[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 65 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2610-H2614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESEARCH,
EDUCATION, AND BIOTERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2002
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 3253) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for the establishment of emergency medical preparedness centers
in the Department of Veterans Affairs, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3253
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Veterans
Affairs Emergency Preparedness Research, Education, and Bio-
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2002''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS
CENTERS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 7325. Medical emergency preparedness centers
``(a) Establishment of Centers.--(1) The Secretary shall
establish at least four medical emergency preparedness
centers in accordance with this section. Each such center
shall be established at a Department medical center and shall
be staffed by Department employees.
``(2) The Under Secretary for Health shall be responsible
for supervising the operation of the centers established
pursuant to this section. The Under Secretary shall provide
for ongoing evaluation of the centers and their compliance
with the requirements of this section.
``(3) The Under Secretary shall carry out the Under
Secretary's functions under paragraph (2) in consultation
with the Assistant Secretary for Veterans Affairs with
responsibility for operations, preparedness, and security.
``(b) Mission.--The mission of the centers shall be--
``(1) to carry out research on and develop methods of
detection, diagnosis, vaccination, protection, and treatment
for chemical, biological, and radiological threats to the
public health and safety;
``(2) to provide education, training, and advice to health-
care professionals, including health-care professionals
outside the Veterans Health Administration; and
``(3) to provide contingent rapid response laboratory
assistance and other assistance to local health care
authorities in the event of a national emergency.
``(c) Center Directors.--Each center shall have a Director
with (1) expertise in managing organizations that deal with
threats referred to in subsection (b), (2) expertise in
providing care to populations exposed to toxic substances, or
(3) significant research experience in those fields.
``(d) Selection of Centers.--(1) The Secretary shall select
the sites for the centers on the basis of a competitive
selection process and a finding under paragraph (2). The
centers selected shall be located in different regions of the
Nation, and any such center may be a consortium of efforts of
more than one medical center. At least one of the centers
shall be established to concentrate on chemical threats, at
least one shall be established to concentrate on biological
threats, and at least one shall be established to concentrate
on radiological threats.
``(2) The finding referred to in paragraph (1) with respect
to a proposal for designation of a site as a location of a
center under this section is a finding by the Secretary, upon
the recommendations of the Under Secretary for Health and the
Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations,
preparedness, and security, that the facility or facilities
submitting the proposal have developed (or may reasonably be
anticipated to develop) each of the following:
``(A) An arrangement with a qualifying medical school and a
qualifying school of public health (or a consortium of such
schools) under which physicians and other persons in the
health field receive education and training through the
participating Department medical centers so as to provide
those persons with training in the diagnosis and treatment of
illnesses induced by exposures to toxins, including chemical
and biological substances and nuclear ionizing radiation.
``(B) An arrangement with an accredited graduate program of
epidemiology under which students receive education and
training in epidemiology through the participating Department
facilities so as to provide such students with training in
the epidemiology of contagious and infectious diseases and
chemical and radiation poisoning in an exposed population.
``(C) An arrangement under which nursing, social work,
counseling, or allied health personnel and students receive
training and education in recognizing and caring for
conditions associated with exposures to toxins through the
participating Department facilities.
``(D) The ability to attract scientists who have made
significant contributions to the development of innovative
approaches to the detection, diagnosis, vaccination,
protection, or treatment of persons exposed to chemical,
biological, or radiological substances.
``(3) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A)--
``(A) a qualifying medical school is an accredited medical
school that provides education and training in toxicology and
environmental health hazards and with which one or more of
the participating Department medical centers is affiliated;
and
``(B) a qualifying school of public health is an accredited
school of public health that provides education and training
in toxicology and environmental health hazards and with which
one or more of the participating Department medical centers
is affiliated.
``(e) Funding.--(1) Amounts appropriated for the activities
of the centers shall be appropriated separately from amounts
appropriated for the Department for medical care.
``(2) There are authorized to be appropriated for the
centers under this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2003 through 2007.
