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Lieberman criticizes U.S. lack of bioterrorism readiness

Emergency Management Alert, May 14, 2004

Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) wrote last week that budget cuts, poor coordination, and lack of attention by high-ranking federal health officials has "left America still too vulnerable to a possible bioterror attack," according to the Los Angeles Times.

Lieberman also criticized the Bush administration for not coming close to "complying with the basic requirements and goals" of legislation passed two years ago that outlines specific steps to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist incidents.

Lieberman wrote the National Preparedness Plan is "a listing of bioterrorism-related activities" to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.

Key staff positions have gone unfilled, public health laboratories are poorly equipped, mandatory progress reports have not been filed, hospitals do not have the beds or equipment to handle mass casualties, and confusion remains over the roles and responsibilities of various local, state, and federal agencies, Lieberman said.

Thompson responded by calling Lieberman's accusations "erroneous." "We're being criticized for what states have not done," Thompson says.
The problem, Thompson said, is that states have not spent almost half of the $3.7 billion in current grants. 

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