Washington
(June 12) -
At a White House Rose Garden ceremony today, President George W. Bush signed
into law sweeping legislation, "The Public Health Security and
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act" (H.R. 3448), that
will significantly improve America's ability to respond effectively and
quickly to bioterrorist threats and other public health emergencies.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy
Tauzin (R-LA), a primary author of the legislation who also chaired the
House-Senate Conference Committee on H.R. 3448 and attended today's White
House ceremony, issued the following statement:
"This
is a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to safeguard the security of all
American citizens. In a post
September 11th world, it is absolutely critical that our nation's
public health emergency system be prepared to respond to new and emerging
terrorist threats. In signing
this sweeping bioterrorism bill, President Bush has set in motion the
framework to achieve that goal.
"This
critically-important new law will strengthen
our public health infrastructure at the national, state and local levels
through beefed up food safety regulations and tightened controls on
deadly biological agents. It will
also improve communications between,
and among, all levels of government, public health officials, first responders
and health care providers and facilities during emergencies."