February 3, 2003

In January 2002, the Department of Health and Human Services provided the states with $1.1 billion to strengthen state and local public health infrastructure and most recently the President signed the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism bill, which provided $4.3 billion for bioterrorism preparedness. In his address to the 71st Winter Meeting, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson declared that his department will do everything it can to ensure that local communities receive the bioterrorism funding that Congress has appropriated. The Secretary's address focused on two themes: bioterrorism preparedness and promoting healthy cities and communities.

The Secretary announced that on January 24 he signed a declaration required under federal law allowing states to begin the smallpox vaccination program. "In fact the first smallpox vaccinations are beginning this afternoon in Connecticut, the Secretary stated. "By vaccinating groups of health care workers and emergency responders, we will make sure that smallpox response teams are available to vaccinate others and provide critical services in the days following an attack."

Secretary Thompson also pledged to cities that his department is "purposefully and deliberately working with the state governments to make sure that you and every one of your communities gets the best possible return on the public health investment we're making." The Secretary announced that his department is conducting audits of the states bioterrorism funding to ensure that states are drawing down the available funds and that those funds are flowing through to the local level. The Secretary stated that the results of the audits will help his department draft guidelines to the states on how the remaining appropriations should be spent. A deadline for the completion of the audits was unavailable.

In his push for healthier cities, the Secretary announced a $125 million "Steps to a Healthier U.S. initiative to prevent diabetes, obesity and asthma by promoting community-based healthier lifestyles. "We will provide grants to you, on a competitive basis, to develop innovative techniques to reduce chronic diseases in your communities," Sec. Thompson stated during the address.