Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Sec. Leavitt, Julie Gerberding, Bruce Gellin, General Gordon (CIA) and I briefed a groups of Senators on H5N1 influenza pandemic potential in a “top secret” briefing at the Capitol. Among the Senators were: Ted Kennedy, Barrack Obama, Tom Harkin, Durbin, Reid, Patrick Leahy, Max Baucus as well as others. Typical Washington phenomenon ensued – two days later they proposed an amendment to a Defense Bill for $4 billion dollars for H5N1 preparedness emphasizing buying Tamiflu instead of the balanced Vaccine/Therapy approach that we had suggested. In addition, they knew (we told them) that we were preparing a big ($7-9 Billion) supplemental request for the HHS FY2006 budget for vaccines/drugs. It was clear that they wanted to trump the Administration since the bill was proposed by Democrats as well as Frist, who is clearly positioning himself to run for President in 2008. I love it!!