Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Preparedness Act of 2002
Sets forth criteria for selecting center sites, including the development of arrangements for education and training with qualifying medical or public health schools, epidemiological graduate programs, and allied health personnel and students as well as the ability to attract the appropriate scientists.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 2003 through 2007.
Directs the Under Secretary for Health: (1) to allocate to such centers certain additional funds otherwise appropriated for veterans medical care and research; (2) to establish a peer review panel to assess center designation proposals; (3) together with the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations, preparedness, and security, to ensure that information produced by the activities of the centers is made available to U.S. health-care providers.
Authorizes the Secretary to provide assistance requested by Federal, State, and local civil and criminal authorities in investigations and data analyses as necessary to protect the public safety and prevent or obviate such threats.
(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense to jointly develop and disseminate a series of model education and training programs on the medical responses to the consequences of terrorist activities. Bases such programs on programs established at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Requires such programs to provide training for health care professionals in the recognition of chemical, biological, and radiological agents, the identification of symptoms of such agents, emergency and followup treatment for exposure, potential long-term health consequences, and protection against contamination while providing care. Requires that different programs be designed for the needs of various health-care professionals.
Establishes within the Department of Veterans Affairs the position of Assistant Secretary with responsibility for operations, preparedness, security, and law enforcement functions.
Became Public Law No: 107-287.