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Extension of Remarks Support for H.R. 3253,
Department of Veterans Affairs Mr.
Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R.
3253, the National Medical Emergency Preparedness Act of 2001, I strongly
support this important legislation which will improve our national ability
to respond to acts of terrorism and other medical emergencies.
I look forward to quick action on this legislation and commend my
friend and colleague, Chris Smith, for authoring this measure. The
National Medical Emergency Preparedness Act of 2001 would create National
Medical Preparedness Centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
These centers would have several important missions.
In addition to training medical personnel to recognize the symptoms
of exposure to chemical, biological and radiological weapons, the National
Medical Preparedness Centers will provide important national leadership in
the development of new diagnostic tests, vaccines, and treatments for
chemical, biological and radiological terrorist threats.
Last
month, on October 15, the Committee on Veterans Affairs received testimony
on VA contingency missions to the Department of Defense in times of war or
national emergency and as a participant in the Federal Response Plan
during disasters. Federal
agencies described a critical role for the Department and expounded upon
additional roles, given the resources, the Department could play.
In
response to that hearing, H.R. 3253 was introduced.
The National Medical Emergency Preparedness Centers established by
this legislation will provide important contributions to innovation and
leadership in the detection of biological, chemical, and radiological
hazards, the development of vaccines to prevent devastating consequences
we have seen from exposures to toxins such as anthrax and effective
treatment for exposures to pathogenic materials. VA
has many successful models of Centers that combine research, education and
training, and patient treatment. Among
such “centers of excellence” are its Geriatric Research Education and
Clinical Centers, its Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical
Centers, its Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers
and other centers selected on a competitive basis in order to create
living laboratories for applying state-of-the-art care to patients that
need it. The synergies of these centers’ missions combine to produce
innovative research and technologies to their respective fields. VA has much to offer the Nation in establishing Centers that can build upon its existing expertise, but break new ground in further exploring areas that directly affect the lives of all Americans. I believe the benefits to our public health would far outweigh the $20 million annual cost to fund these Centers. As we continue our quest to protect our homeland, we must find leaders within the community to assist our efforts to protect Americans. VA can and should be part of this leadership team. |