``(3) In addition to funds appropriated for a fiscal year
pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in paragraph
(2), the Under Secretary for Health shall allocate to such
centers from other funds appropriated for that fiscal year
generally for the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care
account and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and
prosthetics research account such amounts as the Under
Secretary for Health determines appropriate to carry out the
purposes of this section. Any determination by the Under
Secretary under the preceding sentence shall be made in
consultation with the Assistant Secretary with responsibility
for operations, preparedness, and security.
``(f) Research Activities.--Each center shall conduct
research on improved medical preparedness to protect the
Nation from threats in the area of that center's expertise.
Each center may seek research funds from public and private
sources for such purpose.
``(g) Peer Review Panel.--(1) In order to provide advice to
assist the Secretary and the Under Secretary for Health to
carry out their responsibilities under this section, the
Under Secretary shall establish a peer review panel to assess
the scientific and clinical
[[Page H2611]]
merit of proposals that are submitted to the Secretary for
the designation of centers under this section. The peer
review shall be established in consultation with the
Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations,
preparedness, and security.
``(2) The peer review panel shall include experts in the
fields of toxicological research, bio-hazards management
education and training, radiology, clinical care of patients
exposed to such hazards, and other persons as determined
appropriate by the Secretary. Members of the panel shall
serve as consultants to the Department.
``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the
panel by the officials referred to in paragraph (1) and shall
submit to the Under Secretary for Health its views on the
relative scientific and clinical merit of each such proposal.
The panel shall specifically determine with respect to each
such proposal whether that proposal is among those proposals
which have met the highest competitive standards of
scientific and clinical merit.
``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
``(h) Research Products.--(1) The Under Secretary for
Health and the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for
operations, preparedness, and security shall ensure that
information produced by the research, education and training,
and clinical activities of centers established under this
section is made available, as appropriate, to health-care
providers in the United States. Dissemination of such
information shall be made through publications, through
programs of continuing medical and related education provided
through regional medical education centers under subchapter
VI of chapter 74 of this title, and through other means. Such
programs of continuing medical education shall receive
priority in the award of funding.
``(2) The Secretary shall ensure that the work of the
centers is conducted in close coordination with other Federal
departments and agencies and that research products or other
information of the centers shall be coordinated and shared
with other Federal departments and agencies.
``(i) Assistance to Other Agencies.--The Secretary may
provide assistance requested by appropriate Federal, State,
and local civil and criminal authorities in investigations,
inquiries, and data analyses as necessary to protect the
public safety and prevent or obviate biological, chemical, or
radiological threats.
``(j) Detail of Employees From Other Agencies.--Upon
approval by the Secretary, the Director of a center may
request the temporary assignment or detail to the center, on
a nonreimbursable basis, of employees from other Departments
and agencies of the United States who have expertise that
would further the mission of the center. Any such employee
may be so assigned or detailed on a nonreimbursable basis
pursuant to such a request. The duration of any such
assignment or detail shall be subject to approval by the
Office of Personnel Management.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 7324 the following new item:
``7325. Medical emergency preparedness centers.''.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title
38, United States Code, is amended by adding after section
7325, as added by section 2(a), the following new section:
``Sec. 7326. Emergency health and medical education
``(a) Education Program.--The Secretary shall carry out a
program to develop and disseminate a series of model
education and training programs on the medical responses to
the consequences of terrorist activities.
``(b) Implementing Entity.--The program shall be carried
out through the Under Secretary for Health, in consultation
with the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs with
responsibility for operations, preparedness, and security.
``(c) Content of Programs.--The education and training
programs developed under the program shall be modelled after
programs established at the F. Edward Hebert School of
Medicine of the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences and shall include, at a minimum, training for health
care professionals in the following:
``(1) Recognition of chemical, biological, and radiological
agents that may be used in terrorist activities.
``(2) Identification of the potential symptoms of those
agents.
``(3) Understanding of the potential long-term health
consequences, including psychological effects, resulting from
exposure to those agents.
