Are there not major problems in looking for manufacturers because the big companies do not want to undertake manufacturing these kinds of vaccines?

Does there not really have to be something like a public/private partnership where the Government is able to control what the producers are going to do?

When I was elected to the Senate in 1980, the first committee I chose was Appropriations because of its power, candidly, in bringing money back to the State.

I want to hear more than whether you are impressed with them. I want to know if anybody else is doing what they are doing.

The additional funding that was provided in the last year, the additional $10 billion, has allowed us now to take up some of those projects that otherwise would not have been funded.

We are talking about very substantial funds to meet a very substantial problem.

Well, we are not going to let any time go unused.

We are not going to spend any money which is not really necessary as a matter of public policy and public welfare.

But then with the stimulus package, the amendment, which I offered, got into the bill for $10 billion extra.

Has any entity as prominent as UPMC with its very prestigious, very effective operation been as innovative and thoughtful in coming up with a proposal to deal with this very serious national problem?

What we are talking about is smallpox, anthrax, ebola virus, botulism, and others where there could be a very serious public health problem.

Senator Specter, I appreciate your leadership and focus on this issue, and hope my testimony will be informative.

It is obvious that we have a significant problem in meeting a problem which could be enormously serious--enormously serious.

Does the executive share the sense of urgency, which the subcommittee feels on this subject?

I think it definitely requires that we have a facility that the Government has sufficient control over.

In my first year in the Senate, the NIH budget was $3.6 billion, but when I became chairman... the NIH budget was $12 billion.

I think that there is a commitment clearly by the U.S. Government, as I mentioned before, by both HHS and DOD to begin to explore a path forward to fill some of the gaps that we recognize.

the complexities of just the reliability of producing the influenza vaccine by the manufacturers that make vaccine.

We do not get caught like we got caught on Katrina, do not get caught with a problem with swine flu or any of these other kinds of problems.

I was in support of the Government-owned, contractor-operated.

After being at those town meetings, I'd be delighted to be anywhere.

stop scaring seniors about health care reform

Stop scaring seniors about health care reform.

I will not vote for a plan that adds to the deficit.

You want to be led out of here? You're welcome to go.