Tom Harkin: “today it gives me great pleasure to introduce the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization of…”

“today it gives me great pleasure to introduce the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization of 2011--also known as the PAHPA Reauthorization of 2011--with a bipartisan group of Senators that includes Senators Burr, Casey, Enzi, Mikulski, Alexander, Hagan, Collins, Lieberman, and Roberts. This reauthorization builds on a record of bipartisan cooperation to strengthen our ability to respond to and prepare for medical and public health emergencies over the past decade. Based on lessons learned since the original PAHPA legislation was signed into law in 2006, this reauthorization continues to support the progress made by the Federal Government and its State and local partners to protect its citizens during public health and medical emergencies. It also proposes a number of targeted changes that will improve our ability to address a variety of threats to the public health of our Nation. Such threats are diverse in origin and include exposure to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents. Sometimes these threats occur naturally--the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza, for example--or they can be the result of malicious intent--such as the deliberate release of anthrax in 2001. A recent and very challenging example is the radiation leak that occurred at the nuclear plant damaged by Japan's massive earthquake.…”