``(4) Emergency treatment for exposure to those agents.
``(5) An appropriate course of followup treatment,
supportive care, and referral.
``(6) Actions that can be taken while providing care for
exposure to those agents to protect against contamination.
``(7) Information on how to seek consultative support and
to report suspected or actual use of those agents.
``(d) Potential Trainees.--In designing the education and
training programs under this section, the Secretary shall
ensure that different programs are designed for health-care
professionals at various levels. The programs shall be
designed to be disseminated to health professions students,
graduate health and medical education trainees, and health
practitioners in a variety of fields.
``(e) Consultation.--In establishing the education and
training program under this section, the Secretary shall
consult with appropriate representatives of accrediting,
certifying, and coordinating organizations in the field of
health professions education.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
7325, as added by section 2(b), the following new item:
``7326. Emergency health and medical education.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall implement section 7326 of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), not later than the end of the 90-
day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 4. INCREASE IN NUMBER OF ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Increase.--Subsection (a) of section 308 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking ``six'' in the
first sentence and inserting ``seven''.
(b) Functions.--subsection (b) of such section is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(11) Operations, preparedness, security, and law
enforcement functions.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 5315 of title 5, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``(6)'' after ``Assistant
Secretaries, Department of Veterans Affairs'' and inserting
``(7)''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as the prime sponsor of H.R. 3253, as amended, I rise to
urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this vital
legislation that will expand the role of the Department of Veterans
Affairs in homeland security.
It may come as a surprise to many that the Department of Veterans
Affairs operates the world's largest integrated health care network,
with over 200,000 health care professionals, 163 medical centers, more
than 800 outpatient clinics, 115 medical research programs,
affiliations with over 100 schools of medicine, and a $25 billion
budget annually.
Dedicated to providing health care to America's military veterans,
the VA is now the Federal Government's leading provider of direct
medical services, with over 4.5 million patients treated last year.
From providing top-quality medical care to veterans to performing
comprehensive cutting-edge research, such as for prosthetics and
Alzheimer's disease, the VA health care system has become a unique
national resource and a unique national treasure.
That is why we fought so hard to increase its health care budget for
next year. With bipartisan support from our committee and with the
leadership of the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle); the conference Chair, the gentleman
from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts); the majority whip, the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. DeLay); the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey);
and our distinguished Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Hastert), I am pleased to say that the budget that passed the House
increased the VA discretionary health care funding by a record $2.8
billion for next year.
However, there are still too many people who do not understand the
capabilities of the VA health care system. I know from extensive
research and from personal experience during the anthrax crisis that
the VA is ready, willing, and able to play a significant role in
homeland security; but it is often overlooked.
When my post office in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, was attacked
with anthrax, and is still closed, and many of the postal employees, in
excess of 1,400 postal employees, were at risk of contracting that
horrible disease, they were advised to take Cipro. The VA was there as
a backup, ready to provide that life saving antibiotic. When I brought
the VA's capabilities to the attention of the health commissioner. In
New Jersey he was unaware of this important resource. I say with all
respect to him, that this was a resource he could count on. And it
should
[[Page H2612]]
not be that way. The VA should be much more integrated, and the
knowledge of what the VA can do must be more widely utilized.
The Cipro was finally made available. Thankfully, at the last minute,
the CDC came through and we were able to provide Cipro, which was
lifesaving to so many. But, Mr. Speaker, the VA health care system must
be an integral component of any homeland security strategy, especially
on matters of biological, chemical, and radiological threats and
terrorism.
In fact, the VA today does have some defined roles in both the
National Disaster Medical System and the Federal Response Plan in the
event of national emergencies. Among the VA's current specialized
duties are conducting and evaluating disaster and terrorist attack
simulation exercises; managing the Nation's stockpile for
pharmaceuticals of biological and chemical toxins; maintaining a rapid
response team for radiological releases; and training public and
private EMS medical center personnel around the country and properly
responding to biological, chemical, and radiological disasters.
