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News Release

STATEMENT BY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Regarding Report of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism

I want to thank the National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism for the thorough work it has done in its report looking forward to the special needs of children in the event of incidents of terrorism.

The committee has established a helpful and comprehensive structure for preparing and carrying out a plan of action for children, to ensure:

• that all our planning and training mechanisms specifically include elements aimed at the needs of newborns, infants, children and adolescents;
• that we direct special attention to those settings where children are normally gathered;
• that we provide for coordination and integration of response efforts at all levels;
• that in the event of terrorism incidents, we give priority to returning children to normal routines with appropriate supports.

Since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, we have taken many steps toward preparing for the medical, physical and mental health needs of children whenever terrorism may strike. As throughout our emergency preparedness efforts, we are much better ready today than we were two years ago -- but we are still building and still improving, and there is still much to be done. The recommendations of the committee, prepared under the leadership of committee chair Angela Diaz, M.D., of Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, will be of great value to us, now and in the years ahead, as we continue to plan and commit our resources, and as we work with our partners on the federal, state and local levels.

As we prepare for emergencies of all kinds, we must not overlook the different and special needs of children. The work of the committee will help ensure not only that we include planning for children as a high priority, but also that we make the right choices for their health, safety and futures as we go forward.

The report is at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/children/.

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Last Revised: June 25, 2003