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H.R. 2122: Project BioShield Act of 2003

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H.R. 2122: Project BioShield Act of 2003

108th Congress · introduced 2003-05-15 · Health · Latest: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2003-05-15 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [R-LA-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 373 (2003): On Passage, HR2122 (2003-07-16), Passed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 214. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Project BioShield Act of 2003

Plain summary

Project BioShield Act of 2003 - Amends the Public Health Service Act regarding preparations for public health emergencies affecting national security, including a bioterrorist attack. Grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) certain authority with respect to the research and development of qualified countermeasures, including: (1) expedited procurement authority; (2) expedited peer authority; and (3) authority for personal services contracts. Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to maintain a stockpile of drugs, vaccines (including smallpox vaccine), and other supplies to provide for the emergency health security of the United States in the event of a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. Directs the Secretary to: (1) award grants to ensure that the stockpile contains an adequate amount of smallpox vaccine; and (2) assess, on an ongoing basis, the potential public health consequences from the use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents and determine the agents for which countermeasures are necessary. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to allow the Secretary to declare a national emergency under specified conditions and authorize the release of a drug or device intended for use in an emergency. Directs the Secretary to impose requirements on the authorization, including ensuring that health care professionals administering the product and persons to whom the product is administered are fully informed about the benefits and risks involved and other alternatives. Requires the Secretary to periodically review an authorization under this Act, and authorizes the Secretary to revoke such an authorization if circumstances so warrant. Allows the President, under specified circumstances in cases involving the Armed Forces, to waive the requirement that individuals be allowed to refuse administration of a countermeasure. Requires: (1) reports from the Secretary regarding authorities under this Act; (2) the Secretary to request the National Academy of Sciences to review biomedical countermeasure research and development activities under this Act; and (3) review by the General Accounting Office.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Project BioShield Act of 2003

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Tauzin, W. J. (Billy) [R-LA-3] · 15 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2122, Project BioShield Act of 2003 (2003-06-06); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2122, Project BioShield Act of 2003 (2003-06-06); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2122, Project BioShield Act of 2003 (2003-06-06); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2122, Project BioShield Act of 2003 (2003-06-06); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2122, Project BioShield Act of 2003 (2003-07-09); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2122, Project BioShield Act of 2003 (2003-07-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong108-hr2122 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108