THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Tommy, very much, and
welcome to the White House for this historic announcement. I
appreciate your leadership, Tommy, in leading this administration's
strong efforts to improve our nation's health care, to make sure that
more Americans get affordable health care, better patient protections,
that the system puts our patients first, the system understands the
importance of our docs, and we value that relationship, patient and
doctor.
I also want to assure our fellow Americans that we're going to make
and are making an unprecedented commitment to medical
research. And we're improving our public health system to
make sure that we can respond quickly to any biological threat that our
country may face. We're putting sound health care policies
in place, and as importantly, putting a quality team in
place. And that's what we're here to discuss today.
It's my honor to nominate two fine men to head important government
institutions, to take important jobs. My nominee to lead the
National Institute of Health is Elias Zerhouni, and my nominee as the
next Surgeon General is Richard Carmona. These are
distinguished physicians who have worked tirelessly to save lives, and
to improve lives. They bring exceptional knowledge and skill
to these critical jobs. And they are absolutely dedicated to
improving the health and well-being of all Americans.
It is my honor to welcome their families here, as
well. Thank you all for
coming -- Nadia Zerhouni and her children, and
Diane Carmona and her children. We welcome you all and we're
glad you're here. I want to thank the acting NIH Director,
Ruth Kirschstein for being here, as well. Where are you,
Ruth? Thank you so much, Ruth, for a fine job. I
appreciate the Acting Surgeon General. Ken, where are
you? Ken, thank you for being here, and thank you for your
find job, as well.
I want to thank the former NIH Director, Harold Varmus for being
here. Antonia Novello is here. Thank you,
Antonia -- I remember you.
(Laughter.) She was a former Surgeon General under
41. (Laughter.) And I'm so pleased that former
House Minority Leader Bob Michel, former Senator Dennis DeConcini of
Arizona, former Congressman John Porter, as well, from Illinois is
here. Thank you all for coming. We're honored
you're here. And I also want to thank the Ambassador from Algeria for
being here, as well. Thank you all for coming.
The National Institutes of Health is entering a new era of medical
promise. NIH researchers recently cracked the genetic code,
an amazing achievement with enormous potential benefits. New
diagnostic tools are alerting patients when they have an elevated risk
of certain diseases, so they can take an active role in preventing
them. New treatment therapies will be tailor-made for an
individual's genetic makeup. And many medical treatments
will become less invasive.
American medicine is on the verge of dramatic progress against
AIDS, against diabetes and against heart disease. We're
closing in on cancer's cause and cancer's cure. The anthrax
attacks against American citizens also demonstrated the need to
strengthen our defenses against bioterrorism. Medical research will
improve our ability to identify and respond and treat infectious
diseases, whether they occur naturally or are used as terrorist
weapons.
The NIH has taken a leading role in this important front on the war
against terror. The work of the National Institutes of
Health have never been more promising, and never been more important.
Leading the NIH is a great responsibility, and I have picked the
right man to do so. Dr. Zerhouni and his wife immigrated to
America from Algeria with $300 in their pocket, but a dream of
opportunity. Today he is the Executive Vice Dean of the
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the Chairman of the
Department of Radiology and Radiological Science at Johns Hopkins, and
a Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering. He is
an expert in biomedical research, and is committed to extending his
benefits to all Americans, and all humanity.
Dr. Zerhouni will also bring strong management skills to the NIH,
and they are needed. This is a large and complex
organization. The NIH budget has grown dramatically from
around $2 billion in 1975 to more than $23 billion
today. And my 2003 budget proposes an additional increase of
nearly $4 billion. I urge Congress to approve this increase,
and when they do, we will have completed my campaign commitment to
double funding to this vital medical research over the next five
years. (Applause.)
Dr. Zerhouni is well-prepared to manage this rapidly growing
institution during times of great new opportunity and urgent biodefense
needs. He has supervised research at Johns Hopkins, one of
our nation's leading research facilities. One former
colleague calls him a quadruple threat: a doctor who excels
at teaching, researching, patient care and management. Dr.
Zerhouni shares my view that human life is precious, and should not be
exploited or destroyed for the benefits of others. And he
shares my view that the promise of ethically conducted medical research
is limitless.
As Director of the NIH, Dr. Zerhouni will be at the forefront of
our efforts to promote biomedical research with a careful regard for
the bounds of medical ethics.
Dr. Zerhouni, thank you for accepting this incredibly exciting
challenge. (Applause.)
Translating medical research into practical life-improving changes
is a critical function of the Surgeon General. Since 1871,
the Surgeon General has been America's chief health educator, giving
Americans the best, most up-to-date knowledge on how to improve their
health and reduce the risk of disease.
When I first learned that Dr. Richard Carmona once dangled out of a
moving helicopter, I worried that maybe he wasn't the best
guy -- (laughter) -- to educate our
Americans about reducing health risks. (Laughter.) But that
panned out to be just one of several times that Dr. Carmona risked his
own life to save others.
As an Army Green Beret in Vietnam, a decorated police officer in
Pima County, Arizona, a SWAT team member, a nurse and a physician, Dr.
Carmona has redefined the term, hands-on medicine. Dr.
Carmona currently serves as the Clinical Professor of Surgery and
Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the
University of Arizona. He is also the chairman of the state
of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System. He
will bring to the Surgeon General's Office a proven commitment to
service, and a strong management background.
The next Surgeon General will address three particularly urgent
issues. First, the Surgeon General administers the
5,600-member Public Health Service Commission Corps, health care
professionals who are on call for emergency duty. Members of
this force were deployed in New York and Washington, D.C. after the
terrorist attacks of September the 11th, and during the anthrax attacks
that followed.
Dr. Carmona has worked for many years in law enforcement and
community preparedness, important preparation for any emergency that
may come. Dr. Carmona is an experienced voice to help
educate Americans about the best precautions and response to the threat
of bioterrorism.
Second, I have asked Dr. Carmona to lead an important initiative
focusing on prevention and life-long healthy living as a key component
to medical care. The research is overwhelming that simple
improvements in diet and exercise would result in dramatic improvements
in America's health. Studies show that overweight Americans
who are at risk of developing type II diabetes or coronary heart
disease can delay and possibly prevent these diseases with just
moderate exercise and a healthy diet. Walking 30 minutes a
day will dramatically improve your life. Playing a game with your
children in your backyard will help. Walking in a park can
make a difference to your health.
These relatively small actions can dramatically reduce costs and
strain on our health care system. Fitness and a healthy
lifestyle are a priority for me. I really like to
run. It makes me feel better. The doc and I are
going to encourage all our country to either run or walk or swim or
bicycle for the good of their families, for the good of their own
health, and for the good of the health of the nation.
And thirdly, Dr. Carmona is going to speak regularly to the nation
about alcohol and drug abuse, and the tremendous toll they take on our
society. Substance abuse by students undermines academic
achievement and dims the great hope of the American
Dream. Alcohol is a prime cause for many of our society's
ills, not the least of which is domestic violence. And the long-term
health effects of alcohol and drug abuse are devastating. If we want
to live healthier and longer, we're going to have to tackle the
problems of alcohol and drug abuse. And Dr. Carmona's going
to make that one of his priorities.
Doctor, I thank you so very much for your willingness to serve our
country. (Applause.)
I have found two fine Americans who are willing to serve our
nation, and I'm grateful for their service. It is now my
honor to welcome to the podium Dr. Zerhouni, the nominee to run our
National Institute of Health. (Applause.)