Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has asked for more time to prepare the Department’s response to Rep. Bill Young’s request for an explanation of what is happening with KI. She made it clear she shares the Congressman’s concern “about the vital need to ensure that potassium iodide is distributed to populations at a sufficient radius from a nuclear incident to protect the lives of all who might be at risk.” Her statement is markedly different from some of the positions taken by Department officials during the Bush Administration.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to Rep. Bill Young, indicating the Department needs additional time to review its current policy concerning KI. She made it clear she shares the Congressman’s concern “about the vital need to ensure that potassium iodide is distributed to populations at a sufficient radius from a nuclear incident to protect the lives of all who might be at risk.” She indicated the Department is reviewing the issue and will reply to the Congressman’s specific questions once the review is completed.

Rep. Young sent the Secretary a letter on June 11, 2009, asking specific questions about the status of the nation’s KI stockpile and the federal government’s plans for distributing the drug. His letter, the first of its kind to a member of the Obama Administration, has triggered a formal review of why the Department has not implemented the recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences or the Congressional directives in the 2002 Bioterrorism Act.

Secretary Sebelius’ statement is markedly different from some of the positions taken by Department officials during the Bush Administration, who appeared to feel there was no need to stockpile KI for those who live beyond a ten mile radius around existing nuclear power plants.

Click here for a copy of the Secretary’s letter or Congressman Bill Young’s Letter.

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