[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE RADIOPROTECTANT PROCUREMENT ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2005

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Radioprotectant 
Procurement Act of 2005. This bill directs the Departments of Health 
and Human Services and Homeland Security to review all potentially 
viable radiation countermeasures and to move toward procurement of 
those which the government deems safe and effective against a nuclear 
or radiological attack.
  The threat of a radiological or nuclear attack is one of the gravest 
faced by the United States. The results of such an attack could be 
catastrophic, causing death, widespread radiation sickness, economic 
hardship and at the very least, tremendous strain on public health 
resources. These effects could be mitigated if the proper radiation 
countermeasures are rapidly administered.
  Currently, the medical options for responding to acute radiation 
exposure are very limited. Decontamination of individuals through 
showering and changing clothes is currently the main tool we have to 
``treat'' large numbers of actual or suspected casualties. But this 
does little to prevent or mitigate the radiation sickness caused by 
initial radiation exposure or radioactive fallout.
  The good news is that there are a number of drugs and other medical 
countermeasures that have the potential to counteract the health 
effects of radiation exposure. The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research 
Institute is now testing at least one product that might actually slow 
or stop the destruction of bone marrow caused by radiation and 
resulting diminution of the body's immune system--a leading cause of 
sickness and death from irradiation. Unfortunately, no such 
radioprotectants are stockpiled in amounts adequate enough to be 
effective against large-scale nuclear or radiological attacks.
  In 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law the Project 
Bioshield Act of 2004, authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to conduct and support research and development of effective 
countermeasures. The Radioprotectant Procurement Act seeks to 
accelerate these efforts, as every day that passes without progress in 
obtaining a needed countermeasure is another day that we remain 
vulnerable against that threat.
  If we can give people a drug that will keep them alive and healthy 
after being exposed to high levels of radiation, then I think we should 
do everything we reasonably can to get that drug purchased and 
distributed as quickly as possible.
  The bill I am introducing today calls upon the Federal Government to 
do just that, and to move as expeditiously as possible in this regard. 
I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and my 
colleagues in this body to make sure that these new and innovative 
medical countermeasures continue to be responsibly but quickly 
developed, tested, and stockpiled. The American people deserve nothing 
less.
  Thank you Mr. Speaker and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
cosponsoring and enacting this important bill.

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