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News from Delaware Congressman
Michael N. Castle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday,
October 26, 2001
Contact: Elizabeth Brealey Wenk
(202) 225-5290 – cell
(302) 428-1902
Elizabeth.Brealey@mail.house.gov
CASTLE ANNOUNCES $5 MILLION
IN FEDERAL FUNDING
FOR DELAWARE CUTTING-EDGE BIO-DEFENSE SYSTEM
INCLUDED IN HOUSE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Castle also praises President’s signing
of PATRIOT Act, which includes
anti-terrorism provisions he pushed for.
(Newark, DE) Delaware Congressman Mike Castle today
toured Quantum Leap Innovations, a cutting-edge bio-defense firm,
and announced that he secured $5 million in the Fiscal Year 2002
Defense Appropriations Bill for their integrated biological warfare
technology platform, to detect suspicious agents and disease which
enter the environment and to organize a rapid response plan to address
these issues and protect Delawareans.
“This kind of innovation is the type of technology our nation
needs to respond to the very real threats of anthrax and small pox
as well as the broader issues of nuclear and chemical warfare,”
Castle said. “The State of Delaware is quickly becoming a center
for technology in the Mid-Atlantic region and I am please the federal
government has seen fit to fulfill my request to fund this program.”
The computer-based knowledge provided in Quantum Leap’s Bio-Defense
system will be used to detect potential biological or chemical outbreaks
through intricate sensors that could be placed on traffic lights,
reservoirs or in other areas. The sensors will identify the offending
agents, send alerts to the appropriate health and safety centers
and allow for real time formulation of response plans to contain
and even prevent the disease.
“This project illustrates the crucial role intelligent software
can play in the antiterrorism efforts and the capabilities of Delaware
high-tech companies and universities to be major players in that
effort,” Castle added. “The bio-defense program is the
first step in Quantum Leap’s plans to develop a comprehensive
counter-terrorism project.”
The House is expected to vote on fiscal Year 2002 Defense Appropriations
Bill next week. Senator Biden and Senator Carper secured authorization
money for this project and are working to secure actual funding
in the Senate Defense Appropriation Bill.
At his press conference, Castle also praised President Bush for
signing the PATRIOT Act, comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation,
into law today. The PATRIOT Act (Provide Appropriate Tools Required
to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) expands wiretapping and surveillance
authority, strengthens money-laundering laws and seeks to disrupt
terrorist cells.
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