Senators Strip From Homeland Security Bill Provision That Would Have Made CDC Lead Agency in Bioterrorism Prevention

House, Senate and White House negotiators last week stripped a provision from the homeland security legislation that would have established the CDC as the "lead agency in fighting bioterrorism," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Sponsored by Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), the provision would have created a Center for Bioterrorism Preparedness that would have been responsible for organizing health and law enforcement specialists in the event of a bioterrorist attack. The CDC already handles most of the responsibilities that would have been moved to the new center, but those tasks are spread throughout the agency. Congressional staffers said House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-Texas) opposed the provision because it would take "flexibility" away from the secretary of the proposed Homeland Security Department (Eversley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 11/19). In related news, Senate Republicans have reportedly "wrapped up" the votes needed to defeat a Democratic amendment that would strip several provisions, including one that would shift liability from vaccine makers, from the homeland security legislation (Mullins/Wegner, CongressDaily/AM, 11/19). The House bill includes a provision that would protect vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits filed over allegations that thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, causes autism in children (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/18). If the amendment is defeated, the Senate would be clear to hold a final vote on the homeland security legislation and end the lame-duck session as early as Nov. 19. However, if the amendment is approved, the House would need to decide whether to return to active to resolve the differences (CongressDaily/AM, 11/19). President Bush has lobbied "wavering" senators to vote against the amendment, and Vice President Richard Cheney has been asked to be available to break a voting tie if necessary (Dewar, Washington Post, 11/19).