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Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response: Issues in the 110th Congress

Description: The 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and concerns about an influenza ("flu") pandemic have sharpened congressional interest in the nation's systems to track and respond to public health threats. The 109th Congress passed laws that reauthorized public health and medical preparedness and response programs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and reorganized parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the establishment of an Office of Health Affairs (OH… more
Date: August 1, 2008
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response: Issues in the 110th Congress

Description: The 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and concerns about an influenza ("flu") pandemic have sharpened congressional interest in the nation's systems to track and respond to public health threats. The 109th Congress passed laws that reauthorized public health and medical preparedness and response programs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and reorganized parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the establishment of an Office of Health Affairs (OH… more
Date: June 16, 2008
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Federal Food Safety System: A Primer

Description: Numerous federal, state, and local agencies share responsibilities for regulating the safety of the U.S. food supply, which many experts say is among the safest in the world. Nevertheless, critics view this system as lacking the organization and resources to adequately combat foodborne illness, which sickens an estimated 76 million people and kills an estimated 5,000 each year in this country. The 110th Congress may face calls for a review of federal food safety agencies and authorities, and pr… more
Date: February 7, 2007
Creator: Becker, Geoffrey S. & Porter, Donna V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Virus-Serum-Toxin Act: A Brief History and Analysis

Description: The Viruses, Serums, Toxins, Antitoxins, and Analogous Products Act (21 U.S.C. 151-159), also known as the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (VSTA), is intended to assure the safe and effective supply of animal vaccines and other biological products. The act and its applicable regulations are administered by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Date: January 3, 2005
Creator: Monke, Jim
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Funding Plant and Animal Health Emergencies: Transfers from the Commodity Credit Corporation

Description: This report examines the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to transfer funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for emergency control programs. The Secretary’s use of this authority has increased in recent years, and has become an issue within government concerning the method for funding plant and animal health programs.
Date: October 19, 2005
Creator: Monke, Jim & Becker, Geoffrey S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation

Description: This report discusses the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program, which provides for compensation of individuals injured by vaccinations given as part of a countermeasure plan declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in preparation for potential hostile activities involving the smallpox virus.
Date: June 13, 2003
Creator: Thaul, Susan
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Human Cloning

Description: This report discusses human cloning science and federal policy regarding human embryo research. It provides background on the topic, federal policies, state laws, Congressional actions, and ethical issues.
Date: July 20, 2006
Creator: Johnson, Judith A. & Williams, Erin D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The 2009 H1N1 "Swine Flu" Outbreak: An Overview

Description: This report provides an introduction to the situation regarding the potential of a global human influenza pandemic caused by the new H1N1 flu strain. It includes a brief chronology of events; a discussion of key actions taken and authorities invoked by the WHO and the U.S. government; and information about key U.S. government pandemic flu planning documents.
Date: April 30, 2009
Creator: Lister, Sarah A. & Redhead, C. S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) "Swine Flu" Outbreak: An Overview

Description: This report provides an overview of key actions taken and authorities invoked by WHO and the U.S. government. First, it discusses the WHO process to determine the phase of a threatened or emerging flu pandemic and touches on a number of related issues. The report then examines actions taken by the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services and provides information about appropriations and funding for pandemic flu activities.
Date: May 5, 2009
Creator: Lister, Sarah A. & Redhead, C. S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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2009 H1N1 "Swine Flu": CRS Experts

Description: This report includes a table which provides access to names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns relating to swine influenza A virus (H1N1). Policy areas identified include: Identification, diagnosis, and surveillance of the virus; Treatment and prevention: antiviral drugs (Tamiflu, Relenza) and vaccines; Declarations of emergencies; Official plans and organizational responsibilities; and Restrictions on travel and trade.
Date: October 26, 2009
Creator: Lister, Sarah A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cloning: A Select Chronology, 1997-2003

Description: This report includes a selected chronology of the events surrounding and following the cloning of a sheep from a single adult sheep cell by Scottish scientists, which was announced in February 1997. The project was cosponsored by PPL Therapeutics, Edinburgh, Scotland, which has applied for patents for the techniques used. This chronology also addresses subsequent reports of other cloning experiments, including the first one using human cells. Information on presidential actions and legislative … more
Date: March 10, 2003
Creator: Wright, Mary V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cloning: A Select Chronology, 1997-2003

Description: This report includes a selected chronology of the events surrounding and following the cloning of a sheep from a single adult sheep cell by Scottish scientists, which was announced in February 1997. The project was cosponsored by PPL Therapeutics, Edinburgh, Scotland, which has applied for patents for the techniques used. This chronology also addresses subsequent reports of other cloning experiments, including the first one using human cells. Information on presidential actions and legislative … more
Date: July 9, 2003
Creator: Wright, Mary V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Cloning: A Select Chronology, 1997-2003

Description: This report includes a selected chronology of the events surrounding and following the cloning of a sheep from a single adult sheep cell by Scottish scientists, which was announced in February 1997. The project was cosponsored by PPL Therapeutics, Edinburgh, Scotland, which has applied for patents for the techniques used. This chronology also addresses subsequent reports of other cloning experiments, including the first one using human cells. Information on presidential actions and legislative … more
Date: August 19, 2003
Creator: Wright, Mary V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Patient Safety: Legislation to Promote Voluntary Reporting of Medical Errors

Description: This report provides an overview and some analysis of the patient safety legislation that is being considered by the 108th Congress. It begins with background information on the nature and causes of medical errors, followed by a brief comparison of the differences between mandatory and voluntary reporting systems. The report then discusses some of the legal and policy issues facing state mandatory reporting systems and major national voluntary reporting systems, and identifies design features o… more
Date: November 26, 2003
Creator: Redhead, C. S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Military Health Care: The Issue of “Promised” Benefits

Description: In the debate over the Department of Defense policy on military health care benefits, many military personnel and retirees say that they were promised “free health care for life” when they entered the armed forces. What benefits are available and who is eligible to receive these benefits are matters determined by Congress. This report discusses the issue of “promises” of lifetime health care benefits made to military retirees.
Date: February 10, 2000
Creator: Burrelli, David F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Overview of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

Description: This report examines the the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, which creates a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and establishes a new Medicare Advantage program to replace the current Medicare+Choice program.
Date: December 6, 2004
Creator: O'Sullivan, Jennifer; Chaikind, Hinda; Tilson, Sibyl; Boulanger, Jennifer & Morgan, Paulette
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Pandemic Flu and Medical Biodefense Countermeasure Liability Limitation

Description: This report analyzes Division C of the Department of Defense Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, P.L. 109-148, which was signed into law on December 30, 2005, and which limits liability with respect to pandemic flu and other public health countermeasures.
Date: December 5, 2006
Creator: Cohen, Henry
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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AIDS in Africa

Description: Sub-Saharan Africa has been far more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. The United Nations reports that 25.3 million adults and children are infected with the HIV virus in the region, which has about 10% of the world's population but more than 70% of the worldwide total of infected people. This report discusses this issue in detail, including the cause of the African AIDS epidemic, the social and economic consequences, response and treatment, and U.S. policy.
Date: May 14, 2001
Creator: Copson, Raymond W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global Health Programs: FY2001-FY2010

Description: This report explains the role the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays in U.S. global health assistance, highlights how much the agency has spent on global health efforts from FY2001 to FY2010, and discusses how funding to each of its programs changed during this period.
Date: August 21, 2009
Creator: Salaam-Blyther, Tiaji
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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