Bipartisan House Energy and Commerce Committee effort pushes for info in advance of pandemic legislation reauthorization

With a reauthorization due date of Sept. 30, 2023, for the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), two House Energy and Commerce Committee members sought this week to get ahead of the issue with a request for information from public and private interests.

“Throughout COVID-19, our nation learned there are improvements to be made in our preparedness for Public Health Emergencies,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) said. “As I lead the process with my colleague, Rep. Eshoo, to improve our preparedness, I am seeking feedback and suggestions on how our country can be better prepared, further equipped, more transparent, and fully accountable when taking on future emergencies. I look forward to reviewing the information submitted and continuing work on improving our nation’s response efforts.”

Hudson was joined in the request by U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA). Both offered up their Congressional emails to receive information from stakeholders in the public and private sectors on how best to reauthorize, revise and implement the initiatives deployed in past versions of PAHPA.

Despite the name and modern relevance, PAHPA far predated the COVID-19 pandemic. It first entered law in 2006 as a push to improve U.S. public health and medical preparedness and response capabilities. It also gave birth to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the National Health Security Strategy, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

“For nearly two decades, this important bipartisan legislation has helped prepare and protect our nation from natural disasters or biological, chemical, radiological, or nuclear threats,” Eshoo said. “If these critical authorities lapse, our national security will be jeopardized. I’m proud to work with Rep. Hudson on a Request for Information to begin an orderly bipartisan process to continue and improve this important law.”

The representatives asked that all responses be provided by March 13, 2023.