Alliance for Biosecurity applauds passage of public health emergency response bill by committee

The Alliance for Biosecurity applauded the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Friday for passing the Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act, H.R. 3299, which now heads to the House floor for a vote.

The bill was sponsored by U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

“We are thrilled that the committee, and particularly Congresswomen Brooks and Eshoo, have made it a priority to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures for national security threats, which H.R. 3299 does by providing new research incentives, increasing transparency, and ensuring predictable and flexible contracting,” Chris Frech, senior vice president for global government affairs and co-chairman of the Alliance for Biosecurity, said.

The Alliance said that provisions within H.R. 3299 support preparedness for future public health emergencies by creating new incentives for developing necessary medicines and vaccines, while streamlining the contracting process for medical countermeasures.

U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) have introduced companion legislation that was passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. That bill awaits a vote by the Senate.

The Alliance for Biosecurity is a coalition of biopharmaceutical companies and academic partners that promotes a strong public-private partnership to ensure that medical countermeasures are available to protect public health and enhance national health policy.