Number: RS21507
Title: Project BioShield: Purposes and Authorities
Authors: Frank Gottron, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: The 108th Congress passed the Project BioShield Act of 2004 (S. 15) and President Bush signed it into law on July 21, 2004 (P.L. 108-276). The main provisions of this law include (1) relaxing procedures for some CBRN terrorism-related spending, including hiring and awarding research grants; (2) guaranteeing a federal government market for new medical countermeasures; and (3) permitting emergency use of unapproved countermeasures. Project BioShield countermeasure procurement funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2004 (P.L. 108-90), which appropriated $5.593 billion for FY2004 to FY2013. Congress considered several additional measures to further encourage countermeasure development and passed the Pandemic and All-Hazard Preparedness Act (P.L. 109-417). This law created the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the Department of Health and Human Services. Questions remain regarding the impact BARDA will have on countermeasure development, the continuing implementation of Project BioShield, and whether additional legislation would further encourage countermeasure development.
Pages: 6
Date: January 23, 2008