Urge Congress to Make Passage of Bioterrorism Legislation a Priority
Soon after the tragedy of 9/11, Congress passed legislation to upgrade the nations capacity to respond to acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. The statute's authorization expired on September 30th.
New legislation pending before Congress would shore up emergency preparedness measures and improve public health capabilities at the state and local level. Passing this bill is vital to the nation's homeland security and the nation's health. Congress's failure to act would put all of us at risk.
While considerable progress has been achieved in improving America's health emergency preparedness, the nation is still not adequately prepared to respond to the health threats posed by diseases, disasters and bioterrorism. And while there is no way to be 100 percent prepared, there are still basic achievable levels of preparedness the nation has yet to meet. Americans deserve better.
Tell Congress to pass this essential legislation upon their return to Washington in November.
Dear Representative,
Soon after the tragedy of 9/11, Congress passed legislation to upgrade the nation's capacity to respond to acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. The statute's authorization expired on September 30, 2006. I urge your support for the provisions contained in S. 3678, the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Please vote in favor of this important legislation upon your return to Capitol Hill in November.
[your comment here]
S. 3678 provides funds for emergency preparedness, and is expected to include language promoting innovations in biodefense research and development when the bill reaches the Senate floor. The public health provisions in the legislation call for measurable performance standards against which we can assess real progress when it comes to protecting Americans from health threats posed by diseases, disasters, and bioterrorism.
While the House has passed H.R. 5533, the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2006, which would promote innovations in biodefense research and development final conferenced legislation must also include provisions to improve public health response capabilities, as contained in S. 3678. Both are needed to protect Americans from a public health emergency, including a bioterror attack. Failure to reauthorize the statute puts all of us at risk.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope that I can count on your support.
Sincerely,
[your name]
[your address]
