[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 137 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9059-H9061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING FORT DETRICK ON 60 YEARS OF SERVICE TO U.S.
Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 271)
congratulating Fort Detrick on 60 years of service to the United
States, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 271
Whereas April 10, 2003, was the 60th anniversary of the
founding of the Army installation in Frederick, Maryland,
named Fort Detrick;
Whereas Fort Detrick is designated as an Army Medical
Installation and is home to the United States Army Medical
Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), one of two campuses
of the National Cancer Institute (NCI-Frederick), and 36
other organizations of the Department of Defense and other
Federal departments;
Whereas the primary missions of the organizations at Fort
Detrick include biomedical research and development, medical
materiel management, and global telecommunications;
Whereas throughout that installation's 60-year history, the
personnel and organizations assigned to that installation
have contributed scientific breakthroughs and medical
solutions for the Armed Forces and the Nation;
Whereas Fort Detrick is a focal point for the Nation's
biomedical scientific leadership and has contributed
extensively to protecting and improving public health in the
United States;
Whereas Fort Detrick has been home to preeminent
researchers in bacteriology, microbiology, clinical and
preventative medicine, biochemistry, neurology, botany,
virology, and genomics;
Whereas the research program at Fort Detrick was a pioneer
in the laboratory facility designs, equipment, and procedures
that are used for infectious disease research in laboratories
worldwide;
Whereas researchers at Fort Detrick have improved public
health throughout the world through the creation of botulinum
antibodies, which have been used to treat both infant and
adult victims of botulism;
Whereas the Venezuelan equine encephalitis vaccines, which
were created at Fort Detrick, have been used to control human
and animal outbreaks of Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and
the Rift Valley Fever vaccines, which were also created at
Fort Detrick, have been used to protect people in Egypt,
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other countries who are at high risk
of Rift Valley Fever;
Whereas, on January 27, 1969, the Office of the Surgeon
General of the Army established the United States Army
Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
(hereinafter in this resolution referred to as the
``Institute''), which is located at Fort Detrick and is the
Department of Defense's lead laboratory for medical aspects
of biological warfare defense;
Whereas when outbreaks of hantaviral disease began in the
southwestern United States in 1993, the Institute was called
upon by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by
various State health departments for consultations;
Whereas when the Ebola virus was first carried to the
shores of the United States in late 1989 by a primate colony
found in Reston, Virginia, it was researchers at the
Institute who diagnosed and contained the outbreak;
Whereas the Institute also played a key role in the
identification of and response to the initial outbreak of
West Nile virus in New York;
Whereas the Institute continues its life-saving work by
collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the National Institutes of Health on the
development of diagnostics and the evaluation of antiviral
drugs for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome;
Whereas the Institute created a vaccine against hemorrhagic
fever in the 1980s, which has possibly saved thousands of
lives in Argentina, including the lives of agricultural
workers at risk for exposure to this hemorrhagic fever virus;
Whereas the Institute was the only Federal laboratory to
maintain a continuous diagnostic reference capability on a
24-hour per day basis after the attacks of September 11,
2001, and provided expertise in medical diagnostics and
decontamination that was key to ensuring that congressional
office buildings were safe to reoccupy after the anthrax mail
attacks in the fall of 2001;
Whereas leading vaccine candidates for anthrax, plague,
tularemia, and botulinum neurotoxins were all originally
developed at the Institute;
Whereas the basic research program at the Institute is
responsible for some of the most promising medical
countermeasures against the leading biological threats that
are on the ``A'' List of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention;
Whereas the Institute has established a partnership with
the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of
the National Institutes of Health to collaborate and
accelerate biodefense research that will protect all
Americans against the threat of biological and chemical
attacks by terrorists;
Whereas in 1974, the United States Army Medical Materiel
Agency was relocated to Fort Detrick and the Navy, Air Force,
and Army all now conduct medical logistics planning and
management at Fort Detrick in support of global military
operations;
Whereas the Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit of
the Agricultural Research Service of the Department of
Agriculture has conducted high-priority research in the Plant
Pathogen Containment Facility at Fort Detrick for over 30
years, providing the agricultural community with basic
epidemiological information and rapid diagnostic assays for
exotic threatening and emerging crop diseases, such as Karnal
bunt of wheat, soybean rust, potato late blight, and plum pox
virus;
Whereas Company B, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance
Battalion, 4th Marine Division, United States Marine Corps
Reserve, which has been assigned to Fort Detrick since
October 1987, had a mission of reconnaissance and security in
support of a Marine Air/Ground Task Force and received the
Meritorious Unit Citation for its service during Operation
Desert Storm;
Whereas the Army's 1108th Signal Brigade at Fort Detrick
provides important strategic
[[Page H9060]]
communication support to the White House and the Joint Chiefs
of Staff; and
Whereas the National Cancer Institute-Frederick at Fort
Detrick, one of two campuses of the National Cancer Institute
of the National Institutes of Health, is an internationally
recognized center for scientific excellence in the
prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and AIDS: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) congratulates Fort Detrick, Maryland, on 60 years of
service to the Nation; and
(2) commends the military and civilian personnel of the
Army, other elements of the Department of Defense, and other
Federal departments and agencies who have worked diligently
at Fort Detrick since its founding--
(A) to defend the United States against biological and
chemical attack; and
(B) to develop vaccines for all types of illnesses.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett).
