[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 91 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1399]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1399]]


AMENDING PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT WITH RESPECT TO NATIONAL FOUNDATION 
           FOR THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2006

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Benjamin Disraeli once exclaimed, 
``The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all 
their happiness and all their powers as a state depend.''
  Rooted in this reality, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention lead vital public health initiatives to prevent and control 
infectious and chronic disease, injuries, workplace hazards, 
disabilities, and environmental health threats. However, the 
effectiveness of its work depends on its strong partnerships with other 
organizations, notably, the National Foundation for the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention.
  The National Foundation was founded by Congress in 1995 to bridge 
outside resources and partners with CDC scientists, and it has greatly 
enhanced the CDC's impact in such areas as global health, anti-
microbial resistance, the obesity epidemic, healthy aging, and 
emergency preparedness and response. Most recently, the foundation 
created the Emergency Preparedness & Response Fund. This fund will 
provide the CDC with resources it needs for rapid response to large-
scale public health emergencies, such as terrorist attacks or an avian 
flu pandemic. Given this organization's immeasurable contribution to 
national public health initiatives, I urge members to support S. 655. 
This bill proposes increased funding for grants to the foundation, 
allows for more voluntary service to the CDC by foundation individuals, 
and permits the CDC Director to provide facilities, utilities, and 
support services to the foundation if doing so is advantageous to CDC 
programs and the American people. Provisions of this bill will indeed 
strengthen the CDC and National Foundation's partnership and result in 
better public health outcomes for our Nation.
  Thomas Carlyle once said, ``He who has health, has hope, and he who 
has hope has everything.'' Let us ensure that we do everything in our 
power to improve the health status of our people. In doing so, we will 
most certainly ensure the productivity and fruitfulness of their lives.

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