Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2405, introduced by my colleague Mike Rogers from Michigan, would reauthorize certain provisions of the Project Bioshield Act of 2004 and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006. These two laws help protect the United States against attacks from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. Project Bioshield authorized funds for the purchase of medical countermeasures through the Special Reserve Fund and enabled the Secretary of Health and Human Services to authorize the emergency use of medical products. PAHPA created the Biodefense Advanced Research and Development Authority within HHS to help with the development of medical countermeasures and to ensure the communication between HHS and the developers of the medical countermeasures. PAHPA also created a position at HHS to lead the government's efforts on the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons preparedness and response, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Some of these key provisions expired at the end of FY 2011. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, we have become more aware of the dangers our country faces and of the lengths to which some may go to inflict harm on us. These provisions must be reauthorized, so I would urge all Members to support this critical piece of legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.”