PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2929                      PRINTER'S NO. 2984

        INTRODUCED BY CORNELL, S. H. SMITH, VANCE AND E. Z. TAYLOR,

           NOVEMBER 20, 2001

        AS AMENDED, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DECEMBER 3, 2001

                            A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION



     1  Directing URGING the boards of directors of the regional          <--

     2     biotechnology research centers to make their top priority      <--

     3     GIVE PRIORITY CONSIDERATION TO INVESTMENTS AND BUSINESS        <--

     4     STRATEGIES THAT FACILITATE the creation and enhancement of

     5     research and development of commercially useful products or

     6     intellectual property to mitigate biological agents or

     7     toxins.



     8     WHEREAS, Additional steps must be taken to better prepare

     9  Pennsylvania and the United States to respond to potential

    10  bioterrorism attacks; and

    11     WHEREAS, The threat of a biological attack, while still

    12  remote, is increasing for a variety of reasons; and

    13     WHEREAS, Coordination of bioterrorism research and response    <--

    14  DEVELOPMENT must be improved; and                                 <--

    15     WHEREAS, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL PENNSYLVANIANS AND THE   <--

    16  NATION WILL BE IMPROVED THROUGH A MORE COORDINATED RESEARCH AND

    17  DEVELOPMENT EFFORT FOR BIOTERRORISM RESPONSE PRODUCTS; AND

    18     WHEREAS, Pennsylvania companies are national leaders in the

    19  development of new vaccines and treatments; and

    20     WHEREAS, The General Assembly has established a funding

     1  formula for regional biotechnology research centers under the

     2  act of June 26, 2001 (P.L.755, No.77), known as the Tobacco

     3  Settlement Act; and

     4     WHEREAS, THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT ACT  <--

     5  ARE TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL PENNSYLVANIANS; AND

     6     WHEREAS, SINCE BIOTERRORISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN IN

     7  THIS COMMONWEALTH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOTERRORISM RESPONSE

     8  PRODUCTS SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY CONSIDERATION AND PRIORITY; AND

     9     WHEREAS, Regional biotechnology research centers are in a

    10  unique position to attract venture capital for the development

    11  of high-quality and commercially useful products or intellectual

    12  property to combat bioterrorism; and

    13     WHEREAS, The board of directors of each regional

    14  biotechnology research center is to establish research

    15  priorities and be evaluated annually by the Department of Health

    16  and the Department of Community and Economic Development; and

    17     WHEREAS, A top priority for biotechnology research and

    18  development is providing bioterrorism response products and

    19  procedures for citizens of this Commonwealth; therefore be it

    20     RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly

    21  direct the regional biotechnology research centers to make a      <--

    22  priority the establishment of a bioterrorism research effort;

    23  URGE REGIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTERS TO GIVE PRIORITY              <--

    24  CONSIDERATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS PLANS,

    25  INVESTMENTS AND BUSINESS STRATEGIES THAT FACILITATE THE

    26  DEVELOPMENT OF BIOTERRORISM RESPONSE PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES;

    27  and be it further

    28     RESOLVED, That the centers prioritize their funding from the

    29  Commonwealth and from other sources to further this end; and be

    30  it further

    20010H0366R2984                  - 2 -

     1     RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

     2  the board of directors of each regional biotechnology research

     3  center operating in this Commonwealth through the provision of

     4  tobacco settlement funds.





































    K19L82MRD/20010H0366R2984        - 3 -