News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

July 22, 2003

                                       Contact: Sara Lang
                                       Phone: (202) 225-4531

House Passes Bill to Protect Nation from Potential Bioterror Attacks

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) and his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives last week passed H.R. 2122, Project BioShield Act of 2003, to better prepare the nation to defend itself against possible bioterror attacks. The legislation would speed the development of vaccines, medicines and other bioterrorism countermeasures and would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to stockpile drugs, vaccines and other necessary supplies necessary in the event of a bioterror attack.

"Project BioShield brings together government, industry and academia to keep our nation safe and prepared for any potential bioterror attack," Etheridge said. "The best defense against terrorism is to prevent attacks, but we must also be prepared to respond to all threats."

The anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001 highlighted the nation's vulnerability to biological terrorism. Five people were killed by those attacks and thousands required preventative treatment. Project BioShield aims to prepare the nation for the possibility of other attacks similar to and more dangerous than the anthrax attacks.

The legislation encourages private industry to develop vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat biological agents by providing guarantees for purchase. It also gives the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to compile and distribute supplies from a national stockpile in the event of attack.

   
   
   
   

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