AAMC Letter to Select Committee
on Homeland Security on Proposed Department of Homeland Security
July 18, 2002
The Honorable Richard Armey
Chairman
Select Homeland Security Committee
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) supports
the establishment of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
to provide oversight, coordination and leadership for activities
to respond to the threat of bioterrorism. The terrorist attacks
of September 11 and the subsequent incidents involving anthrax-contaminated
mail demonstrate the severity and complexity of the medical
consequences for the civilian population of terrorist acts,
particularly those involving biological, chemical, or nuclear
agents. These events also reinforce the need for a comprehensive,
coordinated program of medical research and public health
activities to prepare for and respond to such attacks.
The AAMC believes it is critical that the proposed DHS build
upon existing research and public health programs that hold
promise in the defense against bioterrorism. The AAMC commends
and endorses the House Energy and Commerce Committee's bipartisan
recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) within H.R. 5005, which establishes the Department of
Homeland Security. The AAMC believes the approach adopted
by the Energy and Commerce Committee, which retains authorities
for human health related research and public health within
HHS, is appropriate and will help to ensure that biodefense
research and public health efforts in the United States are
successful.
There is a need for a greater scientific understanding of
the threats posed by potential bioterrorist agents. However,
biodefense research is part of the broader medical research
continuum. We believe that the Administration's proposal to
transfer primary responsibility for biodefense research to
DHS would create unpredictability for research programs, would
increase the possibility of duplicative research, and would
not be the optimum way to obtain the integrated work of the
best scientific minds.
It is important to distinguish between oversight and coordination
activities, which should be the responsibility of DHS, and
the direction, support, and conduct of research, which should
continue to reside with the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) and HHS. DHS must have the ability to direct the research
effort into areas that are known to be a potential threat.
At the same time, NIH needs to be responsive to such direction
when scientifically credible. Therefore, we believe it is
important for DHS and HHS/NIH to collaborate on the development
of research riorities, but that HHS, a scientific health agency,
continue to prioritize, conduct and fund federal research
related to civilian, human health-related biological, biomedical,
and infectious diseases, as recommended in the House Energy
and Commerce Bill.
With regard to public health programs, we recognize the necessity
of coordinating federal, state, and local health preparedness
and response programs to respond to public health emergencies,
including bioterrorist attacks. However, we share the concerns
expressed by the General Accounting Office and others about
the proposed transfer of control from HHS to DHS of those
public health programs that have homeland security as well
as basic public health functions. These dual-purpose programs
have important synergies that should be maintained. We concur
with the recommendations of the Energy and Commerce Committee
that HHS should retain control, including priority setting,
of these programs that are critical to basic public health
responsibilities.
Therefore, AAMC strongly endorses the approach of the Energy
and Commerce Committee Bill that HHS retains primary control
and funding authority for research and public health programs,
in consultation and coordination with DHS. The Energy and
Commerce Bill will ensure that NIH, CDC, and HRSA will continue
to direct research, infectious disease control, emergency
preparedness and essential dual-purpose public health activities.
In addition, the AAMC supports the recommendation of the
House Agriculture Committee to split the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and transfer only its border
inspection service and its Plum Island animal disease lab
to DHS. We believe this appropriately separates the responsibility
for protection of the nation's food supply from the ongoing
oversight and implementation of the Animal Welfare Act.
AAMC is committed to working with the Congress and the Administration
to improve the nation's response to the threat posed by biological
agents and would be pleased to provide any assistance in considering
the vital issues arising from the threat of bioterrorism.
Sincerely,
Jordan J. Cohen, M.D.
cc: The Honorable Billy Tauzin
The Honorable John Dingell
The Honorable Michael Bilirakis
The Honorable Sherrod Brown
The Honorable Jim Greenwood
The Honorable Peter Deutsch
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