House Appropriators Address
Bioterrorism Funding
April 11, 2003 - Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) agencies discussed the funding for bioterrorism preparedness
activities included in the Administration's FY 2004 budget
proposal at an April 9 House Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. Led by
Jerome Hauer, acting assistant secretary for Public Health
Emergency Preparedness, the panel, including National Institutes
of Health Director Elias Zerhouni, M.D., Centers for Disease
Control Director Julie Gerberding, M.D., Health Resources
and Services Administration head Elizabeth James Duke, Ph.D.,
and National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Director Anthony Fauci, M.D., outlined the $3.6 billion in
the HHS budget designated for bioterrorism research and preparedness
activities.
Assistant Secretary Hauer reassured the panel that while
much of the preparedness funding awarded in FY 2002 was used
to shore up states' resources, he expects that larger portions
of the FY 2003 funding will reach the communities. He noted
that an April 8 General Accounting Office report examines
state and local preparedness and recommends that HHS, in consultation
with the Department of Homeland Security, develop specific
benchmarks that define preparedness and develop a mechanism
for evaluating and sharing useful measures among jurisdictions.
Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D., (R-Fla.) asked if and how the agency
was working with scientists to prevent publication of research
results that could be used for harmful purposes. Dr. Weldon
referenced the example of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) publishing an article detailing
procedures for creating a synthetic human polio virus. Dr.
Fauci responded that NIH is working with AAAS and other organizations
to create a heightened culture of responsibility in the scientific
community, but the agency sees no reason to classify or restrict
research results. He noted that a review committee had been
established to flag research that might be used for harmful
purposes.
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) expressed concern over provisions
within Project Bioshield that provide indefinite, mandatory
funding to purchase vaccines from pharmaceutical companies
[see Washington Highlights,
March 21]. Dr. Fauci responded that the reality is that
pharmaceutical manufacturers will not produce a drug if there
is no market, and funding must be indefinite, so companies
will be guaranteed a purchaser when the vaccine is complete
after the multi-year development process.
In response to a query from Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.),
Dr. Gerberding stated that 30,000 civilian volunteers and
400,000 military personnel have received the smallpox vaccination,
to date. She noted that a new adverse reaction is the inflammation
of the heart, not previously observed in the U.S., and it
may affect 1 in 25,000 who receive the vaccine. Accordingly,
the CDC is recommending anyone at risk for heart disease not
be vaccinated.
Information:
Erica Froyd, Director, Public Health and Research Legislative Affairs
AAMC Government Relations
efroyd@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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