WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA), today held a markup considering two public health bills. Both bills, including an amendment and an amendment in the nature of a substitute, passed by voice vote.
The following bills passed the subcommittee:
* H.R. 3299, the Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015, authored by Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), would incentivize research to combat the next generation of deadly diseases, ensuring that private investment is available for cutting-edge research on medical countermeasures. Also passing with the bill was an amendment offered by Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC).
* H.R. 921, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act of 2015, authored by Health Subcommittee Vice Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY), would clarify medical liability rules for athletic trainers and medical professionals to ensure they are properly covered by their malpractice insurance while traveling with athletic teams in another state. Also passing with the bill was an amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Vice Chairman Guthrie.
Speaking in support of her bill, H.R. 3299, Rep. Brooks said, “Reacting to crises as they happen can - and does - cost countless lives and billions of taxpayer dollars; this is not governing and should no longer be an acceptable strategy. There are steps we can take today to strengthen our underlying biodefense enterprise that will enhance our readiness for the next biological threat that reaches our shores - whether by an act of man or nature."
“The bill before us today reforms our nation’s medical countermeasure acquisition process, incentivizes research to combat the next generation of deadly diseases, and increases accountability of preparedness spending," stated Chairman Pitts, also speaking in support of H.R. 3299. “Such improvements will go a long way toward helping our preparedness for future public health emergencies, such as Ebola, by creating new incentives for developing necessary medicines and vaccines and streamlining the contracting process for medical countermeasures."
Speaking in support of his bill, H.R. 921, Vice Chairman Guthrie said, “Athletes at the high school, college, and professional levels frequently travel to different states to attend games, play-offs, or other sporting events. When the teams travel, so, too, do the sports medicine professionals who care for the athletes. However, there is a lack of clarity surrounding the legal protection for these sports medicine professionals who travel with their teams and are under a moral and professional obligation to treat injuries when they occur. … This bill provides much-needed clarification for these sports medicine professionals as they care for athletes."
A background memo, electronic copies of the bills, and an archived webcast of the markup can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here.
