[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. LINDA SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3755) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes.

  Mrs. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, recently the House passed the 
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill for 
the 1997 fiscal year. Within this bill is funding for two key programs 
under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control [CDC]. 
Specifically, the Chronic and Environmental Diseases Program and the 
Childhood Immunization Program--both of which have been essential to 
Washington State's ability to address public health crises.
  In 1993, the State of Washington was the site of an E.coli 0157:H7 
outbreak of epidemic proportions. Approximately 600 individuals 
displayed symptoms that were attributed to contact with contaminated 
meat. More than 150 people were hospitalized and, tragically, three 
died. This experience helped elevate the importance of food safety to a 
national level. The ability to identify foodborne diseases, educate the 
public, food handlers, and inspectors, and conduct thorough 
surveillance is dependent on a joint partnership between Federal and 
State officials. The work of Epidemic Intelligence Service [EIS] 
officers from the CDC has been invaluable in identifying foodborne 
diseases.
  Recognizing the fiscal constraints that Congress has set for itself, 
I commend the committee for its decision to increase funding for the 
Chronic and Environmental Disease Prevention Program by almost $12 
million for the 1997 fiscal year, bringing the total up to $155 
million.
  In addition, southwest Washington recently came through a measles 
outbreak that resulted in 37 cases over a 2\1/2\ month period. Twenty-
four percent of the reported cases occurred among preschool children. 
While public health officials were exemplary in tracking down the level 
of exposure, this recent outbreak reinforces the need for a proactive 
approach to childhood immunication. Recognizing this, I commend my 
colleagues for their decision to level fund the Childhood Immunization 
Program at $467 million.
  While every item in the Federal budget should undergo scrutiny, these 
two programs are of tremendous benefit to the people of Washingtion 
State and the public officials who work on a daily basis to preserve 
and promote preventive health measures. I thank Chairman Porter and his 
staff for their hard work on this bill and I commend my colleagues for 
joining me in ensuring this legislation's passage.

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