By BILLY TAUZIN

When terrorists savagely attacked our nation on Sept. 11, the threat of bio-terrorism became a very real and terrifying possibility. Now, more than a year later, I can say with confidence that America is better prepared to respond to such an attack as a result of the comprehensive bio-terrorism preparedness bill that the House Energy and Commerce Committee worked tirelessly to create and enact.

The threat of a biological or chemical attack against Americans has become even more daunting with the knowledge that Saddam Hussein possesses and continues to produce biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. We know he has used them to kill thousands of his own people, and we know he would use them against Americans here and abroad, if given the opportunity. That is why Congress overwhelmingly passed with my support, and President Bush signed into law, the bipartisan resolution to authorize the use of military force against Iraq. Hopefully, it will not be necessary to send our troops into harm’s way. But Saddam and anyone else who seeks to hurt America must know they will face the wrath of the United States armed forces.

Whether the next strike comes from Iraq, Al Qaeda or some other terrorist group, our nation stands ready to respond if a biological or chemical agent is the weapon of choice. The Public Health Security and Bio-terrorism Response Act, signed into law by the President in June, dramatically improves our nation’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to a biological or chemical attack. As my committee’s top achievement this year, this far-reaching legislation improves our public health infrastructure at the national, state, and local levels by providing $4.2 billion to improve preparedness for everything from public health emergencies, to enhancing controls on deadly biological agents, to protecting our food, drug, and drinking water supplies.

Specifically, the legislation authorized $300 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase capabilities to deal with threats to public health, as well as $1 billion for the Health and Human Services Department to purchase additional small pox vaccines and expand our current national stockpiles of medicines and vaccines. The bill also authorized over $100 million to protect our water supply from chemical, biological, or radiological attacks.

I am pleased to report that this legislation already has substantially improved our public health system’s ability to respond to a terrorist attack. According to the CDC, their rapid response teams are now larger and better trained to respond at a moment’s notice anywhere there is a suspected terrorist attack. Also, the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile has been expanded to include antidotes for chemical agents and CDC Personnel now have the ability to deliver these supplies anywhere in the United States within 12 hours. I am particularly encouraged by CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding’s recent announcement that the CDC is ready, should the nation face another attack of terrorism. According to Dr. Gerberding “the CDC’s level of preparedness is very high. We have the plans, the policies, the people, the products, and now we have the practice to make sure we are ready to respond.”

Across the nation, our federal health agencies are doing a remarkable job putting this legislation into motion by coordinating training and equipment programs at the state and local levels so that first responders such as police, fire-fighters, paramedics, nurses, and physicians have the resources they need to handle a large-scale attack, in multiple locations.

Ensuring that our nation is prepared for biological or chemical attacks is an integral part of the broad-based and sustained diplomatic, financial, intelligence, and military effort that President Bush has unleashed against terrorism. With continuous threats against America from the likes of Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, the Public Health Security and Bio-terrorism Response Act is a critical achievement for our national security and for the war against terrorism.

BILLY TAUZIN represents Louisiana’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.