PRINTER'S NO. 2929
No. 366 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY CORNELL, S. H. SMITH, VANCE AND E. Z. TAYLOR,
NOVEMBER 20, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, NOVEMBER 20, 2001
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the boards of directors of the regional biotechnology
2 research centers to make their top priority the creation and
3 enhancement of research and development of commercially
4 useful products or intellectual property to mitigate
5 biological agents or toxins.
6 WHEREAS, Additional steps must be taken to better prepare
7 Pennsylvania and the United States to respond to potential
8 bioterrorism attacks; and
9 WHEREAS, The threat of a biological attack, while still
10 remote, is increasing for a variety of reasons; and
11 WHEREAS, Coordination of bioterrorism research and response
12 must be improved; and
13 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania companies are national leaders in the
14 development of new vaccines and treatments; and
15 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has established a funding
16 formula for regional biotechnology research centers under the
17 act of June 26, 2001 (P.L.755, No.77), known as the Tobacco
18 Settlement Act; and
19 WHEREAS, Regional biotechnology research centers are in a
1 unique position to attract venture capital for the development
2 of high-quality and commercially useful products or intellectual
3 property to combat bioterrorism; and
4 WHEREAS, The board of directors of each regional
5 biotechnology research center is to establish research
6 priorities and be evaluated annually by the Department of Health
7 and the Department of Community and Economic Development; and
8 WHEREAS, A top priority for biotechnology research and
9 development is providing bioterrorism response products and
10 procedures for citizens of this Commonwealth; therefore be it
11 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
12 direct the regional biotechnology research centers to make a
13 priority the establishment of a bioterrorism research effort;
14 and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That the centers prioritize their funding from the
16 Commonwealth and from other sources to further this end; and be
17 it further
18 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
19 the board of directors of each regional biotechnology research
20 center operating in this Commonwealth through the provision of
21 tobacco settlement funds.
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