Sen. Murray calls for Congress to reauthorize the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act with a focus on science and evidence based-policies that have been proven to protect families
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In her opening statement,
She also criticized the
The committee heard testimony from Dr.
Key excerpts of Ranking Member Murray's opening statement:
"We can do better than the President's offensively slow response in
"We can also do better than our slow response in approving funding to combat Zika in 2016. The
"We are most successful at protecting our families against pandemic threats when we respond with quick bipartisan action. We need decisions based in science and expert medical opinion, not ideology--especially when it comes to women's health. ...We need innovative medical countermeasures to protect us from today's threats, like a universal flu vaccine and antibiotics to combat resistant bacteria."
"We must continue strong partnerships with industry that will allow us to rapidly respond to new threats. We need to stop fear and uncertainty before they create panic by getting families helpful and accurate information from sources they trust. We can't allow anyone to undermine the science of proven solutions like vaccines. We need to respond to global health crises abroad before they travel home. Diseases are not stopped by borders, or walls, or bans."
"
"I'm frustrated Director Fitzgerald is once again unable to join us. Due to conflicts of interest presented by investments, our
Video of
Full text of Ranking Member Murray's opening statement:
"Thank you all for joining this hearing on our nation's preparedness to combat public health threats as we look toward reauthorizing the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act later this year. I especially want to thank my colleagues
"Local
"A bad flu season can be a nightmare for families and too often ends in horrible tragedy.
"Just as we must continue improving our public health response across the board to prevent these tragedies on the local level, we must also make sure we are vigilant against pandemics of a global scale.
"Such a pandemic could infect half a billion people--more than the entire population of
"So what have we learned in the last century? Are we better prepared for the next global catastrophe?
"When you consider Ebola, and how the
"When you consider our strategic national stockpile, which can deliver 50 tons of emergency medical supplies anywhere in the
"When you consider the
"However, our track record is far from perfect. We can do better.
"We can do better than the President's offensively slow response in
"We can do better than the Administration's response to the opioid epidemic.
"We can also do better than our slow response in approving funding to combat Zika in 2016. The
"Instead of a fast response with needed funding, the response got politicized around some
"We must do better.
"We are most successful at protecting our families against pandemic threats when we respond with quick bipartisan action.
"We need decisions based in science and expert medical opinion, not ideology--especially when it comes to women's health.
"We need federal, state, and local agencies to have the people, capacity, and funding they need to protect communities. Hiring freezes and funding cuts make us less prepared--not more.
"We need to plan for everyone. We can't overlook the young, or the elderly. We can't forget pregnant women, or individuals with disabilities, or those fighting chronic diseases like diabetes.
"We need innovative medical countermeasures to protect us from today's threats, like a universal flu vaccine and antibiotics to combat resistant bacteria.
"And we must continue strong partnerships with industry that will allow us to rapidly respond to new threats.
"We need to stop fear and uncertainty before they create panic by getting families helpful and accurate information from sources they trust. We can't allow anyone to undermine the science of proven solutions like vaccines.
"We need to respond to global health crises abroad before they travel home. Diseases are not stopped by borders, or walls, or bans.
"This is a place where
"
"Reauthorizing the Act in 2013, we built on that record and: enhanced medical surge capacity, modernized biosurveillance capabilities, and increased our focus on at-risk individuals.
"I am hopeful we can continue that progress with legislation that focuses on the science and evidence-based polices we know work to mitigate public health crises, considers the needs of everyone and puts women and families before politics, supports state and local public health officials, ensures communities don't spend months waiting for needed emergency resources, and enables us to respond to the next crisis with foresight, rather than learn from the next tragedy with hindsight.
"We don't know what the next public health threat will be. We don't know where, or when, or how it will start. But we do know that being prepared starts now. You all have a critical role to play in keeping our communities healthy and safe.
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"The Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response guides our nation's preparedness planning, helps ensure our health care system is ready to face any emergency, and invests in the medical countermeasures pipeline through the
"The
"I'm interested to hear from each of you about your work to fulfill these important roles and keep our country safe.
"However, I'm frustrated Director Fitzgerald is once again unable to join us. Due to conflicts of interest presented by investments, our
"Thank you
"Thank you."
Read this original document at: https://www.help.senate.gov/ranking/newsroom/press/murray-demands-bipartisan-action-to-prepare-for-public-health-threats
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