I think what Professor Greenberger is saying is that we might be able to get savings by doing this more efficiently than we we're doing it today.

You've got to find somebody to take charge, given them general guidelines.

I have been to Detrick, as I said in my opening comments. I've seen the work that's being done there, the dedicated men and women who are serving our country in a very dangerous situation, and we very much appreciate their professionalism…

And I want to point out, I think we need protection on all of the pathogens because it could be extremely dangerous for those who are handling it.

Without objection, the full statements of all of the witnesses will be included in the record today.

I think the two principal agencies that have had regulatory responsibility... are CDC and the Department of Agriculture for plants and animals.

Some of it is too stringent... that's hurting our scientific effort.

You're saying we need to have a coordinated strategy.

I understand that the authority is not there. The question is, should you have the authority?

Well, that's clearly inadequate.

I also think we need to know, of all the people who registered, how many would have had to have registered for tier one if we had a different registration system.

But I think we have to have a more sophisticated way in which we look at those that are handling the most dangerous of the pathogens.

I'd like to commend President Obama for his initiative, the statements that he has made, such as that that he made in Prague.

I think that the National Science Advisory Board on Biology... has to be fine-tuned.

Well, once again, let me thank all three of you for being here and the work that each of your agencies do.

We could have had 15 of you up there. My point is, there's 15 agencies that do have some responsibility.

The Commission to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction has suggested a tier approach.

If they have control over a pathogen that can be used for biological mischief to America, we want to make sure that you know where that pathogen is at all times.

I don't think we're going to be able to resolve the problems of people getting visas to come to America at this hearing.

Is there a uniform protocol for perimeter security if you're dealing with the Level IV labs?

your predictions that your Commission came up with, the vulnerability of the United States to weapons of mass destruction, and most likely the biological being the more likely vulnerability.

Thank you very much for your testimony.

So then, in fact, if the collaboration is outside of the United States, you really don't have much ability to follow that money.

These labs, they do extremely important work and we want to make sure there's a working ability to get the job done, but with maximum protection to the public and the security of our country.

That's our responsibility.