[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 5533

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2006

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5533, 
to advance the development of biological countermeasures.
  The anthrax attacks of 2001 shined a bright light on our lack of 
preparedness to deal with a biological attack. While we were blessed 
that Cipro was an effective countermeasure for anthrax specifically, 
the attacks led us to realize the real possibility that our enemies 
could develop the capability to attack our country using several 
biological agents for which we do not have effective countermeasures.
  This possibility strikes great fear in most Americans, who have been 
bombarded in recent years with the threat not only of bioterrorism but 
also pandemic flu. However, this uncertainty of a biological attack or 
pandemic flu is the same factor that often keeps manufacturers from 
making the investments necessary to bring a countermeasure to market.
  When medical treatments for conditions such as high blood pressure 
and high cholesterol are developed, pharmaceutical manufacturers are 
willing to make the investment in research and development because 
there is a known demand for these treatments. We are lucky that there 
is no current demand for biological countermeasures. As a country 
responsible for protecting American citizens, however, we cannot wait 
for a biological attack or pandemic flu to occur before these 
countermeasures are developed.
  This is a classic case of market failure, where the government must 
intervene and provide public resources to ensure that we have effective 
countermeasures before a biological attack occurs. This bill achieves 
that goal by providing the incentives to encourage the private sector 
to develop these treatments. Specifically, it would provide the 
necessary assurances that the federal government will purchase the end 
product for use in the event of an attack. Additionally, it will 
provide milestone payments to countermeasure developers to bridge the 
funding gap between basic research and countermeasure development.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, which 
will go a long way toward ensuring that we have effective biological 
countermeasures in place in the event of a biological attack or 
infectious disease pandemic.

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