[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 30 (Monday, July 26, 2004)]
[Pages 1346-1348]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Signing the Project BioShield Act of 2004

July 21, 2004

    The President. Thank you all. Mr. Speaker. Please be seated. Thanks. 
Good morning, and welcome to the Rose Garden.
    On September the 11th, 2001, America saw the destruction and grief 
terrorists could inflict with commercial airlines turned into

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weapons of mass murder. Those attacks revealed the depth of our enemies' 
determination but not the extent of their ambitions. We know that the 
terrorists seek an even deadlier technology. And if they acquire 
chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, we have no doubt they will use 
them to cause even greater harm.
    The bill I am about to sign is an important element in our response 
to that threat. By authorizing unprecedented funding and providing new 
capabilities, Project BioShield will help America purchase, develop, and 
deploy cutting-edge defenses against catastrophic attack.
    This legislation represents the collective foresight and considered 
judgment of United States Senators and Members of the House of 
Representatives from both political parties, many of whom experienced 
bioterror firsthand when anthrax and ricin were found on Capitol Hill. 
It reflects 18 months of hard work and cooperation by many dedicated 
public servants in Congress and in the White House. It sends a message 
about our direction in the war on terror: We refuse to remain idle while 
modern technology might be turned against us; we will rally the great 
promise of American science and innovation to confront the greatest 
danger of our time.
    I want to thank the Vice President for his hard work. He was the 
point man in the White House on this piece of legislation and did an 
excellent job. I appreciate Secretaries Tommy Thompson and Tom Ridge for 
their leadership on this important piece of legislation as well.
    I appreciate the Speaker and Leader Frist for making this bill a 
priority. I want to thank Senator Gregg and Senator Kennedy and Senator 
Cochran for working on this bill. I appreciate the efforts. I appreciate 
Congressmen Barton, Billy Tauzin, Chris Cox, and Henry Waxman as well 
for their hard work.
    I appreciate the members of my administration who are here. Thanks 
for coming. These will be the implementers of this important piece of 
legislation.
    Project BioShield will transform our ability to defend the Nation in 
three essential ways. First, Project BioShield authorizes $5.6 billion 
over 10 years for the Government to purchase and stockpile vaccines and 
drugs to fight anthrax, smallpox, and other potential agents of 
bioterror. The Department of Health and Human Services has already taken 
steps to purchase 75 million doses of an improved anthrax vaccine for 
the Strategic National Stockpile. Under Project BioShield, HHS is moving 
forward with plans to acquire a safer, second-generation smallpox 
vaccine, an antidote to botulinum toxin, and better treatments for 
exposure to chemical and radiological weapons.
    Private industry plays a vital role in our biodefense efforts by 
taking risks to bring new treatments to the market, and we appreciate 
those efforts.
    By acting as a willing buyer for the best new medical technologies, 
the Government ensures that our drug stockpile remains safe, effective, 
and advanced. The Federal Government and our medical professionals are 
working together to meet the threat of bioterrorism; we're making the 
American people more secure in doing so.
    Second, Project BioShield gives the Government new authority to 
expedite research and development on the most promising and time-
sensitive medicines to defend against bioterror. We will waste no time 
putting those new powers to use. Today Secretary Thompson will direct 
the NIH to launch two initiatives, one to speed the development of new 
treatments for victims of a biological attack and another to expedite 
development of treatments for victims of a radiological or nuclear 
attack. Under the old rules, grants of this kind of research often took 
18 to 24 months to process. Under Project BioShield, HHS expects the 
process to be completed in about 6 months. Our goal is to translate 
today's promising medical research into drugs and vaccines to combat a 
biological attack in the future, and now we will not let bureaucratic 
obstacles stand in the way.
    Third, Project BioShield will change the way the Government 
authorizes and deploys medical defenses in a crisis. When I sign this 
bill, the Food and Drug Administration will be able to permit rapid 
distribution of promising new drugs and antidotes in the most urgent 
circumstances. This will allow patients to quickly receive the best 
treatments in an emergency. Secretary Thompson has directed the FDA to 
prepare guidelines and

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procedures for implementing this new authority. By acting today, we are 
making sure we have the best medicine possible to help the victims of a 
biological attack.
    Project BioShield is part of a broader strategy to defend America 
against the threat of weapons of mass destruction. Since September the 
11th, we've increased funding for the Strategic National Stockpile by a 
factor of 5, increased funding for biodefense research at NIH by a 
factor of 30, secured enough smallpox vaccine for every American, worked 
with cities on plans to deliver antibiotics and chemical antidotes in an 
emergency, improved the safety of our food supply, and deployed advanced 
environmental detectors under the BioWatch Program to provide the 
earliest possible warning of a biological attack.
    The threat of bioterrorism has brought new challenges to our 
Government, to our first-responders, and to our medical personnel. We 
are grateful for their service. Not long ago, few of these men and women 
could have imagined duties like monitoring the air for anthrax or 
delivering antibiotics on a massive scale. Yet, this is the world as we 
find it. This Nation refuses to let our guard down.
    Tomorrow the 9/11 Commission will issue its findings and 
recommendations to help prevent future terrorist attacks. I look forward 
to receiving the report. I will continue to work with the Congress and 
State and local governments to build on the homeland security 
improvements we have already made. Every American can be certain that 
their Government will continue doing everything in our power to prevent 
a terrorist attack. And if the terrorists do strike, we'll be better 
prepared to defend our people because of the good law I sign today.
    It's my honor to invite the Members of the Congress to join me as I 
sign the Project BioShield Act of 2004. Thanks for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 9:43 a.m. in the the Rose Garden at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker 
of the House of Representatives; and the National Commission on 
Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). S. 15, 
approved July 21, was assigned Public Law 108-276.