[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM RESPONSE ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Public Health 
Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2001, H.R. 3448. Since the 
September 11 terrorist and the subsequent anthrax attacks, we in this 
country have become acutely aware of our vulnerability to bioterrorism, 
and I particularly became a cosponsor of this legislation because of 
those concerns.
  One of my major concerns has been the unique vulnerability of 
medically underserved populations to a bioterrorist attack. Many of the 
residents of these areas do not have access to even basic health 
services, much less comprehensive health insurance or preventive and 
specialty care. In addition, state and local governments which provide 
many of the health services to these communities are finding their 
resources depleted due to the recent recession and terrorist attacks.
  This legislation goes a long way towards protecting medically 
underserved communities and strengthening state and local health 
departments. Specifically, I thank Chairman Tauzin and Mr. Dingell for 
agreeing to work with me to include a provision in this bill which 
investigates the unique needs of medically underserved areas in case of 
a bloterrorist attack.
  Also, the bill strengthens state and local public health 
infrastructure through a series of grants, which include funding for: 
the purchases or upgrades of equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals or 
other countermeasures; the training and education of health care 
professionals where there are shortages; and laboratory services and 
poison centers.
  In regards to funding for poison centers, these entities are critical 
first responders, particularly to urban and rural underserved areas. In 
my home state of Illinois, the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council 
operates the Illinois Poison Center which provides 24-hour poison 
prevention and treatment advice statewide. The center acts as a liaison 
to federal, state & local agencies and serves as a resource for 
information on weapons of mass destruction, including chemical & 
biological agents. The Center is the preeminent center in Illinois 
dedicated to the treatment of incidents of pediatric poisoning. If a 
bioterrorist attack occurred in Illinois, undoubtedly the Illinois 
Poison Center would play an invaluable role in alerting the community.
  For far too long our public health infrastructure has been divided 
between those with access to services and those without access to 
services. This legislation will help close the gap between these two 
groups where bioterrorism is concerned.

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