[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13251]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         NOMINATION OF DR. RICHARD CARMONA FOR SURGEON GENERAL

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning the members of the Senate 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, HELP, voted to 
support the nomination of Dr. Richard Carmona for the position of U.S. 
Surgeon General. While the Surgeon General has played a major role on 
health care matters for more than one hundred years, the unique 
challenges confronting our Nation at the beginning of the 21st century 
require an elevated level of leadership.
  The threat of bioterrorism is real--a fact made clear in the last 
year as anthrax attacks killed five people, infected 22, and exposed 
hundreds. These attacks highlighted the inadequacy of our Nation's 
public health infrastructure to prevent, detect, and respond to an 
infectious disease outbreak, whether such an outbreak is intentionally 
or naturally caused.
  Since that time, much has taken place. We in Congress have passed, 
and the President has signed into law, the Public Health Security and 
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act. We have significantly 
increased the Federal commitment to upgrading capacity in State and 
local health departments and we are now considering how a new 
Department of Homeland Security could enhance our efforts to prevent 
and respond to bioterrorism.
  Despite these steps, we are still not fully prepared to meet the 
threat of bioterrorism and much work remains to be done to bolster our 
public health system. This will be one of the most important tasks 
facing the country and facing the incoming Surgeon General. Dr. 
Carmona's experience and expertise prepares him well for this effort.
  As we strengthen the public health system's capabilities, we are also 
challenged by a growing epidemic of chronic disease that significantly 
impacts our Nation's health. Take, for example, obesity. Sixty-one 
percent of American adults and 13 percent of children and adolescents 
are overweight or obese, and these rates are increasing among all age 
groups. In my home State of Tennessee, the rate of obesity has grown 
from 12 percent to 22 percent over the past decade. An estimated 
300,000 deaths each year in the United States are linked to being 
overweight or obese. Those who are obese have a 50- to 100-percent 
increased risk of premature death. This problem is now one of the most 
serious public health challenges facing the country. Next week, Senator 
Bingaman, Senator Dodd, Senator Stevens, and I will be introducing the 
Improved Physical Activity and Nutrition Act to help address this 
problem. I look forward to working with Dr. Carmona to address this 
issue.
  Additionally, youth smoking and substance abuse are a significant 
concern. Twenty-five percent of adults smoke--with even higher rates 
among young adults. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable 
death in this country, and alcohol misuse contributes to one-third of 
motor vehicle crash related deaths. Over one-half of 10th graders have 
smoked tobacco. Sixteen percent of 8th graders have been drunk at least 
once in the past year. Twenty-five percent of high school seniors have 
used an illicit drug in the past 30 days.
  There are a number of approaches we can take to these problems as 
legislators. Last Congress, we reauthorized the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration, in which we included a special 
emphasis on youth drug abuse. But the Surgeon General bears a special 
responsibility to help educate the Nation about the dangers of such 
behavior, and I am pleased that this will be a priority for Dr. Carmona 
as Surgeon General.
  During the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing 
on his nomination, Dr. Carmona emphasized that his priority will be 
prevention: to prevent unnecessary illness, disability and death. Many 
of the major health problems facing the country can be improved with a 
focus on prevention, and Dr. Carmona's focus on these issues will 
benefit the country as he serves us as Surgeon General.
  Before the hearing on Dr. Carmona's nomination, there were concerns 
raised regarding some aspects of his professional background. The 
committee appropriately inquired about these issues during the hearing. 
Dr. Carmona's responses were forthright and direct, and I believe he 
has addressed concerns about his ability to perform the duties of the 
Surgeon General. His background and experience as a trauma surgeon, as 
a director of a county health system, and as an expert in emergency 
medical systems, along with her personal drive and commitment to 
improving the health of all Americans, will serve the country well. Mr. 
President, I intend to support Dr. Carmona's nomination. I urge my 
colleagues to support him as well.

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