Three lawmakers have launched the Pandemic Preparedness Caucus, a coalition of lawmakers they said would work to advance policy solutions to challenges presented by COVID-19 and future public health emergencies.
Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH) and Cindy Axne (D-IA) said the caucus would focus on strengthening current response to the domestic spread of COVID-19 while equipping the country to prepare for future public health emergencies, adding the caucus is made up of lawmakers committed to addressing pandemic-related issues in a meaningful manner.
“As representatives for the American people, we owe it to them to assess our country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and build strategic plans that better prepare the United States for future pandemics,” Balderson said. “In order to fully restore Americans’ way of life and our economy, we must do everything in our power to ensure a better future, starting with the lessons from this pandemic.”
Investments in science, research, and medical technology; testing protocols and capabilities preventative medicine; public health equity; and biodefense issues are among the areas the caucus would address, officials said.
“Over the past months of this public health crisis, I’ve spoken to countless Iowans who have spent their days and restless nights worried about the health and safety of their families,” Axne said. “As we continue to grapple with the challenges presented by COVID-19, we owe it to these families to ensure we properly reflect on what we can do to better respond to this pandemic and those to come. Certainly, we hope and pray that we will not meet another public health crisis like this one in our lifetimes – but after spending a decade in strategic planning, I know that the best supplement to those prayers is good preparation.”