WASHINGTON (AP) - The Department of Health and Human Services would get $870 million this year to fund vaccine development and prepare for a bird flu epidemic under a bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee.
The committee, chaired by David Obey, D-Wis., approved the bird flu funds by a 36-28 vote late last week as part of a supplemental fiscal 2007 spending bill for the Defense Department and other agencies.
In 2006, the government awarded more than $1 billion to drug companies to research and develop bird flu vaccines. In January this year, HHS awarded $132.5 million in bird flu program contracts to British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Novartis AG and Iomai Corp.
Vote for the spending bill have yet to be scheduled. The bill must be approved by the full House and then the Senate before becoming law.
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