Senate HELP Committee Releases Bipartisan PAHPA Reauthorization Discussion Draft

Staff members from the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP Committee) leadership released and are seeking feedback on a discussion draft to reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).

First passed in 2006, PAHPA aims to “improve the nation’s public health and medical preparedness and response capabilities for emergencies, whether deliberate, accidental or natural.” If not reauthorized by Congress, the legislation is set to expire on Sept. 30.

In the discussion draft, staff from HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders, (I-Vt.) seeks feedback on a proposed policy to require that all BARDA and CDC-supported products be sold to the federal government or in the U.S. commercial market at the lowest price among G7 countries.

Additionally, staff from HELP Committee Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, MD, (R-La.), requests feedback on a policy to incentivize the development of more medical countermeasures by extending the priority review voucher program through the duration of PAHPA.

Interested individuals may submit comments on the discussion draft via email. The submission deadline is 10 a.m. ET on Monday, July 10.