Diary Prequel Package — page 51

July 22-24, 2002 - Went to the beach (Beach Haven) to link up with family. In the car on the way up and while I was there, I spent considerable time on the phone trying to work out with Sen. Spector's staff (Bettylou Taylor et al) language in the Lieberman Bill on authorization of DHS that Spector could support. They want to make sure that I am comfortable with the language. I am trying to get language that give DHS ultimate lead in the overall prioritization of the research on biodefense, but the money stays in DHHS and the research is executed by NIH, but the development of the research agenda in done by DHHS in consultation with DHS. Finally we had a conference call (I took it in the kitchen of the beach house) among me, the White House (Richard Falkenrath) and the Senate staff that are marking up the bill. Richard and I agreed upon what I listed above. Hopefully, the bill will get through with that language. It was important to have the WH on the phone since I was getting concerned that they might think that I was undermining their efforts to get the DHS going. By hashing it out with them, we are doing it up front and honestly. July 25, 2002 - Had top secret conference call with Jerry Hauer (HHS), Phil Russell (HHS), Stewart Simonson (HHS), and Lester Crawford (FDA). Subject - VP Cheney has indicated that we will hit Iraq soon and we expect retaliation with a smallpox attack on us or on Israel. Cheney wants us to greatly accelerate the process of getting vaccine available to vaccinate everyone if necessary. I offered to accelerate studies to determine if we can dilute the Dryvax even more than 1:5 and whether we can also dilute the 77 million doses of Aventis Pasteur WetVax. Stay tuned. The House and the Senate Committees have adapted the language that I had suggested to Richard Falkenrath. Therefore, at this time it appears that the money will go to DHHS, the overall prioritization will rest with DHS, the strategic plan and specific priorities will be the responsibility of DHHS in consultation with DHS and the research will be executed by and through the NIH. If this holds, I will have won a big victory. July 26, 2002 - Got an e-mail from Gary Edson at the WH asking if I had completed the Global AIDS Treatment plan to present to him in order to determine if it is worth presenting to the President for him to announce in his upcoming (January) visit to Africa. Mark and I are finished and we set up a meeting at the WH for Wednesday, July 31. Let us see what happens. Had an unusual meeting at the Rayburn Building with Chairman Kolbe (R-AZ) of the House Foreign Relations Committee and his chief staffer Charlie Flichner. I accompanied Claude Allen (Deputy Secretary, DHHS). They are very upset at the White House, particularly Gary Edson, for having the President announce the MTCT initiative without first consulting with them. They made disparaging remarks about Gary ("Emperor Edson", "President Edson"). They were cautious about being disrespectful about the President; however, they were pissed. They also disparaged Tommy Thompson about getting involved in International issues when this is not the purvue of DHHS. Actually, it is becoming the purvue of DHHS with the CDC's GAP (Global AIDS Program). This clearly was a turf issue. They are a powerful Committee and they are pissed that the President made an announcement without consulting them. Wait until they hear about the Global AIDS Treatment package that we are presenting to Gary