House passes bioterrorism bill

By a 425-1 vote, the House Wednesday passed a $3 billion-plus bill to help the nation prepare for a bioterror attack and other public health emergencies.

House Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin, R-La., who chaired the conference committee with the Senate, said in working on the bill, conferees asked themselves: "What would the most evil mind try to do?"

As of Wednesday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., was seeking agreement to pass the bill on the Senate floor this week.

The bill includes grants to states and hospitals; $300 million this year to improve Centers for Disease Control and Prevention facilities; funds to increase the nation's stockpile of drugs and vaccines; and funds for the Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department to hire new food safety inspectors at the borders.

The measure also includes a $1.2 billion provision reauthorizing a prescription drug user fee program at FDA that will allow the agency to review new drugs quickly, as well as new money to review generic drug applications and regulate drug advertising. It also includes language to allow managed care plans to wait until September to tell Medicare officials whether they will stay in the program.