BIOtech Now
Andrew Segerman
Writing for The Hill, Dr. Robert Kadlec, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, makes a compelling case for why Congress should reauthorize the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) and consider several changes to help better ensure the safety of our nation.
“The Trump Administration’s recommended changes to this legislation will improve our ability to save lives and protect Americans from 21st century health security threats, whether naturally occurring, such as an influenza pandemic or severe storm, or a deliberate chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack.”
As Kadlec points out, America is well prepared to handle the “unpredictable, [and] serious” threats facing society, but we must also be equipped for a wide range of evolving health security and emergency issues.
Consistent with BIO’s advocacy, Dr. Kadlec calls upon Congress to consider the following:
- Strengthen the pipeline and domestic stockpile of medical countermeasures;
- Reauthorize an advanced appropriation for purchasing countermeasures for national security threats through the Project Bioshield Special Reserve Fund; and
- Institute a separate funding line for pandemic influenza.
To see what else Dr. Kadlec recommends, read the full op-ed here. And to learn more about BIO’s commitment to our national health security, click here.
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