A major player in the lame-duck Congress: Sen. Richard Burr:
…One of the big items expected to get consideration this week during the lame-duck session is a bill sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., that would establish a new federal agency to combat bioterrorism – the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority…
Burr’s bill, commonly referred to as BARDA, would create a new position within the Department of Health and Human Services that would be solely responsible for the oversight of vaccine production.
This individual, who would require Senate confirmation, would administer a billion-dollar fund for the next two years that would aid the development of vaccines.
Further discussion here.
