SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Subcommittee on Public Health and the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, today congratulated Dr. Anthony Tomassoni on his appointment as the first director of the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness. The office, which will focus on possible attacks with bioterrorism and weapons of mass destruction, is being funded through an $8.5 million anti-terrorism grant.

"Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, much has been done to make our nation more secure, including congressional authorization of increased funding to states for preparedness against acts of terrorism," said Senator Collins. "The residents of Maine can take comfort in the knowledge that, in addition to the protections offered by federal agencies, there is also a state office planning and preparing against terrorist attacks."

Dr. Tomassoni has first-hand knowledge of the effects of terrorism having managed a medical team at Ground Zero immediately following the terrorists attacks.