[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 53 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DR. JEFFREY P. KOPLAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH REGULA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 1, 2002

  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 26 years of 
service that Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan has dedicated to improving the 
public health and the many contributions he has made at the Department 
of Health and Human Services.
  At the end of March of this year, Dr. Koplan stepped down from the 
dual positions he held since 1998 as the director of the Centers of 
Disease Control and prevention (CDC) and the Administrator of the 
Agency for Toxic substances and Disease Registry.
  As the Chairman of the appropriations subcommittee responsible for 
funding the CDC, I have come to know Dr. Koplan during one of the most 
challenging times in public health--the events of September 11, 2001, 
the following anthrax attacks, and the urgent call for public health 
preparedness for possible further bioterrorism attacks.
  Dr. Koplan has done a tremendous job leading the CDC response to this 
national crisis, which included deploying dozens of epidemiologists to 
New York City to assist the health departments with the response to the 
attack on the World Trade Center, dispatching personnel and medical 
supplies to aid the response efforts to the attack on the Pentagon, and 
coordinating a public health response to prevent, detect and treat 
anthrax. We are still in the midst of building capacity for an adequate 
public health response for potential terrorist attacks, but many of the 
needed improvements are well underway thanks in large part to his 
leadership.
  In addition to responding to terrorist threats, under the leadership 
of Dr. Koplan, CDC has responded to hundreds of requests from state, 
local and international health departments to investigate the outbreak 
of diseases such as West Nile virus, Ebola, tuberculosis, meningitis 
and other health threats. Just last spring I experienced first hand the 
response and leadership of the CDC in my own congressional district 
during a frightening meningitis outbreak. The presence of the CDC on 
the scene helped to address this situation and bring calm to the 
community.
  Dr. Koplan has also led CDC efforts to reduce tobacco use, improve 
childhood immunization, prevent birth defects and chronic diseases, and 
upgrade CDC buildings and facilities. These important efforts are 
bringing improved health to our nation.
  When I visited the CDC in Atlanta last year, I was impressed with the 
commitment of all of the CDC doctors, scientists, and employees who are 
pursuing their mission with pride and enthusiasm, and it was evident 
that that attitude emanates from the top.
  In short, CDC plays a critical role in protecting the public health 
of our nation. From the earlier days of his career working on the 
eradication of smallpox as an EIS officer to rebuilding the public 
health system to respond to the health threats of the 21st century as 
director of CDC, Dr. Koplan has tackled these many tough problems with 
determination. We will greatly miss his spirit, optimism, and 
leadership. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

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