Congressman Panetta Introduces Resolution Supporting Efforts to Protect U.S. Military Personnel from Malaria
WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier this month, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Congressman Brian Mast (R-FL) introduced House Resolution 1062 recognizing the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) and its leadership in researching and protecting servicemembers from infectious diseases such as malaria.
"The Department of Defense recognizes malaria as the number one infectious disease threat to the United States Armed Forces and the impact that it has had on generations of men and women who have served our nation around the world," said Congressman Panetta. "WRAIR's work to prevent and treat cases of malaria is in the United States' national security, foreign affairs, political, and humanitarian interests. This resolution affirms Congress's support of their efforts and encourages their continued leadership."
"Congress should do all we can to help the United States continue to lead the fight against preventable diseases like malaria. Supporting Walter Reed's continuous efforts in improving care for our veterans and their innovative research in the prevention and treatment of malaria is a bipartisan goal we can all get behind," said Congressman Mast.
"The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is deeply proud of its 125-year legacy of safeguarding and enhancing the health of US service members. Through our global network and our many partners, we look forward to finding more ways to stop malaria and infectious diseases from impacting our fighting forces," said Colonel Deydre S. Teyhen, Commander for the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
"On behalf of the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign, we thank Congressman Panetta and Congressman Mast for bringing attention to the commitment and contributions of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) and the Department of Defense in ending malaria. Nothing But Nets is proud to work alongside WRAIR in the fight against this disease. Although a treatable and preventable disease, half the world still lives at risk of deadly, malaria-carrying mosquitos, including our servicemembers deployed overseas. Because of the efforts of our partners at WRAIR and the cost-effective, life-saving interventions they've pioneered, we are closer to ending malaria than ever before," said Peter Yeo, Senior Vice President at the United Nations Foundation.
The resolution supports the United States military's current goals of researching new interventions to prevent and treat malaria, as well as sustained or enhanced research efforts so that once eliminated in a country the disease does not return. The bill also encourages continued leadership by WRAIR to ensure that the health of our armed force is not jeopardized by vector-borne diseases.