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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 514 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 514

Expressing serious concern regarding the publication of instructions on 
  how to create a synthetic human polio virus, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 26, 2002

     Mr. Weldon of Florida (for himself, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Taylor of 
 Mississippi, Mr. Pence, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Kerns, and Mr. 
Jones of North Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
   the Committees on Science and Armed Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Expressing serious concern regarding the publication of instructions on 
  how to create a synthetic human polio virus, and for other purposes.

Whereas the American Association for the Advancement of Science published, in 
        its publication entitled ``Science Express'', results of its research on 
        development of a sythetic human polio virus;
Whereas the researchers involved chose to publish their findings with the 
        awareness that they were publishing a blueprint for creating a polio 
        virus and other harmful pathogens that could be released on the 
        population of the United States;
Whereas the publication of methods for generating the polio virus in effect 
        provides guidelines for making similar viruses and harmful agents of 
        bioterrorism;
Whereas the principle that the article demonstrated could have been demonstrated 
        by using a harmless bacterial virus;
Whereas some scientists have condemned the research and publication of methods 
        for generating the synthetic human polio virus as ``irresponsible'';
Whereas the scientific community is in the process of discussing guidelines to 
        follow when publishing information that may be useful to terrorists; and
Whereas many modern terrorists are sophisticated and able to engage in advanced 
        research for bioterrorism: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Congress expresses serious concern regarding the 
        decision by the American Association for the Advancement of 
        Science and the editors of ``Science Express'' to publish a 
        blueprint that could conceivably enable terrorists to 
        inexpensively create human pathogens for release on the people 
        of the United States;
            (2) the Congress calls upon the publishers and editors of 
        scientific publications to establish ethical standards to 
        ensure that published material does not aid terrorists in the 
        development of agents of bioterrorism that may be used against 
        the people of the United States;
            (3) the scientific community should develop ethical 
        standards and exercise restraint to ensure that information 
        that may be used by terrorists is not made widely available; 
        and
            (4) the executive branch should examine all policies, 
        including national security directives, relevant to the 
        classification or publication of federally funded research to 
        ensure that, although the free exchange of information is 
        encouraged, information that could be useful in the development 
        of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons is not made 
        accessible to terrorists or countries of proliferation concern.
                                 <all>
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