Yet despite the VA's capacity and unique capabilities, their
experience and their expertise in public health matters, it is almost
routinely overlooked when it comes to discussions of homeland security,
even those concerning bioterrorism, which is, I believe, just plain
foolish and counterproductive.
Mr. Speaker, in the administration's budget submission, almost $6
billion was requested to address bioterrorism, including $2.4 billion
for additional research; yet not $1 was earmarked for the Veterans
Administration. A month ago, I would just say parenthetically, we asked
Tom Ridge to come and appear before our committee. He used to be a
member. And like he has with all the other committees, he declined to
come. But he too needs to be more aware of the VA's unique capabilities
in this terrorism war.
In fact, when we look at the administration's latest strategy
document on homeland security, which can be found on their Web page,
the VA is not even mentioned once. The VA can and must be asked to do
more. That is why I introduced H.R. 3253, the legislation pending
before the House.
H.R. 3253 will create four national medical preparedness centers to
be operated by the VA, with at least one concentrating on biological
threats, at least one on chemical, and one on radiological threats. In
coordination with DOD, Health and Human Services, FEMA, CDC, the NIH,
and other agencies or organizations with appropriate expertise, these
centers would research and develop new methods to detect, diagnose,
vaccinate, and treat potential victims of chemical, biological, and
radiological terrorism.
The centers would serve both as direct research centers and as
coordinating centers for ongoing and promising new research at other
government agencies and research universities. Furthermore, these
centers would serve as training resources for thousands of community
hospitals that would be first responders to future bioterrorism
attacks.
Let me also point out that when anthrax hit my area, I was amazed, I
was deeply dismayed that there was no protocol that could be taken off
the shelf to prescribe what the course that ought to be followed in the
event this happened. CDC was flying by the seat of their collective
pants. Some very good scientists from CDC and other government agencies
were deployed to New Jersey, and I sat in on some of those meetings. At
first, they said no cross-contamination can occur. And I said, have you
ever seen an envelope go through the processing machines? It is almost
a violent procedure as it makes its way through. If you put a highly
refined powder, in this case a weapons grade anthrax powder, surely a
cloud of dust containing those harmful contaminants are likely to
escape.
Turns out, they did. A couple of weeks later, we found that other
post offices were contaminated as well. Four of our area post offices
were ``hot'' with Anthrax. My point? The experts need to move
effectively work this issue, and we need to do it well in advance of
any future contamination.
Again, when we look at the threats that are possible--perhaps
probable, and how do we deal with them, how do the first responders
deal with them, the question arise as to whether we have worked with
the kind of focus that will protect first responders, employees and
then the public at large.
Finally, let me just say that the centers would be charged with
establishing state-of-the-art labs to help local health care
authorities quickly determine the presence of dangerous biological and
chemical toxins such as anthrax.
Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that H.R. 3253 calls for the
cost of these new centers to be taken from additional funds provided to
combat terrorism and not from already hard-pressed VA health care
dollars. Mr. Speaker, there is ample precedent and experience within
the VA for undertaking this expanded mission. The VA's extensive
medical research programs are renowned for expertise in diagnosing and
treating viral diseases with devastating health consequences, such as
groundbreaking work on HIV and hepatitis C.
Just a couple months ago, Dr. Karl Hostetler and his VA colleagues in
San Diego announced significant progress has been made on a new oral
treatment for smallpox, one of the most deadly bio-terror threats
confronting the world today.
Furthermore, the VA already operates two war-related illness centers
tasked with developing specialized treatments for illnesses and
injuries related to combat. In essence, these new national medical
preparedness centers would work similarly to study illnesses and
injuries most likely to come from a terrorist attack and develop new
treatments and protocols to mitigate their dangers.
H.R. 3253 also contains important provisions from H.R. 3254,
legislation authored by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight
and Investigations, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), to require
the VA to work with military physicians to develop and disseminate
education and training programs on the medical responses to the
consequences of terrorist activities. Under this provision, the VA
would also disseminate training programs to health professions,
students, graduate medical education trainees, and active health
practitioners.
