Pandemic Preparedness Reauthorization Passes House

Press Release

In a rare act of bipartisan agreement, the House passed H.R. 2405, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2011, by a unanimous voice vote on Tuesday, December 6. Congressman Green was an original cosponsor and key proponent of the bill.

Introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Rep. Green, H.R. 2405 reauthorizes certain provisions of the Project Bioshield Act of 2004 and Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006. The legislation continues to help the U.S. develop medical countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism agents. It also provides a mechanism for federal acquisition of those newly developed countermeasures.

In addition, H.R. 2405 reauthorizes public health preparedness programs, which are vital to state and local public health departments as well as hospitals in the event of a disaster.

Congressman Green addressed the House floor in support of the bill:

"Our nation remains vulnerable to these terroristic threats because many of the vaccines and medicines that are needed to protect our citizens do not exist. Developing and stockpiling these medical countermeasures requires time, resources, and research, all of which will be provided under the legislation before us today."

H.R. 2405 will be sent to the Senate for consideration. The Senate version of the legislation, S. 1855, has also been introduced on a bipartisan basis by Senators Burr (R-NC) and Harkin (D-IA).

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