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Senate Hearing Focuses on Bioterrorism Preparedness
HARRISBURG -- The
Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee held a public hearing today
Harrisburg to seek input on how well the Commonwealth is prepared to deal with
bioterrorism and what can be done to improve current efforts, according to
Committee Chairman Senator Jake Corman (R-34).
Corman said the hearing focused
on a number of areas, including the need to provide funding for bioterrorism
preparedness, the role of the Department of Health in allocating federal
dollars, and what can be done by the Legislature to improve bioterrorism
preparedness.
According to a recent report by
the Trust for America’s Health, Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom of all states
in preparedness to face bioterrorism.
Many of those testifying said
that they believe Pennsylvania is not well-positioned to deal with threats of
bioterrorism, particularly when compared to other states.
“There are major concerns that
Pennsylvania is not drawing down federal dollars that are available to states
for bioterrorism preparedness,” Corman said. “Also, we have concerns that some
federal dollars have been allocated but are not being spent. We also want to
look at ways we can help to make our state safer and improve coordination among
local, state and federal emergency responders.”
Among those testifying were the
Secretary of Health, national experts on biodefense and homeland security and
county health officials.
Sen.
Jake Corman, chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, offers
introductory remarks during a March 22 hearing on bioterrorism preparedness.
Sen. John Pippy (clip 1) and Sen. Ted Erickson (clip
2) talk about methods of improving bioterrorism preparedness at a Senate Public
Health & Welfare Committee public hearing on the issue.
Sen. Jake Corman, center, chairman of the Senate
Public Health & Welfare Committee, speaks at a March 22 hearing on ways
to improve bioterrorism preparedness in the Commonwealth. Also
pictured, from left, are Sen. Ted Erickson, Sen. Jane Orie, Sen. Joe
Scarnati, and Sen. John Pippy.
Sen. Pat Vance asks a question during the
March 22 bioterrorism preparedness hearing held by the Senate Public
Health & Welfare Committee. At left is Sen. Ted Erickson.
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