WSJ : CDC Director Says White House Didn't Dilute Climate Testimony

CDC Director Says White House Didn't Dilute Climate Testimony

By ANN CARRNS | October 24, 2007

ATLANTA-- Julie Gerberding, the director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, defended Wednesday her congressional testimony on the health effects of climate change earlier this week.

An Associated Press report Tuesday, quoting an unnamed CDC source, said the White House heavily edited Dr. Gerberding's testimony on the potential impact on human health of global climate change. According to the AP, Dr. Gerberding's verbal testimony had far fewer details about specific health risks posted by climate change than an early version of her prepared remarks submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.

Dr. Gerberding, speaking Wednesday at a luncheon hosted by the Atlanta Press Club, dismissed as "ridiculous" such allegations.

"This is not an issue of cover up related to climate change and health," she said.

Her written remarks were indeed edited, she said, as part of the routine process by which "gaggles" of government officials review proposed comments in advance of congressional testimony. Material removed included some program and disease information, consistent with her "less is best" approach to testimony, she said.

"I was absolutely happy with my testimony" before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, she said. "I felt confident we had a completely candid conversation."

Dr. Gerberding said she has learned during her tenure as head of the CDC that "nobody reads" prepared remarks and that what matters are oral statements made during Congressional hearings. "I stand by it," she said of her verbal testimony. "I don't let people put words in my mouth."

The CDC plans to post versions of her testimony on its Web site, she said, showing her remarks before and after the editing.

Write to Ann Carrns at ann.carrns@wsj.com