Senate Bill Would Provide $29.3B for Department of Homeland Security, But Would Not Fund Project BioShield

The Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee on July 9 approved a bill that would provide $29.3 billion in funds for the Department of Homeland Security in fiscal year 2004 but would not provide funds for Project BioShield, CongressDaily/AM reports. The legislation would provide $28.5 billion in discretionary funding, $150 million more than President Bush requested. The bill also includes $866 million for science and technology -- $34 million less than the House FY 2004 homeland security appropriations bill would provide but $63 million more than Bush requested. The House bill would provide $29.4 billion in discretionary funds, as well as funds for Project BioShield. The Senate will consider funds for Project BioShield in a separate bill, according to a subcommittee aide (CongressDaily/AM, 7/10). Bush proposed Project BioShield earlier this year to encourage biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop and produce medications and vaccines for biological agents (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 7/1). Several subcommittee members who raised concerns about the bill agreed not to offer amendments yesterday after subcommittee Chair Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) promised to address them before the full committee considers the legislation July 10 (CongressDaily/AM, 7/10).