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Epidemics

Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Improve Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has introduced a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation, the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act). This draft legislation aims to improve preparedness and response to pandemics by modernizing the supply chain of critical medical products, enhancing public health data collection, and improving research and development of medical products. The legislation also seeks to create more accountability for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and improve access to and transparency of mental health and substance abuse services during public health emergencies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PREVENT Pandemics Act seeks to modernize the supply chain of critical medical products by better supplying the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and requiring the Secretary to report to Congress on the state of the SNS.
  • The legislation requires that the Secretary issue guidance and hold annual meetings with public health officials and stakeholders on how states, territories, and Tribes can access the SNS.
  • The draft legislation directs the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to establish and maintain domestic manufacturing capacity for rapid production of medical products.
  • The modernization of public health data through biosurveillance and infectious disease data collection will improve the ability of HHS and CDC to track and respond to pandemics.
  • The legislation provides grants to state, local, and tribal health departments, community-based organizations, and Indian organizations for projects that improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.
  • The CDC will be authorized to award funding and contracts to entities conducting genomic sequencing for public health purposes.
  • The Secretary of HHS will be required to issue guidance for collaboration among various entities for genomic sequencing of pathogens.
  • A COVID-19 Task Force will be established to examine the origins of COVID-19 and the country's response.

Statistics:

  • The draft legislation seeks $3 billion in supplemental funding for FY 2022 to support the development and production of vaccines and therapeutics.
  • The bill would provide $1.5 billion for the CDC to support public health preparedness and response to emerging infectious diseases.
  • The legislation would also increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support research on long-term effects of COVID-19 infection.

Sources:

  • Senate Press Release and PDF
  • Mondaq Article: "Bipartisan Legislation Seeks to Improve Pandemic Preparedness and Response"
  • Foley & Lardner: Jennifer Walsh, Director of Public Affairs at jwalsh@foley.com or (202) 295-4762

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