FederalDaily - April 6, 2005
Federal Anthrax Testing Needs Improvement
Several federal agencies—the U.S. Postal Service, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency—worked
together to detect anthrax in postal facilities in 2001. They collected, transported,
extracted and analyzed samples. The results of the agencies’ testing
in 286 postal facilities were largely negative, but negative results do not
necessarily mean that a facility is free from anthrax. Furthermore, the agencies’ detection
activities were not validated—so negative results may not have been reliable.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that, in preparing for
future incidents, the Department of Homeland Security has taken on the role
of coordinating agencies’ activities and has undertaken several new initiatives
related to anthrax and other threatening agents. However, GAO reports that
there are still problems with validation.
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DoD Screens for Alcohol
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on April 5 that military facilities
will participate in the April 7 National Alcohol Screening Day. This annual
outreach is funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department
of Health and Human Services, which provides free alcohol screening and education
materials. “The early identification of alcohol problems coupled with
effective education and treatment saves lives and improves our force readiness,” said
Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.
Elimination of alcohol abuse is one of three key health issues identified by
DoD, along with weight management and tobacco cessation. The screening includes
military personnel, government civilians and family members.
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Congressmen Question DoD’s Advocacy Programs
Reps. Louise M. Slaughter, D-N.Y., and Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, D-Mich., sent
a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on April
4 saying they are concerned for the victim advocates and the Office of the
Victims' Advocate within DoD. “Reports of sexual harassment and assault
in U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility have revealed a disturbing trend
of abuse of female servicemembers,” the letter stated. “Without
a strong victim advocate program, attacks are dismissed by command, perpetrators
go unpunished and victims are denied access to essential care and follow-up
treatment services.” Slaughter and Kilpatrick called on DoD to develop
confidentiality protocols for spouses, family members, contractors and employees
of the military departments and create a separate Office of the Victims' Advocate.
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Federal Agencies Focus on Diplomacy
In light of recent polling data showing that anti-Americanism is spreading
and deepening around the world, there are several new programs to promote better
coordination of U.S. public diplomacy efforts, but there is still no government
diplomacy communications strategy, the Government Accountability Office (GAO)
reported recently. Although a national communications strategy has not yet
been developed, the White House established the Muslim World Outreach Policy
Coordinating Committee in 2004 to coordinate public diplomacy efforts focused
on Muslim audiences. The group is in the early phases of drafting plans, according
to the GAO report. Other government communications programs include: the State
Department created an Office of Policy, Planning, and Resources in 2004 to
help coordinate its public diplomacy operations and the U.S. Agency for International
Development and the Department of Defense are redefining their public diplomacy
operations.
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