H.R. 3253 also contains an internal organizational provision proposed
by the VA to add an additional Assistant Secretary for preparedness,
security and law enforcement functions.
Mr. Speaker, in the ongoing war on terrorism, America must take every
precaution to protect our citizens from all dangers and especially from
biological, chemical, and radiological threats. H.R. 3253 is just one
way, I think it is an important way, to use the existing strength of
the VA in homeland security while continuing to meet its primary
mission of providing care to our veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3253, the Department of
Veterans Affairs Emergency Preparedness Research, Education, and
Bioterrorism Prevention Act of 2002. Many Members have contributed to
the development of this important legislation. In particular, I want to
commend our chairman, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith); the
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Filner), the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on
Health; and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).
H.R. 3253, as amended, would establish at least four medical
emergency preparedness centers in VA facilities. These centers would
conduct research and develop methods to detect, diagnose, vaccinate,
protect, and treat chemical, biological, and radiological threats to
our public health and safety.
Under H.R. 3253, the VA will also provide education, training and
advice to health care professionals, including health care
professionals outside the Veterans Health Administration on these
matters. The VA will also provide rapid response laboratory assistance
to local health care authorities.
The VA is authorized to develop a series of model education and
training programs on medical responses to the consequences of terrorist
activities.
[[Page H2613]]
{time} 1415
H.R. 3253 also increases the number of Assistant Secretaries within
the VA from six to seven. The responsibilities of the new Assistant
Secretary will include operations, preparedness, security, and law
enforcement functions.
This is sound legislation. This is sensible legislation. This is
needed legislation. I urge my colleagues to strongly support this
measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on
Health.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time. I thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from
New Jersey (Mr. Smith), for his enthusiastic and incredible
farsightedness in sponsoring this legislation which will set up, as we
have heard, four new emergency medical preparedness centers within the
Department of Veterans Affairs. These centers obviously expand what is
already a leadership role in the areas of emergency preparedness,
research, education and prevention of bioterrorism and is consistent
with the challenges that VA is already meeting at both the local and
national level.
In the immediate aftermath of the events of September 11, the VA, of
course, was front and center, contributing its expertise wherever
possible, especially in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder
in New York City and right here in our own backyard. VA research has
long been recognized as ground breaking, with benefits that extend
beyond our reach and improve the lives of veterans and countless
others. As we have heard from our chairman at the VA medical center in
my hometown of San Diego, they have found a promising treatment for
smallpox. This kind of effort will save potentially thousands of lives
and highlights the kind of contributions that the VA is already making
to our public health and safety.
We should take VA's existing infrastructure and strengths to even
greater heights. That is what H.R. 3253 does. At earlier meetings of
our subcommittee and committee, concerns were expressed whether the
funding for these new centers would impinge on the funding of our
already-strapped funds for our veterans and their medical and benefit
needs now. I was glad to hear that the chairman has said that the cost
of these centers will come from antiterrorist funds already
appropriated.
With that concern met, I think we should all vote for H.R. 3253. It
will help us prepare for the future. Let us support this measure.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the distinguished
chairman of the Subcommittee on Health.
Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, since September 11, our Nation has
been made to reevaluate every action we undertake on a daily basis.
What we once considered a safe Nation has become a people concerned
about security, and they look to Congress and the President for
answers.
With the bill we will pass today, H.R. 3253, the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs is challenging the Veterans Administration with the
task to address some of our new concerns: to use a fraction of the
assets of the Department of Veterans Affairs to help protect the people
of the United States from terrorists.
We will charge the administration with this task because we believe
it is one that they can readily handle. We must be proactive in
preparing the United States for a future terrorist attack. As our Vice
President said just yesterday, ``The prospects of a future attack
against the United States are almost certain. Not a matter of if but
when. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen next week, it could
happen next year, but they will keep trying.'' Those are sobering
thoughts.
