pandemic influenza and we are excited about the future of the partnership. we strongly encourage the committee to authorize the pandemic influenza program as a critical opportunity for congress to ensure they have the resources it needs to prepare against one of the predictable threats we face as a nation. i look forward to serving as a resource for the committee during the reauthorization process and i am happy to answer any questions you may have and i thank you for inviting me here today. >> chair member comin member cae another case of distinguished members of the committee, i am the head of division of emergency medicine at the children's hospital of chicago and professor of pediatrics at the northwestern university school of medicine. i am the chair of the american academy of pediatrics disaster preparedness advisory council and on behalf of the 60 to 6,000 members thank you for holding today's hearing and inviting me. i've also been privileged to serve on federal advisory committeecommittees are pleasede presently in the chair of the national science board. my comments today as a private citizen and as a member for the academy. i applaud the work of the c

pandemic influenza is one of the most urgent public health threats we face as a nation. and must be a priority of the bile defense enterprise. second, the pandemic influenza program must be in this years the decision.and the congress must provide sustained funding to strengthen partnerships with the private sector to ensure the nations preparedness. regarding my first point, preparing against pandemic influenza. this is critical to the national and economic security. it secures the partnership to supply one third of the nations needs when the next pandemic strikes. thanks to leadership of the senator burr and senator casey, members of the committee, and a dedicated team at barta, we have one of the best examples of a successful public-private partnership in bio defense. second regarding the pandemic influenza program. despite representing vp, funding has never been included in the legislation. as a result funding like stockpiling advanced research and development has been largely -- since 2009. the emergency supplemental fund during 2005 and 2009 pandemics are not fully exhausted. having a program authorized by congress will provide a clear signal to the private

second, despite the pandemic influenza program, authorized funding for pandemic influenza has never been included in the legislation. result, funding for critical activities cut such as -- activities such as vaccines stock piling has been largely absent since 2009. supplies are now fully exhausted. authorized bygram congress will send a signal to the private sector that the u.s. government is committed to preparing against pandemic threats in the future. believes an annual authorization level of at least $535 million is needed. regarding sustained and predictable mcm funding, over the last 12 years this enterprise has greatly improved our nation's security and hasarta -- and while barta improved its relations with industry partners, the government should provide more certainty in the process. ing, theent fund strategic national stockpile, and the pandemic program provides marketers with certainty after investing in the program for many years. it is there is no commercial market for mcm, companies like rely --can only unfortunately over the last several years the private sector has come -