2001.10.30:Statement by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson Regarding the Model Emergency Health Powers Act

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001

Contact:

HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343
Marcia Berry
Georgetown University
Press Office
(202) 662-8519

STATEMENT BY
HHS SECRETARY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Regarding the Model Emergency Health Powers Act

The reality of bioterrorism is a challenge to all of us to work together effectively in the most difficult circumstances. We need not only a strong health infrastructure and a full stockpile of medical resources, but also the legal and emergency tools to help our citizens quickly.

Over the past six months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) led a process to develop a Model State Emergency Health Powers Act that will be an important tool for state and local officials to respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.

The current draft, which was developed by the Center for Law and the Public's Health at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins universities, will serve as the basis for further CDC collaboration among interested partners, including the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Association of Attorneys General, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and the National Association of City and County Health Officers.

Our goal is to develop a consensus-based model legislation to assist states that are considering new emergency public health legislation. States may adopt any or all of the resulting model legislation, as well as tailor it to meet their individual needs.

HHS is dedicated to working with state and local officials to strengthen America's capacity and ability to respond to public health emergencies. This draft model act is one more example of the continued work that CDC and others in the department are undertaking to strengthen our public health infrastructure on the federal, state, and local levels and protect the nation's health.

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Note: A copy of the Model Emergency Health Powers Act is available at www.publichealthlaw.net. All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

STATEMENT BY HHS SECRETARY TOMMY G. THOMPSON Regarding the Model Emergency Health Powers Act

STATEMENT BY
HHS SECRETARY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Regarding the Model Emergency Health Powers Act