We must respond in a timely, effective, and comprehensive manner to
protect the American people if and when an attack occurs. This bill
would do just that.
Under this bill at least four geographically separated national
medical emergency preparedness centers would be established. Each
center would independently study and work toward solutions to health
consequences that arise from exposure to chemical, biological, and
nuclear substances used as weapons. What makes the VA a good host for
such a new and important mission? In addition to meeting its medical
care mission to millions of veterans, the VA health care system is the
Nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and a major
contributor to biomedical and other scientific research. Because of
this widely dispersed, integrated health care system, the VA can be an
essential asset in responding to national emergencies.
Not only would the four special centers conduct research and develop
methods of detection, diagnosis, vaccination, and treatment for
chemical, biological, and radiological threats but they would also be
charged with dissemination of the latest information to other public
and private health care providers to improve the quality of care for
patients who may be exposed to these deadly elements.
This bill would also require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
carry out a program to develop and disseminate model education and
training programs on the medical responses to terrorist activities.
VA's infrastructure, which includes affiliations with over 107 medical
schools and other schools of health professions, would enable current
and future medical professionals in this country to be knowledgeable
and medically competent in the treatment of casualties from terrorist
attacks.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is a definite win-win proposition. The people
who need to be trained in saving lives will be properly armed with
current information and education. Mechanisms will be put in place to
study the likely avenues and methods of chemical, biological, and
radiological poisoning; and the VA will be a part of a firm foundation
for rapid response by local and Federal officials in types of emergency
that only 18 months ago we could have scarcely imagined.
H.R. 3253 is a good bill, Mr. Speaker. I commend the gentleman from
New Jersey for his efforts in this regard. I urge all my colleagues to
support this effort and hope that it will pay a large dividend in our
war on terrorism.
Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3253, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Let me conclude and thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows)
for managing the bill on the floor; I thank my good friend and
colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health for his
leadership; I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) for his
leadership; and I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) who is
our ranking member. We have worked hand in glove on these veterans
issues. It has been a delight to work with him on this important
legislation.
I also want to thank our staff. As we all know, Mr. Speaker, without
the staff, committees would not function. They are hard working and
very, very competent. They are professionals in every sense of that
word. I want to thank Pat Ryan, our chief counsel and chief of staff;
Kingston Smith; Jeannie McNally, who is our coordinator for
legislation--by the way, it is her birthday, and I want to extend her a
happy birthday--I also want to thank Summer Larson; John Bradley, who
is the staff director for the subcommittee; Kimberly Cowins; Stacy
Zelenski; Mike Durishin; Kathleen Grove; Art Wu; Veronica Crowe;
Johnathan McKay; Bernadine Dotson; Andy Napoli; and Peter Dickinson;
and others, all of whom played a vital role in this legislation. I hope
I did not leave anyone out.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to rise in support of H.R.
3253, the ``Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency
[[Page H2614]]
Preparedness Research, Education, and Bio-Terrorism Prevention Act of
2002,'' introduced by Chairman Chris Smith. As a cosponsor of this
legislation, I want to thank Chairman Smith for his leadership in
moving this legislation forward.
H.R. 3253 will establish at least four medical emergency preparedness
centers at designated VA medical centers. These centers will be charged
with carrying out research related to bio-terrorist activities such as
the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of chemical, biological, and
radiological threats posed by these agents.
Section 3 incorporates legislation that I introduced--H.R. 3254, the
``Medical Education for National Defense (MEND) Act in the 21st
Century.'' I want to thank Chairman Smith for incorporating this
language into H.R. 3253. I also want to thank the members who
cosponsored my original piece of legislation, Chairman Smith, and
Representatives Michael Bilirakis, John McHugh, Vic Snyder, Cliff
Stearns, Dave Weldon, Robert Underwood, Mark Kirk, and Ellen Tauscher.
This provision would establish an education program to be carried out
through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The education and training
curriculum developed under the program shall be modeled after the F.
