Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 361, the
Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act that was introduced by
Congressman Bilirakis. Over the years, the Committee on Homeland
Security has heard about the importance of medical countermeasures.

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make it clear
that grant funds under the State Homeland Security Grant Program and
Urban Area Security Initiative may be used to enhance medical
preparedness and purchase medical countermeasures. We owe it to our
emergency response community, our first responders, to ensure that they
have every tool necessary to be prepared for and combat the threats
they face every day and may face in the future.

Over the years, we have seen that the investments in medical
preparedness activities have provided positive benefits when it comes
to response capabilities. This was clearly demonstrated in the response
to the Boston Marathon bombings when the medical community was largely
praised by all involved in the response. The Committee on Homeland
Security heard testimony last year from the head of Boston Emergency
Medical Services, Chief Hooley, who spoke about the importance of
Homeland Security grant funding in their preparation for events such as
the Boston Marathon Bombing.

Sadly, we realize that the threat of a biological or chemical or
other attack is real. We therefore must do everything that we can to
ensure that our first responders are prepared to combat the threat.

This measure has passed the House both in the 112th and the 113th
Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. I ask my colleagues to
support this measure and my colleagues in the Senate to do the same.

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