It costs us a lot of money every year. A lot of people die of influenza every year.

People should not panic on this. But there are things each individual can do.

So why did this happen? Why did this happen? Why wouldn't they have gone--I mean, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the gold standard in the world.

I don't know how that happened. I opened up the newspaper this morning and there's a picture of pigs and hogs, as though all of them are affected with this.

the White House is announcing today that they will be asking us on this subcommittee for $1.5 billion to respond to this swine flu in the supplemental.

We are trying to learn the lessons of 1976 so that we learn and do as well as we can.

I can't think of anything more--that would--near more to our defense than Homeland Security than making sure that we have adequate protection for our people in case of a pandemic.

I remain deeply concerned about their ability to rapidly answer a growing pandemic in some areas of some States.

Thank you for your wisdom when you, in 19--in 2006, put forth this funding so we could be at the point we are of preparedness today.

And we should do that as soon as possible to get as many doses ready as possible for the next flu season.

We issued that travel warning.

Thank you all again for coming on such short notice to discuss the current outbreak of swine influenza.

So what I'm concerned about--and I think I can speak for members of this subcommittee--is what do we need to do to provide resources to enable us to move as rapidly as possible to develop this vaccine?

I think what they would be concerned about it is how soon can we get a vaccine for this?

Thank you very much. But again, I would return the compliments to you and to the Centers for Disease Control...

Pork is safe. It's safe to eat, it's safe to handle...

People are very concerned. They're concerned about their children in school, because a lot of the cases have involved school children.

We are here for a public hearing on the recent outbreak of the so-called swine flu in this country and around various parts of the world.