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Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015

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The Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act, H.R. 3299, is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would streamline government decisions and provide incentives for vaccines and treatment of dangerous pathogens and diseases. The bill was introduced by Representatives Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA).[1]

Background

Brooks and Eshoo introduced the bill in response to a report prepared in October 2015 by the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense.[2] The report said:[3]

"The nation has not come to fully appreciate the severity of the biological threat and our leaders have not demonstrated the political will to fully address it. We must address these shortcomings by prioritizing the following areas: 1). coordination and accountability among federal departments and agencies; 2) collaboration between federal and non-federal stakeholders; and 3) innovation that addresses both lingering and novel problems."

Legislative details

The Public Health Service Act authorizes the government to spend funds on programs to prepare communities and hospitals for public health emergencies. H.R. 3299 would require that at least 97 percent of those funds be used for awards (grants).[4]

The legislation would require that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) develop certain procedures concerning medical countermeasures. Specifically, HHS would need to coordinate stockpiling of countermeasures between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[4]

Additionally, the bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to by adding threatening diseases and other agents to the government's list of tropical diseases under the priority review voucher program. The program gives a voucher for fast-track approval by the FDA to companies that sponsor a new drug or biological product that would prevent or treat a disease contained on the list of tropical diseases.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Health Subcommittee holds markup on the Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act". Homeland Preparedness News. 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  2. ^ Memo to Members of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health from the Majority Committee staff. U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. docs.house.gov. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  3. ^ A National Blueprint for Biodefense: Leadership and Major Reform Needed to Optimize Efforts. Bipartisan Report of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense. October 2015. Quoted at http://docs.house.gov/meetings/IF/IF14/20160519/104953/HHRG-114-IF14-20160519-SD002.pdf. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  4. ^ a b c "H.R.3299 - Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015". Congress.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
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