Obama Introduces Bill to Create National Emergency Volunteer Corps
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Printable FormatFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington Contact: Robert Gibbs or Tommy Vietor, (202) 228-5511
Illinois Contact: Julian Green, (312) 886-3506
Date: September 8, 2005
Obama Introduces Bill to Create National Emergency Volunteer Corps
Washington - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today introduced the Hurricane Katrina Emergency Workforce Act of 2005, which would create a national emergency health professional volunteer corps to ensure there is a ready pool of volunteer doctors and nurses who are willing, trained, and certified to serve in times of disaster. In a letter to President Bush, Obama also requested that the President take all necessary steps to expedite the process by which volunteer medical personnel can be deployed to areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina and areas where evacuees have been relocated.
"Although we live in a changing and uncertain world, one constant remains--whether it be earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, or sadly even terrorist attacks, the nation will surely face future devastating and cataclysmic events," Obama said. "We know now that the nation's preparedness for such events in no way matches our ability to respond and mitigate human suffering and economic collapse."
Obama's bill would create a national emergency health professional volunteer corps so that there is a ready pool of volunteer doctors and nurses who are willing, trained, and certified to serve in times of disaster. In addition to creating this volunteer pool of professionals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would also be required to create a database of names and contact information of these volunteer health professionals so that they can be quickly called upon in a time of need. Lastly, the bill would provide liability protections to qualified health professionals and provide job protections to medical personnel who choose to volunteer to help in relief efforts.
"We have all watched TV reports of residents stranded, abandoned really, without food or water and medical care, while too many doctors who wanted to help were powerless to do so because they got caught in a web of bureaucratic red tape," Obama said. "This bill will guarantee that America is never caught unprepared to help those who need it the most."
Please find the full text of the letter below:
September 8, 2005 The Honorable George W. Bush President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Bush: I am writing to ask you to take all necessary steps to expedite the process by which volunteer medical personnel can be deployed to areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina and areas where evacuees have been relocated. When I was in Houston earlier this week with former Presidents Bush and Clinton, I met countless hurricane evacuees with heart-wrenching stories about the lack of medical care at the Superdome and New Orleans Convention Center. Although these people all expressed relief at the dramatically improved conditions at the Reliant Center, many were worried about the sick and elderly left behind at the makeshift hospital inside of the New Orleans airport. Many were also concerned about whether they would be able to receive adequate medical care while staying at temporary shelters in Houston. I understand that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued an urgent request for medical volunteers, including paramedics and mental health workers to respond to the needs of the sick, and morticians to respond to the recovery of those lives already lost in this disaster. And, an update published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday stated that Louisiana requires 100 mental health professionals for screening, counseling, and tracking of post-traumatic stress disorders. The federal government should be doing everything possible to streamline the process by which trained medical personnel around the country can volunteer their services in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and any of the states where evacuees have been relocated. Indeed, I have heard from many medical personnel in Illinois who were eager to travel to these states to provide assistance. Unfortunately, my office has received numerous complaints from volunteer doctors that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not return their phone calls, did not have information on how they could volunteer, or simply referred them to local authorities who were not able to help them. Doctors who attempted to volunteer their services on the HHS website encountered significant difficulties as well. Such a lack of information and responsiveness is shocking during a time of emergency. Given the urgent need to get medical personnel to affected areas as soon as possible, I am writing to request that you direct DHS, FEMA, HHS, and all other relevant agencies to work with the Red Cross and hospitals in affected areas to eliminate any bureaucratic obstacles preventing much-needed services from getting to hurricane victims. This includes providing more detailed information to the medical profession about how they can volunteer their services, better coordination of volunteer doctors and nurses with the Red Cross and local hospitals, and waivers of liability for volunteer medical professionals. The health of too many people remains at risk, and bureaucratic red tape and run-arounds should not prevent these people from getting the help they need. Sincerely, Barack Obama United States Senator