[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5087]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE RADIOPROTECTANT DRUG

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2005

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring 
attention to a pressing national need. The resolution I present here is 
a recognition of our responsibility to protect the American people from 
the horrors of radiation exposure as best we can.
  In this era of terrorism, the ultimate fear has always been the 
detonation of either a nuclear or radiological device in an American 
city by terrorists. Even a low-yield nuclear device is capable of 
causing large-scale damage.
  After a blast occurs the radiation that follows is also an enormous 
concern.
  We cannot counter the effects of a thermonuclear explosion. However, 
science is developing countermeasures to the medical effects of 
radiation exposure. These whole-body drugs, known as radioprotectants, 
represent a great step forward in protecting American citizens from the 
horrors of terrorism in the nuclear age.
  This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that these drugs, if 
proven safe and effective, should be purchased and stockpiled by the 
federal government at the earliest possible opportunity under Project 
Bioshield.
  This resolution recognizes the potential these drugs stand for, and 
is the first step toward appropriating the first effective medical 
countermeasures to radiation sickness. I strongly urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting this resolution as part of our responsibility to 
safeguard American lives.

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