Edward Herbert School of Medicine of the Department of Defense's
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) core
curriculum, which includes a program that teaches its students how to
diagnose and treat casualties that have been exposed to chemical,
biological, or radiological agents.
As a nation, we must be prepared for the new face of terror as we
confront the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. What has become
all too clear is that our health care providers are neither resourced
nor trained with the proper tools to diagnose and treat casualties in
the face of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.
It is imperative that a program be disseminated to the nation's
medical professionals and current medical students. This bill takes
advantage of the nexus that already exists between the medical
education community and the VA. Currently, 107 medical universities are
affiliated with a VA medical center. This nexus is already in place and
that is what we plan to tap into.
The VA's extensive infrastructure of 163 medical centers, 800
clinics, and satellite broadcast capabilities, will enable the current
and future medical professionals in this country to become
knowledgeable and medically competent in the treatment of casualties
that we all hope they will never materialize.
Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to assume that our country will never
again experience a biological, chemical, or radiological attack on the
American people. We must, as elected Members, sent by our constituents
to Washington to represent their interests, act to ensure that if the
worst of fears are realized, our medical professionals will be ready
and able to deal with these situations.
It is not the intent of this legislation to create new community
standards of practice. We must recognize that diseases such as
smallpox, botulism, and the plague are not normally seen around the
country. I think it is extremely important that we disseminate the
expertise that we have, so that doctors, in their diagnostic analysis,
begin to think about other things from what they normally see in their
family practices.
The American Medical Association endorsed H.R. 3254, and the American
Association of Medical Colleges has thrown its full weight behind this
plan. These two organizations know how vital it is to receive an
educational curriculum, and they have recognized that the VA is in a
unique position to be able to disseminate this information to the
Nation's medical community.
It is often said that knowledge is power, and in this instance
nothing could be truer. The knowledge resulting from the implementation
of this act is critical. Our medical professionals need to be exposed
to training methods that would enable them to save lives . . . and I
can think of no greater power than that.
Please, join with me and support this important piece of legislation.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to lend my voice to the
National Medical Emergency Preparedness Act.
This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish up
to four medical emergency preparedness centers within VA medical
centers. These preparedness centers are established to research
diagnosis and treatment for any chemical, biological, and radiological
threats to public health and safety. In addition, these centers will
train and advise as well as educate health-care professionals about
chemical, biological, and radiological threats to public health and
safety.
This bill would authorize $20 million a year over the 2003-2007
period to operate these centers. As part of the requirement to provide
education and training, this bill would require the Department of
Veterans Affairs to carry out a joint program with the Department of
Defense (DoD) to develop and disseminate a series of training programs
on the medical responses to terrorist activities. This bill would
increase the number of Assistant Secretaries within the Department of
Veteran Affairs from six to seven with the new assistant secretary
being responsible for operations, preparedness, security, and law
enforcement functions. As a member of the Democratic Caucus Homeland
Security Task Force, I believe our focus should continue to promote
effective homeland preparedness and security.
The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $12 million
in this FY2003 and $87 million over the period 2003-2007. This bill
would not affect direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures
would not apply.
The Department of Veterans Affairs operates the nation's largest
integrated health care network with over 200,000 health care
professionals, 163 medical centers, 800 outpatient clinics, 115 medical
research centers, affiliations with more than 100 medical schools and
has a $25 billion annual budget.
The VA medical centers are dedicated to providing health care to U.S.
military veterans. VA is the federal government's leading provider of
direct medical services. The VA medical centers has treated more than
3.4 million patients in 2001.
The VA also operates two War-Related Illness Centers responsible for
developing specialized treatments for illnesses and injuries resulting
from veterans' wartime exposures, and through its extensive medical and
prosthetic research and clinical care programs the department has
expertise in diagnosing and treating dangerous viral or bacterial
illnesses, such as hepatitis C, human immuno deficiency virus (HIV),
and in earlier generations, tuberculosis.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3253.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3253, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________