Dodd Stands Down, Clearing Way For Bioterror Bill Vote
By Kristen A. Lee
CongressDailyAM, National Journal
November 15, 2006
Legislation to streamline the government's response to health emergencies, including bioterrorism or a pandemic, appears poised for easy passage during the lame-duck session now that a key Democrat has withdrawn his concerns.
Despite its wide bipartisan support, Senate Democrats slowed the bill on the last day of debate before the elections by attempting to attach nearly a dozen amendments to the bill. The legislation had passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee by voice vote in July.
Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who offered the strongest criticism of the bill during the committee's markup session, said Tuesday he would not offer amendments or otherwise raise concerns on the Senate floor. Dodd had faulted the bill for failing to eliminate what he called "sweeping" protections for vaccine makers and for not providing compensation for those who have reactions to the vaccine. But, he said Tuesday that "the underlying tenet of the bill exceeds the importance of those two issues."
In a post-election letter to outgoing Majority Leader Frist, Majority Leader-elect Reid listed the legislation as a lame-duck priority. The bill has not yet been placed on the calendar.
"We are continuing to work on it and we are glad to see that the Democratic leadership is now showing some newfound interest in passing the bill," said a spokesman for Frist, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
The bill would reauthorize and update a 2002 act to deal with the threat of an avian flu epidemic and the lessons of Hurricane Katrina.
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Bioterrorism Subcommittee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., said the storm taught legislators the need for centralized authority and a clear chain of command during public health crises.
The bill would empower the HHS secretary to take the lead during public health emergencies and to set preparedness standards for states. It would also authorize more than $1 billion in federal funding for HHS preparedness grants and would require all states to provide some matching funds by 2009.
Senator Tom Coburn
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2254 Fax: 202-228-3796
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