By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor said Wednesday he plans to file a bill this week that would make public health emergencies, terrorist attacks and man-made disasters eligible for federal emergency assistance.

Pryor, D-Ark., said during a morning news conference the Emergency Response Act of 2009 would place public health emergencies, like a swine flu outbreak, terrorist attacks and any man-made disasters, such as an accidental chemical leak, under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988.

The Stafford Act not only “triggers FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency), but it also allows federal agencies to coordinate their efforts, give technical assistance, give advisory assistance … really work with local authorities and people in the private sector,” he said.

Currently, the Stafford Act covers only natural disasters such as tornadoes, storms and floods.

“This would make sure that a flu pandemic or some other type of pandemic would be considered a major disaster,” Pryor said.

The senator also said he plans to file legislation this week that would require the federal government to periodically update its national pandemic emergency plans.

That proposal is known as the Defense Against Infectious Diseases Act of 2009.

“Basically, the idea here is just preparation,” Pryor told reporters. “We need to make sure that our plans are up to date and they incorporate the latest technologies, latest medical developments, latest logistical challenges … so that whenever a pandemic comes, or an infectious disease outbreak comes, we are prepared and we’re not out of date and not working off of old information.”