WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS) announced a hearing for Thursday, March 8, at 10 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “Examining U.S. Public Health Preparedness for and Response Efforts to Seasonal Influenza."
#SubOversight will examine the current influenza, or flu, season and how public health agencies prepare for and respond to the seasonal influenza. Members will also explore the effectiveness of this year’s influenza vaccine, including why this year’s flu vaccine has reduced effectiveness against one strain of influenza type A, called H3N2.
The following witnesses have been confirmed to testify:
* Anne Schuchat, M.D. (RADM, USPHS), Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
* Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;
* Rick A. Bright, Ph.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Director of the Biomedical Advances Research and Development Authority, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and
* Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“Energy and Commerce has a long track record of conducting periodic reviews of influenza vaccines and overall preparedness and response efforts to surges of influenza cases," said #SubOversight Chairman Harper. “This is yet another opportunity to do so, allowing the subcommittee to hear directly from the agency officials working to improve preparedness and effectiveness of influenza vaccines."
The Majority Memorandum, witness list, and witness testimony for the hearing will be available here as they are posted.
