced the threat of heart disease, cancer and many other serious illnesses.

Again, I thank Chairman Gregg and the members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for their quick work and look forward to working with the entire Senate to ensure passage and an additional layer of protection for our citizens.

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Last Revised: March 19, 2003