WHAT:
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), held a hearing today to get an update on public health biopreparedness and the country’s readiness and capability to anticipate, detect, respond to, and mitigate a biological threat.
WHY:
“The biological threats facing the United States in today’s global society are varied, ever-evolving, and in some cases, intensifying," said #SubOversight Chairman Harper. “The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] just reported that the seasonal influenza claimed the lives of 172 children during the most recent flu season, making it the deadliest seasonal flu season for children on record. In recent years the U.S. has also seen an increase in the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria."
“That’s where the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) comes in," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR). “PAHPA, originally adopted in 2006, is set to expire at the end of September. Our Health Subcommittee met just last week to consider a bipartisan discussion draft to reauthorize this law and continues to fine tune it. It is critically important Congress reauthorizes this law to ensure that all levels of government are well-equipped to handle not just current and emerging biothreats, but also chemical attacks, radiological emergencies, cybersecurity incidents, and mass casualty events."
WHO:
* Rick A. Bright, Director, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA); Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) (Opening Statement )
* Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (Opening Statement )
* Rear Admiral Denise Hinton, Chief Scientist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Opening Statement )
* Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Opening Statement )
KEY MOMENTS:
Dr. Bright highlighted historic pandemic influenzas and outbreaks, including: Ebola, SARS, the rise of the superbug, and cyberattacks like WannaCry. “These are threats that most people would rather not think about. However, when natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or attacks occur, the people expect our federal government to be ready to quickly respond to save lives and decrease morbidity. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the nation has made great progress in building our response capabilities to protect America from health security threats; however, we still have much to do." - said Dr. Bright
#SubOversight Chairman Harper asked the federal witnesses which biological threat keeps them up at night.
Two of the witnesses said their primary concerns related to influenza. View all of the witnesses’ responses to the question here.
RESOURCES:
Last week, #SubHealth held a legislative hearing to review a discussion draft that would reauthorize PAHPA. H.R. __, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2018, drafted by Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA), will reauthorize key biodefense programs for five years.
The Majority Memorandum, witness testimony, and an archived webcast are available online HERE.
