I look forward to hearing representatives from FEMA and the CDC describe what the Federal government is doing to prepare our local communities for bioterrorism. I am also eager to hear from bioterrorism experts, who will tell us where their greatest concerns lie, and how effective our Federal programs are.
We have two agencies represented here, but there are many Federal stakeholders, and many programs, that address unconventional terrorism. For example, we now have National Medical Response Teams, the Metropolitan Medical Response System, FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, National Guard RAID Teams, and Domestic Preparedness Training through the Department of Justice. I commend all these efforts.
Across the country, States and communities are also working to develop terrorism response plans. I offer the statewide terrorism preparedness efforts in Hawaii, which have been hailed by HHS as "exemplary," and as a national model of federal, state and local coordination and cooperation.
President Bush directed FEMA to create an Office of National Preparedness to coordinate anti-terrorism programs between all these stakeholders. The Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC, with their expertise and experience, are the lead implementing agencies for bioterrorism programs.
Bioterrorism is different. It will not be preceded by a large explosion. The first responders will be the physicians and nurses in our local hospitals and emergency rooms, who may not realize that there is an event for days or weeks.
Preparing for biological events should not be limited to worst-case scenarios where thousands of Americans die from an intentional release of anthrax or small pox. A simple, and perhaps more likely hostile act, of infecting a population with food poisoning, would also overwhelm most area hospitals. And, naturally occurring emerging infectious diseases can do just as much damage. We must ensure that hospitals and medical professionals are equipped to deal with these threats.
As former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala, once said, bioterrorism "is perhaps the first time in American history in which the public health system is integrated directly into the national security system." Therefore, problems and concerns within the public health system directly affect our ability to plan and respond to acts of bioterrorism. Similarly, efforts to improve our preparedness to bioterrorism also improve our health and medical communities.
There are three things we must do to deal with a biological event. Number one is continuous surveillance so that an unusual event can be recognized. Number two is active investigation for a quick and decisive diagnosis. Number three is emergency response. These are the areas that local and State planners concentrate on while preparing their own response plans. These are also the areas where the Federal government can help.
But, how much are Federal programs designed to help local communities prepare for biological events, in fact, helping? Are they addressing local planners primary concerns and needs? Last year, the TOPOFF exercise simulated an outbreak of plague in Colorado. Recently, another exercise, Dark Winter, was performed to simulate a possible U.S. reaction to the deliberate introduction of small pox in three states. Were the lessons learned from TOPOFF applied in Dark Winter? Are we in a better position to handle a bioterrorist attack today, a year after TOPOFF, or six years after the world learned of the Aum Shinrikyo cult and their attempts to master biological agents?
Once again, I welcome our witnesses and look forward to an interesting and educational discussion.
