[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 18, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACT OF 2002

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                               speech of

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2002

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 3253, as 
amended, which reflects the House-Senate compromise that was reached. 
This legislation was originally introduced by Chairman Chris Smith to 
establish at least four medical emergency preparedness centers at 
designated VA medical centers. As a cosponsor of this legislation, I 
want to thank Chairman Smith for his leadership in moving this 
important legislation towards final passage.
  I also want to thank Chairman Smith, members, and staff in both 
chambers for preserving H.R. 3254, the Medical Education for National 
Defense (MEND) for the 21st Century in the final package. That language 
is incorporated in Section 3 of H.R. 3253, as amended, and is entitled: 
Education and Training Programs on Medical Responses to Consequences of 
Terrorist Activities.
  Section 3 of H.R. 3253, as amended, 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 upon the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine of the 
Department of Defense's Uniformed Services University of Health 
Sciences (USUHS) core curriculum, which includes a program to teach 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 that we 
have been forced to confront in the aftermath of the September 11th 
attacks. What has become all too clear is that our health care 
providers are not resourced or trained with the proper tools to 
diagnose and treat casualties in the face of biological, radiological, 
and chemical weapons.
  It is imperative that such a program be disseminated to the Nation's 
medical professionals and current medical students. This section of the 
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 exploit.
  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 will never materialize.
  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 Representatives, act to ensure 
that if the worst of our fears are realized that the country's 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 treated or 
recognized in this country. It is extremely important that all of our 
health care professionals are familiar with and able to diagnose and 
treat suspected exposure to weapons of mass destruction.
  The American Medical Association endorsed H.R. 3254, and the American 
Association of Medical Colleges has thrown its full support behind this 
plan. These two organizations know how vital it is to receive this 
important educational curriculum that addresses the medical aspects of 
biological chemical and radiological attacks, and they have recognized 
that the VA is in a unique position to assist with the dissemination of 
this information to the Nation's medical community.
  It is often said that knowledge is power, and in this instance 
nothing could be more accurate. The knowledge that would result from 
the implementation of this act is critical. Our medical professionals 
need to be offered 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 final passage of this important 
piece of legislation.

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