Senators To Introduce Bioterrorism Bill Today

Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) on Nov. 15 intend to introduce a $3.2 billion bioterrorism bill that would increase the nation's stockpile of vaccines and medicines, boost CDC funding, increase food inspections and help state and local governments prepare for biological or chemical attacks, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Of the $3.2 billion, about $1.1 billion would be allocated to the antibiotics stockpile and for doses of a smallpox vaccine and another $1 billion would go toward helping state and local officials prepare for bioterrorism. In comparison, President Bush's $1.5 billion proposal would give $643 million to increase the vaccine/antibiotic stockpile and $509 million for 300 million doses of the smallpox vaccine. A "small fraction" of the Bush bill would help state and local officials prepare for bioterrorism attacks, the AP/Star Tribune reports. House Democrats last month introduced a $7 billion bioterrorism bill (Zuckerford, AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune, 11/15). Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) was expected to introduce another House bioterrorism bill yesterday that would provide funds for the CDC, the vaccine/antibiotics stockpile, physician and nurse training and volunteer certification. Tauzin said House Republican leaders wanted to have a bill available for floor consideration should the Senate reach a consensus on its bioterrorism bill (CongressDaily, 11/14).

Alternative Treatments Don't Work
In other congressional action, scientists and other experts yesterday told the House Government Reform Committee that there is no evidence alternative medicines are effective treatments against anthrax or other biological agents, the AP/Raleigh News & Observer reports. Dr. Stephen Straus, director of NIH's Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, said that there is "little reason to believe" natural treatments hold promise in responding to bioterrorist attacks," adding that certain treatments actually interfere with antibiotics. He warned that Internet ads and alternative medicine advocates could "fool" consumers into thinking that natural treatments are effective against bioterrorism agents. However, Straus said he would be "open to funding research" that would determine whether natural treatments are effective. Major General John Parker of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command also called for "much more research" to develop vaccines and discern what antibiotics are effective against which biological agents (Meckler, AP/Raleigh News & Observer, 11/14). Carole Heilman of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said that NIH within a few weeks will announce expedited research grants for studies that use new approaches in researching bioterrorism agents (Rovner, CongressDaily/AM, 11/15). A HealthCast of the hearing is available online.