November 28, 2001
The American Society
for Microbiology (ASM) supports passage of S 1715, the Bioterrorism
Preparedness Act of 2001, and commends you and Senator Kennedy, and
other members of the Senate, for developing and sponsoring this
legislation which recognizes and strengthens the role of public health
and research in the nation’s efforts to respond to bioterrorism. The
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act authorizes critically needed resources for
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lead federal
public health agency responsible for bioterrorism preparedness and
response. The Act will help upgrade the public health system for
biodefense and biosecurity and ensure the availability of a national
pharmaceutical stockpile of vaccines, therapies and other medical
supplies, as well as improving infectious disease surveillance,
epidemiology, communications systems and national preparedness planning
and coordination.
The ASM particularly
appreciates the opportunity to work with Senator Kennedy’s office on
section 216 which builds on the biological agent and toxin provision of
the Antiterrorism Act of l996 and protects the dual interests of
enhancing safeguards against bioterrorism without unduly inhibiting
scientific research and clinical diagnostic testing. S1715 will enhance research and
development of vaccines, pharmaceuticals and diagnostic capabilities to
protect the nation’s citizens and treat the victims of both natural
infectious diseases and those from criminal bioterrorist attacks.
The American Society
for Microbiology, the largest single life science society with over
40,000 members, stands ready to assist you, Senator Kennedy and members
of Congress as this bill receives legislative
attention.