[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E915]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3448, PUBLIC HEALTH SECURITY AND BIOTERRORISM 
                 PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE ACT OF 2002

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                               speech of

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2002

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased that we have reached an agreement 
on H.R. 3448, the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act. I commend my 
colleagues who served on the conference committee for reporting out a 
strong, effective and balanced bill.
  It's critically important that we protect our nation from biological 
and chemical attacks and this bill takes a number of necessary steps to 
bolster our defenses in these areas.
  As we know, response to any attack against our country begins at the 
local level. This bill provides significant resources to state and 
local governments to ensure that they are ready and able to respond to 
any situation.
  Communities must be able to adequately train and equip their first 
responders.
  These block grants will allow communities to purchase supplies, train 
staff, and upgrade infrastructure--all necessary components of creating 
safe towns and cities. This bill also provides needed funding for 
vaccine and pharmaceutical stockpiling and future anti-terrorism 
medical research efforts. We must continue our efforts to prepare for 
any eventuality and medical research is a critical component of this 
plan.
  I'm also pleased that the bill takes a number of steps to protect our 
nation's food supply. Dinner-time should not be a source of worry to 
the American people.
  However, we must continue to evaluate the effectiveness of these 
provisions. I believe that there is more to be done in this area in 
order to fully establish safe and effective monitoring of our food 
supply.
  Finally, I'm particularly pleased that the conference committee was 
able to include language that directs the Centers for Disease Control 
to consider the use of antiviral products in the National 
Pharmaceutical Stockpile.
  Biological agents such as smallpox and anthrax are significant 
concerns for our government to address. We must ensure that our 
stockpile contains vaccines and treatments that are effective for all 
citizens. Antiviral products are yet another mechanism for treating 
smallpox and I'm pleased that the CDC will be evaluating the 
appropriateness of their use.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for their hard work on this bill and I 
commend them for their efforts.

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