Sherrod Brown: “The events of September 11 and the recent spate of anthrax attacks have significantly underscored the importance, to be…”

“The events of September 11 and the recent spate of anthrax attacks have significantly underscored the importance, to be sure, of our Nation's public health infrastructure. We need to pay far more attention to the first responders to a public health emergency, to the key health agencies charged with addressing and preventing these emergencies, and to the safeguards needed to minimize threats in the future. We must have sufficient antibiotic and vaccine stockpiles, we must have the ability to rapidly distribute medical supplies and deploy medical personnel, and we must cultivate the expertise and technology necessary to identify and eliminate threats before they become public health crises.”