WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today joined Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member and Chair of the HELP Committee respectively, in requesting input from public health officials, health care providers, and other stakeholders on policies the Committee should consider during the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). HELP Committee member Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) also signed the letter.

Specifically, the senators asked stakeholders to provide feedback on the effectiveness of existing programs, how to improve the ability of states and localities to respond to public health crises, any gaps in activities or authorities in the PAHPA framework, and ways to bolster partnerships between the federal government, states and localities, the private sector, and non-government stakeholders. They hope to use the input during the reauthorization process to enhance PAHPA and improve the nation’s preparedness for future health crises. PAHPA expires on September 30th, which is the end of fiscal year 2023.

The full text of their letter can be found below.

Dear Stakeholder:

As you likely know, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) is due to be reauthorized prior to the end of this fiscal year. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee seeks your input on policies that the Committee should consider during the reauthorization process.

To inform the Committee’s work, we invite your input on the topics below, or other topics that are relevant but not mentioned. If you would like to do so, you are welcome to include proposed line edits to current law or other legislative text as a supplement to your narrative response.

lease submit comments to the Committee by email at [email protected] no later than close of business on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

Program Effectiveness

What specific changes could Congress make to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of current HHS programs and activities? Specifically:

Public Health Emergency Coordination and Policy

    The responsibilities and authorities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) prior to or during a public health emergency (PHE)
    The authorities, duties, and functions of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
    The National Health Security Strategy (NHSS)
    The National Advisory Committees on Children and Disasters, Seniors and Disasters and Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters

Medical Countermeasures Development and Deployment

    The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
    The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
    Project BioShield
    The Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) and related strategy, implementation plan, and budget plan
    Emergency Use Authorizations and related authorities
    The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act
    The Material Threat Medical Countermeasures Priority Review Voucher Program

Support for Jurisdictional Preparedness and Response Capacity

    The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreements
    The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Cooperative Agreements
    Other ASPR activities financed through the general HPP budget, such as the Regional Disaster Health Response System (RDHRS) demonstration projects
    The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
    The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
    The Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP)
    Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Loan Repayment Program
    The Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Cooperative Agreement Program and related activities, including mosquito abatement
    Biosurveillance and Public Health Situational Awareness
    Vaccine tracking and distribution
    Policies for the inclusion of at-risk individuals in public health emergency preparedness and response activities

Gaps in Current Activities & Capabilities

    What gaps do you see in the PAHPA framework, or how it has been implemented to date? (These gaps could be related to any of the programs noted above, or other aspects of the public health and medical preparedness and response ecosystem that are otherwise currently unaddressed.)
    Additionally, aside from currently authorized programs and activities, what gaps exist in HHS’ capabilities, and what types of activities or authorities are necessary for HHS to fulfill the intent of PAHPA and related laws?

Partnerships

What specific steps could Congress take to improve partnerships with states and localities, community-based organizations, and private sector and non-government stakeholders, such as hospitals and health care providers, on preparedness and response activities? For example:

    How can these entities be better supported in appropriately engaging with the federal government to understand available resources, capabilities, and expectations prior to, during, and following a public health emergency?
    How can foundational programs, such as the public health emergency preparedness cooperative agreements and the hospital preparedness program, be improved to ensure state, local, and health system readiness to mount effective responses?

Thank you in advance for your feedback. We appreciate your input on this important matter and look forward to working with all of you throughout the PAHPA reauthorization process.