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Congressman Curt Weldon (D-SD)
rebukes U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Secretary on
Field Screening
Source: U.S. House of
Representatives, Congressman Curt Weldon.
10.19.02 |
See below...
Background:
Misleading federal memoranda released on July 21, 2002 advised First Responders not to
use hand-held anthrax and plague tests for field evaluation of suspected
biological threats. The advisory was based upon recommendations to the
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
This followed a Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) internal
review of test data produced from an FBI/CDC study of commercially available
hand held tests for anthrax and plague.
Congressional Reaction:
Upon review of these data and the surrounding circumstances, Congressman Curt
Weldon (R-PA), (Chairman Committee on Science and Co-Chair of the Congressional
Fire Caucus) drafted a letter on October 9th to Mr. Tommy Thompson,
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
In his letter, Congressman Weldon expresses his “deep disappointment”
in the DHHS policy advisory and requests that the DHHS “immediately rescind
this advisory”.
As
Congressman Weldon notes, the DHHS was remiss in instituting a policy so clearly
in conflict with the needs of the first responders. He goes on further to state that DHHS should have consulted
with the first responders from the outset and certainly before taking action.
We are hopeful that as more information becomes available, Federal officials
will take appropriate action and rescind their policy recommendations. In
any case, we are confident that review of the available data will help to
assuage any doubts concerning performance of the Tetracore anthrax test.
To view this
letter, please
click here
to view in .pdf format.
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CONGRESSMAN
WELDON LETTER
| Responding to
the DHHS, Congressman Curt Weldon (D-PA) asserts
that reliable handheld testing is being denied to
first responders.