When I came to Congress, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) facilities – despite housing some of the world’s preeminent health researchers and scientists – could best have been described as decrepit, overcrowded, and in many cases, dangerous. In 1958, then-Congressman John Fogarty (D-RI) described the CDC’s facilities in the following manner, “When I say that conditions are deplorable I have in mind the dilapidated wood frame structures occupied at Chamblee...That federal employees are required to work in such firetraps is, in my opinion, inexcusable.”

Four decades later, their condition had only further deteriorated with age. I believed that it was imperative that we act to bring the CDC into the 21st century and complete the modernization of the CDC. My goal was to ensure that our nation was prepared for 21st century problems and that the CDC was ready to perform research and formulate solutions to those problems in state-of-the-art facilities.

I introduced legislation in the House to authorize the appropriation of $1.5 billion over five years for critical CDC construction and renovation projects. This legislation would allow the CDC to complete its renovation plans in half the time.

My request for a significant increase in funding for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was included in the bipartisan bioterrorism bill, “The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2001.” This critical legislation passed the House by a vote of 412-0.

I was extremely pleased with the inclusion of this sorely-needed increase in the bill. The Chairman of the Commerce Committee stated in a letter to me that “due to your leadership and persistence, H.R. 3448 includes several critical provisions relating to CDC, including new authorizations of $300 million for each of the next two fiscal years to accelerate significantly the planned construction and upgrading of facilities at CDC’s various campuses, and new multi-year contracting authority to facilitate such an acceleration.”

The CDC is a world class intellectual community, widely recognized for its research and efforts to protect global health. As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack last Congress, I led Congressional Delegation trips to the CDC for briefings on the CDC’s efforts to combat a variety of biological threats, including aerosolized anthrax, Avian Flu, SARS, and botulinum toxin contamination of our nation’s food supply. I look forward to continuing to work with the CDC, and supporting its efforts to protect U.S. citizens from bioterrorist attacks.

Though additional emphasis should be placed on ‘who’ would attack us, rather than ‘how’ they will attack us, we cannot ignore the dangers posed by the malicious use of biological pathogens. Following September 11, 2001, we must continue to ensure that those charged with protecting American citizens from the threat of bioterrorism have the resources they need to do so.