Washington - Senate Democrats accused Republicans Friday of sneaking an item into a homeland security bill that would protect pharmaceutical companies from billions of dollars in legal claims.

Democrats moved to kill the item and six other "special-interest" provisions in the bill, which could further delay creation of a new homeland security department at a time of heightened fear over potential terrorist attacks.

Republicans said the provisions would strengthen domestic security and that Democratic objections could stall creation of a new department to lead domestic anti-terrorism efforts by at least two months.

Democratic attacks Friday focused on a one-page item that would expand vaccine producers' liability protection. A major beneficiary would be Eli Lilly and Co., which was hit with several class-action lawsuits last year alleging that a preservative formerly used in children's vaccines caused autism.

Liability protection that is now given for vaccines would be extended to vaccine ingredients, such as the disputed preservative thimerosal, which guarded against contamination in commonplace vaccines. Eli Lilly was its leading manufacturer until it stopped using the preservative about 10 years ago.

"This deserves much more debate than being placed into a bill at the last minute for the pharmaceutical industry," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), calling the measure a "special favor" for campaign cash to Republicans. The pharmaceutical industry has given $14 million to Republicans so far this year and $5.2 million to Democrats, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.

An Eli Lilly spokesman dismissed the accusation of political payback but acknowledged the measure would benefit the company.

Spokesman Edward Sagebiel said Eli Lilly was "surprised" to find the item in the homeland security bill and had not lobbied for its inclusion.

Richard Diamond, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-Texas), said the item was added because the homeland security bill protected other makers of homeland security equipment from product liability. "This is just another version of where a life-saving medicine would be protected from being sued out of existence," Diamond said.

Democrats had Republican support for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's measure to remove seven "special-interest" items from a 500-page homeland security bill the House passed Wednesday.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) indicated he would support Daschle. Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), chairman of a committee that oversees homeland security, echoed Democratic complaints, saying, "These provisions don't belong in this bill," and that the vaccine liability protection "is not a homeland security issue."

Democrats also sought to remove an item creating a homeland research security center, saying the criteria were so narrowly drawn that it would end up at Texas A&M University - in the home state of House Majority Whip Tom DeLay as well as Armey. Republicans said 10 other universities would be eligible.

Meanwhile, Congress completed passage of a measure creating an independent commission to investigate the policies and circumstances leading up to Sept. 11. President George W. Bush was expected to sign it into law.