General Leave
Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks on the concurrent resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
As the cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 271, I rise to congratulate Fort
Detrick on 60 years of outstanding service to our Nation. Fort Detrick,
located in Frederick, Maryland, employs men and women who are among the
Nation's most preeminent researchers in bacteriology, microbiology,
clinical and preventive medicine, biochemistry, neurology, botany,
virology, and genomics. These scientists and technicians have an
unparalleled record protecting the men and women in America's Armed
Forces from the scourge of biowarfare.
They have also led the world's fight against many infectious
diseases. Today workers at Fort Detrick are helping to protect and
improve the health of all Americans, as well as people around the
world.
During the height of World War II, in 1943, scientists converged at
Camp Detrick when the War Department began to address the threat of
biological warfare. In 1956, the U.S. Army Medical Unit was formed to
develop medical countermeasures which included rapid and effective
diagnostic and identification procedures. Throughout the Cold War, Fort
Detrick developed and matured many of the standard protocols and
technology utilized in biomedical research.
In 1969, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious
Diseases, USAMRIID, was established to continue America's defense
against biological agents.
Of today's top six biological threats, the CDC's ``A'' list, the
leading candidate countermeasures for at least five of the six have
come from the basic research program at USAMRIID. Leading vaccine
candidates for anthrax, plague, and neurotoxins were all originally
developed at USAMRIID. The technology used to develop a new smallpox
vaccine was first demonstrated at USAMRIID. The National Cancer
Institute-Frederick is an internationally recognized center for
scientific excellence in the prevention, detection, and treatment of
cancer and AIDS. Three billion dollars in congressionally directed
research into breast and prostate cancer have been done at the NCI,
which is located at Fort Detrick.
Fort Detrick is also a home of the 1108th Signal Brigade, the U.S.
Army Medical Material Agency, and the 4th Light Armored Vehicle
Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The Foreign Disease-Weed
Science Research Unit of the Department of Agriculture is also located
at Fort Detrick and has conducted high-priority research in exotic
threatening and emerging crop diseases for over 30 years.
The National Institutes of Health will be constructing an integrated
biomedical research facility at the post to support the biodefense
mission of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The Department of Homeland Security is considering joining NIAID and
USAMRIID in an expanded biodefense campus at Fort Detrick. Fort Detrick
is the logical location because of the 60-year record of
accomplishments, the existing facilities and the productive
partnerships already in place between the military and many civilian
agencies of the Federal Government.
Fort Detrick is a focal point for America's biomedical scientific
leadership. I congratulate all of the thousands of former and current
employees for their outstanding service to our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague from Maryland (Mr.
Bartlett) in support of this resolution and urge my colleagues to
support it as well.
Fort Detrick is one of the most important lines of defense should we
ever be attacked with a chemical or biological weapon. Since 1969, it
has been our Nation's lead laboratory for the medical aspects of
biological warfare defense.
{time} 1215
The September 11 attacks used civilian airplanes as weapons of mass
destruction; but it raises the specter of a terrorist attack that would
use a chemical, biological, or nuclear weapon against us. I hope such
an attack never occurs; but if it does, the men and women of Fort
Detrick are devoted to improving the ways to quickly detect the use of
chemical or biological weapons, halt the spread of chemical and
biological agents as quickly as possible, and treat the victims of the
attack.
But the mission of Fort Detrick goes beyond just protecting against
chemical or biological attack. Fort Detrick has played a leading role
in protecting our Nation and other nations against all types of
infectious diseases. They helped identify the West Nile Virus several
summers ago, and they created a vaccine in the 1980s that probably
saved the lives of thousands of Argentinians from an agricultural
virus. Fort Detrick has been a world leader in research of
microbiology, biochemistry, botany, and other scientific disciplines
that are necessary to understanding how to detect and treat lethal
viruses.
Fort Detrick also serves as home to one of the two campuses of the
National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. This
NIH campus is internationally recognized for its contribution to cancer
and AIDS research.
The mission of Fort Detrick goes beyond research as well. Since 1974,
all medical logistical support of global military operations is planned
and managed by Fort Detrick. This is an extremely important mission as
our troops are flung worldwide in the global war on terrorism. And as
my good friend, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett), mentioned,
the Army's 1108th Signal Brigade at Fort Detrick provides strategic
communications support to the White House and the joint chiefs.
This is just a symbol of the accomplishments and missions of Fort
Detrick, not an inventory of what they do. They do a great job.
Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate my good friend, the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett), for bringing this resolution to the
floor.
Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, as Congressman from Maryland's Second
Congressional district home to Aberdeen and Fort Meade . . . I know
what it means to represent our brave military men and women who
continue to defend this nation abroad and here at home.
Many who protect us do so with weapons . . . and many protect us in
otherways. . .
Fort Detrick is the premier military base for medical and biological
research. The men and women that work at the Detrick have led the way
in infectious disease and chemical warfare research.
Detrick began as a chemical research facility housing the research
branch of The Army Chemical Warfare Service. It is also the home
[[Page H9061]]
to the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center (AFMIC).
Detrick is also home to U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of
Infectious Disease (USAMRIID). These state of the art laboratories are
continuing to develop vaccines and treatments to defend against
offensive bioweapons. USAMRIID also has a large staff dedicated to
finding cures for cancer.
I am proud that the United States has dedicated a military base to
these problems and I am proud it is in the my home state of Maryland.
It is imperative in this day of terrorism to be prepared for the new
chemical and biological weapons. Today I am happy to honor the 60 years
of research that Detrick has provided for the National Security of this
Nation.
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sessions). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
271, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as
amended, was agreed to.
The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read:
``Concurrent resolution congratulating Fort Detrick, Maryland, on 60
years of service to the Nation.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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