Tommy Thompson

uilding America's preparedness for a bioterrorism attack is absolutely of paramount importance to the security of our country. Should an attack occur, the president is absolutely committed to making sure that we are ready to handle it quickly. . . .

The Department of Health and Human Services and my office have been working at breakneck speed to build our bioterrorism preparedness, particularly since the attacks of Sept. 11. This has included everything from enhancing our pharmaceutical stockpiles to building a stronger public health infrastructure . . . to speeding up research into new medicine and diagnostic tools. . . .

When I first arrived a little more than a year ago, I began elevating the bioterrorism efforts in my office and found that there was nobody there that actually coordinated our activities. I named Scott Lillibridge from CDC as my special assistant on bioterrorism. . . .

This office has the task of coordinating and overseeing the bioterrorism preparedness and the response activities of all the various agencies within HHS. . . other federal departments, state and local governments, and other stakeholders.

-April 18, 2002
Before the Senate Government Reform Committee.