The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved bipartisan legislation on Wednesday that U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) introduced to improve readiness for biological threats.
The Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act, H.R. 3299, which was introduced by Brooks and U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), would incentivize investments in vaccines and treatments for deadly diseases and pathogens that threaten national security.
“Terrorist groups, including ISIS, are reportedly exploring biological attacks with smallpox and other agents,” Brooks said. “We can’t ignore the danger that these kinds of weapons pose to our national security, especially in our increasingly mobile and inter-connected world. We must continue to enact policies like H.R. 3299 that will put us in a stronger position to defend our health and our country from threats, whether occurring in nature or deployed by our enemies.”
The measure would establish a Priority Review Voucher program for threats identified by the Department of Homeland Security to incentivize the development, testing and distribution of vaccines and treatments by the private sector.
Companies that invest in vaccines or treatments for biological threats would be given a voucher for priority FDA review, which generally yields a decision within six months.
“The first priority of the federal government is our national security, and today, there are significant gaps in our preparedness and readiness to combat dangerous and deadly diseases and pathogens like Ebola, anthrax or smallpox,” Brooks said. “This bill helps to fill those gaps and better protect the health and safety of the American people. By incentivizing the development of vaccines and treatments before they are needed and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy we can respond faster and more effectively to biological threats.”