|
Thursday, June 5, 2003
Bill Drop of “The National Resilience Development
Act of 2003”
Steps of the Cannon House of Representative Office Building,
Independence Ave. side
Congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island was joined
by former First Lady Roslyn Carter, the Chief Medical officer of the New
York Fire Department (insert name), and AHT’s President Dr. Margaret
Heldring in front of the impressive backdrop of the Capitol Building, to
introduce the “National Resilience Development Act of 2003”.
Rep. Kennedy first addressed the reporters and the assembled crowd of approximately
thirty people. He outlined the history behind the bill and explained the
need not only to fight terrorists and work to prevent terrorist acts, but
also to combat the fear, anxiety, dread and intimidation that terrorism
creates. The bill seeks to create an interagency task force composed of
representatives from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the
National Institute of Mental Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration, and the Office of the Surgeon General to, “develop
programs and protocols designed to increase the psychological resilience
and mitigate distress reactions and maladaptive behaviors of the American
public in preparation for, and in response to” terrorist attacks
on the US. Rep. Kennedy then turned the microphone over to Dr. Heldring
who read her own statement and that of the former Governor of New Jersey
Thomas Kean, who endorsed the bill but was fulfilling his duties as the
President’s appointed chairman to the National Committee of Terrorist
Attacks on the U.S., both remarks are attached below. The Chief Medical
Office and the former First Lady both voiced their support of the bill
before Rep. Kennedy took questions from the assembled crowd.
Dr. Margaret Heldring’s
speech:
Thank you very much Congressman Kennedy. It is a pleasure to congratulate
you and your wonderful staff on the introduction of “The National
Resilience Development Act of 2003”.
America’s Health Together is a nonprofit, bipartisan
health and health care policy and education organization. We are proud
of our co-chairs, former U.S. Senators Bill Bradley and David Durenberger.
Both are fully committed to helping you pass this legislation. I know they
would both be here this morning. However, Sen. Durenberger is in Minnesota
for a minor surgery and Sen. Bradley, well, I’ve always said that
it’s no accident that his first book was titled Life on the Run.
America’s Health Together leads a groundbreaking partnership
of 27 of the nation’s leading medical, nurse practitioner, public
health, and mental health groups in an initiative called Facing Fear Together.
We are funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
These health care groups have come together in an unprecedented
way to travel America to find out how homeland terrorism affects the health
and mental health of Americans everywhere. What we’ve learned is
sobering. We’ve listened to doctors and nurses, psychiatrist, psychologists
and social workers in places as varied as Fargo, ND; Birmingham, AL; Pittsburgh,
PA and, of course, NYC and Washington DC. They have told us about their
patients who cannot sleep well, whose chronic illnesses have flared up,
and who have lost confidence in a safe future.
Children are deeply affected. Elderly people living out
the last years of their lives. Refugees and immigrants, many of whom left
their homelands to escape trauma and terrorism. American veterans remembering
war, explosions, and destruction.
What we learned is that everyone, everywhere, was affected. Most of us
regain our emotional footing with time and the comfort of family and friends.
But not everyone. Today, our research tells us that 15-20 million Americans
continue to struggle under the strain of 9/11, code orange alerts, a poor
economy, and our shared public tragedies such as the space shuttle Columbia.
And where do people turn for help? Most often to their primary care provider---their
family doctor or pediatrician, their community health clinic and public
health department. Our health care system is carrying a heavy load.
Congressman Kennedy’s bill fills a gap in our nation’s
national security agenda. Until today, there has been an omission—support
for the psychological dimension of our war on terrorism. Now, with his
bill, the resilience of Americans will be strengthened and we can learn
better to live with our new fears, but not in fear.
Governor Tom Kean’s remarks:
Good morning. I would like to be with you in person this morning to show
my support for the National Resilience Development Act of 2003, but, as
timing would have it, I am chairing a meeting of the National Commission
of Terrorist Attacks on the U.S. today. It is largely in this capacity
that I have come to understand how emotionally devastating the experience
of terrorism is. Of course, this is especially true for the families, friends,
and colleagues of victims, but I know Americans everywhere were deeply
affected by the events of September 11th. It is clear to me that there
is not a person alive that day whose life was not changed in some way.
I have rarely heard such stories as those that have come
to the Commission from the families of victims. They are tales of loss
and pain, but they are also about coming back from grief and finding new
strength to carry on. I am honored to listen and I admire the generosity
of these families in sharing their struggles so that we all might learn
about resilience in these difficult times.
When the terrorists attacked our nation on September 11th,
they wanted to extinguish the very freedom, vitality and diversity that
characterizes the American way of life. They have failed to do so. This
is because we are fundamentally a strong people and a strong nation. But,
we are also human and vulnerable. We can be shaken. This is why I am pleased
to support this legislation. To help Americans cope with the psychological
distress of terrorism and to help fortify them against the corrosive impact
of fear are compelling national goals.
I thank Representative Patrick Kennedy for his Leadership
on this issue. One of my goals as chair of the commission is to provide
recommendations regarding how we can better protect the American people.
Protection is security. It is safer airports and harbors. It is topnotch
personnel and cutting edge technology, but it is also psychological hardiness
and confidence that we are resilient. This legislation will help Americans
in a deep and meaningful way and I am pleased to give it my endorsement.
Thank you very much.
|
