Saxby Chambliss: “I have heard some concerns about the Strategic National Stockpile. One of today's most serious potential threats to our…”

“I have heard some concerns about the Strategic National Stockpile. One of today's most serious potential threats to our national security is bioterrorism. The CDC is an integral part of the homeland defense, because of its ability to identify, classify, and recommend courses of action in dealing with biological and chemical threats. The Strategic National Stockpile Program demonstrated its excellence and reliability through its on time delivery of the Stockpile's 50 ton ``push packs'' on September 11, 2001 and in the numerous smaller deployments after that date. The push packs are delivered through the nation's public health system and deployment requires continuous medical supervision in order to assure that the medical supplies and pharmaceuticals are provided to the right people and used correctly as medically recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Being on the front lines of the war on bio-terrorism, the CDC is prepared to respond to emergencies such as a terrorist attack using smallpox virus, anthrax, a worldwide flu pandemic, or a large-scale exposure to deadly toxic chemicals. It is my hope that the transfer of the stockpile to the Department of Homeland Security will occur with minimum disturbance to the current program. The stockpile should remain an integral part of responding to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies.”