|
REMARKS BY:
|
TOMMY G. THOMPSON, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
|
|
PLACE:
|
Secretary Thompson’s Remarks at the Bio-Defense Press Conference
|
|
DATE:
|
April 28, 2004
|
Bio-Defense Press Conference
Good morning. I’d like to thank everyone for coming out
here today. I’m pleased to be joined by two very
distinguished members of this Administration—our Secretary of
Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul
Wolfowitz.
We’re here today to discuss an issue of the highest
importance—protecting our country from the threats of
bioterrorism. As you all know, our highest priority is to
safeguard the American people. This is a responsibility that
President Bush takes seriously, and I know this is a responsibility
that each of us here takes very seriously as well.
One of the fundamental requirements of a good plan of action for
biodefense preparedness is that we in the Federal government
coordinate closely with one another. And we have a good plan
in place. Our government is working together in critical
ways. What you see before you today is a great example of the
collaboration that goes on among the Departments every single day.
So with that said, I’m pleased to introduce Secretary Tom
Ridge, my friend and colleague. Secretary Ridge is committed
to protecting our Nation, and he is doing a fantastic job.
Mr. Secretary…
[Secretary Ridge speaks]
Thank you, Mr. Secretary. I’m honored to work with you
in this absolutely vital endeavor. And I’m proud to
talk about my Department’s important role in defending
America.
It’s important to note how much HHS has accomplished over the
past few years, in contributing to our homeland security. The
contrast between what we were doing a few years ago and what we are
doing today is striking.
HHS spends 12 times as much on bioterror preparedness as we did
three years ago. Funding has gone from $305 million in 2001
to $3.9 billion in 2004, and we have requested $4.1 billion for
next year. On bioterrorism-related research alone,
we’ve gone from spending $53 million in 2001 to $1.6 billion
in 2004. That’s more than 30 times as much for
bioterrorism research.
HHS has almost ten times as many staff members working on
bioterrorism readiness as we did in 2001– we’ve gone
from 212 to 1,700 this year.
In order to protect the safety and security of America’s food
supplies, we’ve increased food import inspections from 12,000
in 2001 to 60,000 in 2004. And we went from only a few states
and regions having coordinated public health and hospital plans in
2001 to having every single state complete joint planning this
year.
We’ve dramatically improved our capacity to respond to the
threat of smallpox. In 2001, we had only 15 million doses of
smallpox vaccine available. Today, we have more than enough
doses to vaccinate every man, woman, and child in America, if
necessary. Research is also underway toward an improved
anthrax vaccine, and we expect it to be available beginning in the
middle of 2005.
To build on these successes the President proposed the Project
BioShield initiative, to create a more secure source of funding to
purchase new vaccines or treatments. $5.6 billion has already
been appropriated for BioShield over the next 10 years.
Because of all of these dramatic steps, I am happy to report that
we are better prepared to prevent and respond to any public health
emergency. But there’s always more we can do. And
as Secretary Ridge said, this strategic plan identifies specific
areas where we can do more to protect America.
HHS will take the lead on several different elements of this plan.
First, we will anticipate future threats. We know that
terrorists want to do everything they can to harm America, and they
could be creative in their use of new or different biological
agents. We are working to stay a step ahead of those who
would harm us—we are using biotechnology, medical research,
and other methods to evaluate new toxins and agents that could
require new detection methods, preventive measures, and treatments.
Second, HHS will coordinate the development of medical
countermeasures. This, of course, ties in closely with our
goal of anticipating future threats. We are working to
develop safe, effective medical countermeasures against biological
weapons agents. And we’re taking into consideration the
possibility of new or genetically-engineered agents. We are
working to be ready for a wide variety of toxins from across the
biological spectrum. This is no small task—but the
great scientific minds at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and
Drug Administration, among other HHS agencies, are up to the
challenge.
Lastly, we will continue to lead the effort to prepare for mass
casualty care. Our public health system has to be prepared to
deal with widespread illness and casualties in the event of a
biological attack or a naturally occurring outbreak of
disease.
Thankfully, our public health infrastructure is better than ever
—from county health departments, to CDC in Atlanta, to the
24-hour command center next to my office that some of you toured
this morning. Thanks to our improved infrastructure, we are
better able to identify and track outbreaks quickly, putting our
resources in quick contact with those who need them.
We know that hospitals, state health departments, and other
front-line agencies cannot possibly be fully prepared for any
disaster. So we have established Strategic National
Stockpiles of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies as part
of a nationwide preparedness training and education program for
state and local health care providers, first responders, and
governments.
These stockpiles include large quantities of antibiotics,
chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV
administration, airway maintenance supplies, and medical and
surgical items. And we have organized them for a flexible
response – we have put together caches of supplies designed
to be delivered rapidly when the threat may still be
ill-defined.
We call these Push-Packages, and they are stationed in
strategically located, secure warehouses ready for immediate
deployment. These supplies can be delivered to anywhere in
the U.S. or in U.S. territories within twelve hours. We can
follow up on the Push-Packages with additional supplies tailored to
the event within 24 to 36 hours.
But again, we can do more, and we’re working to strengthen
and refine this process. Specifically, we’re working to
create a national surge capacity, so that hospitals and Federal,
state, local, and private agencies can provide rapidly expandable
mass casualty care.
Let me reiterate—the stakes here could not be any
higher. We are committed. We are resolved. And
we’re ready to do our part to help prepare and protect the
country.
Now, I’d like to introduce our Deputy Secretary of Defense,
Paul Wolfowitz. Secretary Wolfowitz will talk about the
efforts he is helping to coordinate at the Department of Defense.
[Wolfowitz speaks]
Thank you, Secretary Wolfowitz. And now we’re happy to
take some questions.
Last Revised: April 29, 2004
|