[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 22817-22818]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS ACT OF 2001

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I rise today to support the 
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001. This act represents a critically 
important turning point in the readiness of our public health system to 
respond to the challenge of bioterrorism. In many places in our Nation 
the public health infrastructure has been underfunded and understaffed. 
Many of our public health workers have been working day and night since 
September 11. The anthrax attack has demonstrated that our system can 
be overwhelmed by a bioterrorist attack. This bill provides essential 
assistance to our network of local and State health departments, public 
health laboratories, hospitals and health care facilities so that they 
can protect all of us in the event of further bioterrorist attack, or 
of other infectious disease outbreaks.
  Mr. President, we in Minnesota have long been aware of the dangers of 
bioterrorism thanks to the efforts of Mike Osterholm, head of the 
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of 
Minnesota. But since September 11, everywhere that I have traveled in 
Minnesota I have been hearing about the need for preparedness. I am 
very glad that this bill is providing for bioterrorism preparedness.
  This bill provides block grants to states to improve public health 
departments and to get the equipment they need, and to help local 
governments safeguard their communities from these threats. The bill 
also provides grants to hospitals and other health care facilities to 
improve their abilities to respond quickly and effectively to a 
bioterrorist attack. I am glad this bill emphasizes getting funds to 
the local level. That is very important. In fact, I would have even 
gone further in setting aside funds specifically for localities.
  I do have some reservations about the scope of the antitrust 
exemption the bill in its current form provides to the drug industry 
and others in connection with the development of countermeasures 
against bioterrorism. I fully understand the urgency of the situation 
and the need to create ``safe space'' for the work necessary to bring 
such countermeasures on line. However, I do think we need to tread 
carefully when it comes to further insulating the drug industry from 
the discipline of competitive market forces. I hope that my colleagues 
will work with me as we move forward on this very important measure to 
ensure the fullest possible protection for American consumers 
consistent with the development and production of necessary 
countermeasures.
  As chair of the Subcommittee on Employment, Safety and Training, I am 
particularly glad that this bill recognizes the threat of bioterrorism 
in the

[[Page 22818]]

workplace. Virtually all of the antrax attack involved places where 
people work, including media offices, the U.S. Postal Service and here 
in the Congress. I am especially happy that this bill includes language 
which I had suggested to direct the National Institute of Occupational 
Safety and Health to enhance and expand research on the health and 
safety of workers who are at risk for biological threats or attacks in 
the work place.
  Finally, I am particularly pleased that my provisions regarding 
mental health were included in this important bill. We know from the 
outstanding hearing on mental health and terrorism, chaired by Senator 
Kennedy in the HELP committee, that the preparedness and response 
activities for the mental health consequences of bioterrorism are as 
important as all other public health initiatives this Congress can 
support. Dr. Kerry Kelly, Chief Medical Officer of the New York Fire 
Department, reported at that hearing that since September 11, the men 
and women of the New York Fire Department and the families of those who 
were lost have had to endure a tremendous sense of grief. She said 
that, ``the emotional well-being of our department requires 
intervention to provide stress debriefing, bereavement counseling, and 
continued psychological support of our members, our families, and the 
children affected by this event.''
  The mental health provisions in the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 
2001 support Federal, State, and local efforts to enhance the 
preparedness of public health institutions, providers of medical care, 
and other emergency service personnel, including firefighters, to 
detect, diagnose, and respond to the mental health consequences of a 
biological threat or attack. Additionally, State and local emergency 
measures ensure that hospitals and health care providers have adequate 
capacity and plans in place to provide mental health services to meet 
the need of vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, 
and the disabled. Training programs are also authorized to educate 
health care professionals to recognize and treat the mental health 
consequences of a biological threat or attack, including the 
consequences for children.
  We know one for thing for sure. It is a mistake to believe that 
bioterrorism events cannot have lasting impact on the mental health of 
the individuals who experience them. Let us not repeat the mistakes 
that were made in the aftermath of the Vietnam war, when the trauma 
experienced by veterans was ignored or trivialized until well after the 
optimal time for treatment was past. We have learned from the 
outstanding research funded by the VA and NIMH of the severity of the 
disorder and the effective ways in which it can be treated. We must 
ensure that all Federal, State, and local public health efforts to 
respond to and prepare for bioterrorist attacks take advantage of this 
knowledge.
  I do not believe that mental health problems are a widespread or 
inevitable consequence of bioterrorist attacks. But as we heard from 
the experts at the HELP hearing, we should not underestimate the severe 
impact that these events have on people's sense of identity and safety, 
and how the multiple losses and horrific experiences they go through 
has the potential to affect them for a long while. There have been many 
reports in the media of the heightened sense of anxiety and 
vulnerability throughout our country. These feelings are normal and I 
have confidence that most Americans will be able to deal with these 
crises. But I also firmly believe that the Federal, State, and local 
governments can play a major role in helping people to understand what 
has happened to them, and establish programs for mental health services 
for those who will need it. We in Congress are doing our part by the 
inclusion of these mental health initiatives within this bill.
  In closing, this bill represents an essential step forward in 
safeguarding both the physical and mental health of our Nation in the 
event of further bioterrorist attack.

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