Congress Approves Homeland
Security Appropriations Bill, BioShield Funds
September 26, 2003 - The House and Senate Sept. 24
approved the conference report (H.Rept.
108-280) for the FY 2004 Homeland Security Appropriations
bill, the first budget for the newly created Department of
Homeland Security (DHS). The President is expected to sign
the bill. It provides $29.4 billion for the department, $1
billion above the president's request.
Included in the budget is $50 million for the Metropolitan
Medical Response System and $400 million for the Strategic
National Stockpile. The bill also includes $918 million for
science and technology activities, targeted to research on
innovative technologies by universities, national laboratories,
non-for-profit organizations and private companies. $70 million
of this is directed for university-based centers of excellence.
The conferees agreed upon $890 million in FY 2004 for Project
BioShield, which is designed to encourage commercial development
and production of bioterrorism countermeasures. This amount
is part of $5.6 billion in advance appropriations dedicated
to the program over the next 10 years. While the House passed
its version of legislation authorizing Project Bioshield (H.R.
2122), the Senate has yet to complete its version (S.
1504).
Information:
Erica Froyd, Director, Public Health and Research Legislative Affairs
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
efroyd@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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