John Rice Carter: “In response I would just say that this is simply to supplement the National Strategic Stockpiles. It is not to replace…”

“In response I would just say that this is simply to supplement the National Strategic Stockpiles. It is not to replace them. It is not to do anything but give the States the opportunity to have their own stockpiles. This is not a cookie-cutter- type situation that you have here. Different States have different needs. We all understand that, and this is what that addresses. Mr. Chair, this is a commonsense bill and commonsense amendment, and I would ask and encourage my colleagues to vote in favor. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I stand in continued opposition to the amendment. It is hard to fathom the logic of supplanting versus supplementing. If you are taking money from the stockpile, you are taking away the funds that are there, but you are not adding funds to what they already have so, in fact, you are taking money from the SNS for this other effort which is contrary to what the law states. I agree different States have different needs, et cetera. That is why I think that what you ought to do is to buttress what we are doing in State laboratories, dealing with data modernization, to make our public health infrastructure as strong as possible. This really takes money away from the SNS. Mr. Chair, I oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter). The amendment was agreed to. Amendment No. 55 Offered by Mr.…”