Rep. Bilirakis Hosts Hearing on Medical Countermeasures

Press Release

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-09), Chairman of the House Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, held a hearing on Wednesday to examine the programs and procedures in place to respond to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack.

The hearing, titled "Taking Measure of Countermeasures: A review of government and industry efforts to protect the homeland through accelerated research, development, and acquisition of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear medical countermeasures," is the first in a two-part series of hearings to examine the nation's preparedness as it relates to medical responses.

"The Federal government and private industries must work together to ensure the timely development of medical countermeasures for deployment in response to attacks or incidents," Bilirakis said. "These hearings are meant to facilitate and strengthen the way we research, develop, and procure vital medical countermeasures."

Witnesses Included:

Panel 1
Ms. Cynthia Bascetta, Managing Director, Health Care, Government Accountability Office

Dr. Segaran P. Pillai, Chief Medical and Science Advisor, Chemical and Biological Division, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security

Dr. Richard J. Hatchett, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director, Strategic Sciences and Management, Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Gerald W. Parker, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Chemical and Biological Defense, Department of Defense

Panel 2
Ms. Phyllis Arthur, Senior Director, Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics, and Diagnostics Policy, Biotechnology Industry Organization

Mr. John M. Clerici, Principal, Tiber Creek Partners LLC

Dr. Daniel Fagbuyi, Medical Director, Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Children's National Medical Center

Source