The Radioprotectant Procurement Act of 2005
THE RADIOPROTECTANT PROCUREMENT ACT OF 2005 -- (Extensions of Remarks - March 16, 2005)
SPEECH OF
HON. DARRELL E. ISSA
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2005
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Radioprotectant Procurement Act of 2005. This bill directs the Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to review all potentially viable radiation countermeasures and to move toward procurement of those which the government deems safe and effective against a nuclear or radiological attack.
The threat of a radiological or nuclear attack is one of the gravest faced by the United States. The results of such an attack could be catastrophic, causing death, widespread radiation sickness, economic hardship and at the very least, tremendous strain on public health resources. These effects could be mitigated if the proper radiation countermeasures are rapidly administered.
Currently, the medical options for responding to acute radiation exposure are very limited. Decontamination of individuals through showering and changing clothes is currently the main tool we have to ``treat'' large numbers of actual or suspected casualties. But this does little to prevent or mitigate the radiation sickness caused by initial radiation exposure or radioactive fallout.
The good news is that there are a number of drugs and other medical countermeasures that have the potential to counteract the health effects of radiation exposure. The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute is now testing at least one product that might actually slow or stop the destruction of bone marrow caused by radiation and resulting diminution of the body's immune system--a leading cause of sickness and death from irradiation. Unfortunately, no such radioprotectants are stockpiled in amounts adequate enough to be effective against large-scale nuclear or radiological attacks.
In 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law the Project Bioshield Act of 2004, authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct and support research and development of effective countermeasures. The Radioprotectant Procurement Act seeks to accelerate these efforts, as every day that passes without progress in obtaining a needed countermeasure is another day that we remain vulnerable against that threat.
If we can give people a drug that will keep them alive and healthy after being exposed to high levels of radiation, then I think we should do everything we reasonably can to get that drug purchased and distributed as quickly as possible.
The bill I am introducing today calls upon the Federal Government to do just that, and to move as expeditiously as possible in this regard. I look forward to continuing to work with the Administration and my colleagues in this body to make sure that these new and innovative medical countermeasures continue to be responsibly but quickly developed, tested, and stockpiled. The American people deserve nothing less.
Thank you Mr. Speaker and I ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring and enacting this important bill.
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