States Receive Funds To Fight Bioterror

WASHINGTON -- It's being billed as the biggest one-time investment in America's public health system ever.

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The government began handing out more than $1 billion Thursday to states and cities to help them prepare for a bioterrorist attack or other medical disaster.

The money is meant to help medical and emergency workers learn more about recognizing the signs of a bioterrorist attack or other disease outbreak and how to respond.

The funds come from the $2.9 billion bioterrorism appropriations bill that President George W. Bush signed into law Jan. 10.

The state allotments range from $6.5 million for Wyoming, with the smallest population, to nearly $70 million for California, with the largest.

Extra money for bioterror preparation is also going to Los Angeles County, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C.

"These funds are just the start of our efforts to help states and communities build up their core public health capabilities," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said. "We must do everything we can to ensure that America's ability to deal with bioterrorism is as strong as possible."

States will be permitted to begin spending up to 20 percent of their allotments immediately, so as to avoid delay in starting preparedness measures. The remaining 80 percent of the $1.1 billion in state funds will be released once complete plans have been received and approved.

Additional Resources:

• State-By-State Allotments
• Department of Health and Human Services