美国参议员将生物恐怖议案公布于众
WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters Health) - Claiming backing from the Bush administration and Democratic and Republican leaders, Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Bill Frist (R-TN) Thursday introduced legislation that would authorize an immediate $3.2 billion to help the nation address the potential for a bioterrorist attack.
"Our job is to put out the figure that will take us from an under-prepared state to a prepared state in the event we come under a bioterrorist attack," said Frist, who added that he is confident the measure will pass the Senate in the coming weeks.
, 百拇医药
The recent anthrax cases, said Kennedy, have given the country "the clearest possible warning, and we can't afford to ignore it. We know that hundreds--even millions--of lives may be at stake, and we're not ready."
But while both senators said they had worked closely with the Bush administration and were expecting its support for the bill, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that he was not ready to sign on just yet.
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"The programs are very much in line with what the administration wants," Thompson told Rep. Greg Ganske (R-IA), who said he planned to introduce the House version of the Kennedy-Frist bill later on Thursday. "The question is do we need to do the full $3.2 billion all at once or over several years."
The administration has formally asked for $1.5 billion for bioterrorist prevention for fiscal 2002.
The Kennedy-Frist bill would authorize roughly $1.5 billion in fiscal 2002 for state and local preparedness activities alone, including grants for hospitals to acquire the capacity to serve as regional centers for bioterrorist attacks.
, 百拇医药
More funding for state and local health systems was a theme sounded by many Democrats at the House hearing, who said the administration's request for funds primarily to purchase more vaccines and antibiotics falls short of the need. "It is as if the administration were building lots of fire stations and buying some fire trucks, but not hiring firefighters or installing alarm systems," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA).
The bill would also authorize $400 million for new programs to improve oversight of the nation's food supply, including hiring new inspectors for both the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
, 百拇医药
The measure also includes language to improve federal oversight of those who work with germs that could be used in bioterrorist attacks. The wording is similar to a bill that already passed the House.
The remainder of the funds would track the Bush administration's request for more antibiotics and other drugs for the nation's pharmaceutical stockpile and a more rapid buildup of smallpox vaccine, enough to vaccinate the entire population, if necessary. Thompson told the House committee he expects to negotiate a contract for production of the smallpox vaccine within the next week., 百拇医药
"Our job is to put out the figure that will take us from an under-prepared state to a prepared state in the event we come under a bioterrorist attack," said Frist, who added that he is confident the measure will pass the Senate in the coming weeks.
, 百拇医药
The recent anthrax cases, said Kennedy, have given the country "the clearest possible warning, and we can't afford to ignore it. We know that hundreds--even millions--of lives may be at stake, and we're not ready."
But while both senators said they had worked closely with the Bush administration and were expecting its support for the bill, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that he was not ready to sign on just yet.
, 百拇医药
"The programs are very much in line with what the administration wants," Thompson told Rep. Greg Ganske (R-IA), who said he planned to introduce the House version of the Kennedy-Frist bill later on Thursday. "The question is do we need to do the full $3.2 billion all at once or over several years."
The administration has formally asked for $1.5 billion for bioterrorist prevention for fiscal 2002.
The Kennedy-Frist bill would authorize roughly $1.5 billion in fiscal 2002 for state and local preparedness activities alone, including grants for hospitals to acquire the capacity to serve as regional centers for bioterrorist attacks.
, 百拇医药
More funding for state and local health systems was a theme sounded by many Democrats at the House hearing, who said the administration's request for funds primarily to purchase more vaccines and antibiotics falls short of the need. "It is as if the administration were building lots of fire stations and buying some fire trucks, but not hiring firefighters or installing alarm systems," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA).
The bill would also authorize $400 million for new programs to improve oversight of the nation's food supply, including hiring new inspectors for both the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
, 百拇医药
The measure also includes language to improve federal oversight of those who work with germs that could be used in bioterrorist attacks. The wording is similar to a bill that already passed the House.
The remainder of the funds would track the Bush administration's request for more antibiotics and other drugs for the nation's pharmaceutical stockpile and a more rapid buildup of smallpox vaccine, enough to vaccinate the entire population, if necessary. Thompson told the House committee he expects to negotiate a contract for production of the smallpox vaccine within the next week., 百拇医药