Funding Vaccines Over New Missiles: The ICBM Act
This act proposes redirecting billions of dollars from new intercontinental ballistic missile development programs towards research into a universal coronavirus vaccine and combating infectious diseases. This could mean faster access to new medicines and better public health protection, at the cost of abandoning expensive arms programs deemed unnecessary by the act.
Key points
Transfer of $1 billion from the defense budget to develop a universal coronavirus vaccine.
Redirecting funds from missile warhead modernization programs to research infectious diseases.
Prohibition on spending funds for the new intercontinental ballistic missile program and warhead modification in fiscal year 2022.
Mandating an independent study on extending the life of current Minuteman III missiles until 2050, which is projected to be cheaper than building new ones.
Expired
Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_2227
Sponsor: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
Process start date: 2021-03-26