PRINTER'S NO. 3189
No. 403 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY YEWCIC, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI, M. COHEN,
CREIGHTON, GABIG, GEORGE, HARHAI, HERMAN, HORSEY, KIRKLAND,
McGEEHAN, JAMES, LESCOVITZ, PISTELLA, ROBERTS, SHANER,
STABACK, TIGUE, WOJNAROSKI, KELLER, MICHLOVIC, READSHAW,
SATHER, SOLOBAY, THOMAS, TRICH AND YOUNGBLOOD,
JANUARY 29, 2002
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JANUARY 29, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Department of Health to conduct a study to determine
2 whether the department should establish an additional Level
3 III laboratory in western Pennsylvania for the testing of
4 samples suspected of containing anthrax spores or other
5 biological agents or develop a transportation system to
6 safely transport samples from all areas of this Commonwealth
7 to the existing Level III laboratory, whichever is more cost-
8 effective or efficient.
9 WHEREAS, Since September 11, 2001, there have been several
10 bioterror attacks in this nation where anthrax spores were sent
11 through letters in the United States mail; and
12 WHEREAS, The anthrax attacks caused the death of five
13 innocent people, infected at least 18 others, placed hundreds of
14 their coworkers in fear of contracting anthrax and led the
15 entire nation to be seriously concerned about the handling of
16 mail or suspicious substances that might cause further
17 outbreaks; and
18 WHEREAS, It is vital to the health, safety and welfare of the
19 citizens of this nation that adequate testing facilities be
1 operated to test for the presence of anthrax spores and other
2 biological agents in mail and other suspicious substances; and
3 WHEREAS, Certain laboratories, identified as "Level III" and
4 certified by the Centers for Disease Control, are authorized to
5 test for anthrax and other biological agents; and
6 WHEREAS, The Department of Health operates only one Level III
7 laboratory in eastern Pennsylvania, and law enforcement officers
8 in rural areas and the central and western parts of this
9 Commonwealth must transport specimens suspected of containing
10 anthrax spores to that laboratory; and
11 WHEREAS, There is a need to determine whether the Department
12 of Health should establish an additional Level III laboratory in
13 western Pennsylvania for the testing of samples suspected of
14 containing anthrax spores or other biological agents or develop
15 a transportation system to safely transport samples from all
16 areas of this Commonwealth to the existing Level III laboratory,
17 whichever is more cost-effective or efficient; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the
19 Department of Health to conduct a study to determine whether the
20 department should establish an additional Level III laboratory
21 in western Pennsylvania for the testing of samples suspected of
22 containing anthrax spores or other biological agents or develop
23 a transportation system to safely transport samples from all
24 areas of this Commonwealth to the existing Level III laboratory,
25 whichever is more cost-effective or efficient.
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