Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309 Stacy Burks 417.864.8258
Friday, October 31, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Kit Bond today announced that Missouri will receive $150,000 in federal funds for Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) units in Missouri.

"This money means that more Missourians will be able to answer President Bush's call to volunteer service," said Bond. "These dollars will not only increase the overall level of health care for Missouri families in these communities, but it will also provide the funds for the training and equipment they need to help out when regional health care professionals are mobilized in times of need."

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will send $50,000 to help continue the Missouri MRC program in Kansas City. The City of Columbia and The Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine under A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in Kirksville, will each receive $50,000 to establish two new units that will help make Missouri communities better prepared to respond to emergencies and other public health situations.

MRC units are comprised of local, citizen volunteers who are trained to respond to health and medical situations in support of established, local public health and emergency medical response systems. Volunteers' responsibilities may include emergency medical care and triage, logistic or backup support for trauma units and hospitals in the event of a disaster, immunization campaigns, and public health awareness efforts.

Medical Reserve Corps, a component of Citizen Corps, will coordinate the skills of physicians, nurses, health professionals and others who are willing to volunteer and help out during emergencies and other times of community need. Citizen Corps was launched in January 2002 as part of President Bush's USA Freedom Corps to foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility and to help all Americans find ways to answer the President's call to service. Through a network of Citizen Corps Councils at the state and local levels, Citizen Corps brings together leaders from law enforcement, fire, emergency medical and emergency management, local government, volunteer organizations and the private sector to engage citizens in homeland security efforts and strengthen programs such as Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), Neighborhood Watch, Medical Reserve Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.