>GHOST PROTOCOL ACTIVATED
GORDON ROSE INVESTIGATES CRAIG SAWMAN SAWYER | V4CR
ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
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MAY 26, 2005
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Serial No. 109-21
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[The prepared statement of Anthony S. Fauci follows:]
Prepared Statement of Anthony S. Fauci, Director, National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services
INTRODUCTION
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, thank you for the
opportunity to discuss with you the role of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) in preparing the Nation for the next influenza pandemic.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Draft Pandemic
Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan outlines a coordinated
national strategy to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic,
and assigns specific roles to various Federal agencies; the National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) holds the primary
responsibility for carrying out those duties assigned to NIH.
In this capacity, NIAID provides the scientific input required to
facilitate the development of both new influenza vaccine technologies
and novel antiviral drugs against influenza viruses. Under this
Administration, we have made extraordinary progress. DHHS began
investing in new technologies, securing more vaccines and medicines,
and preparing stronger response plans. Total NIH funding for influenza
research has grown more than five-fold in recent years, from $20.6
million in FY 2001 to an estimated $119 million in FY 2005. This is
part of the largest investment ever made by the Federal government in
protecting against influenza.