Katko proposes new bipartisan National Commission on COVID-19 Act

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) on April 3 introduced legislation to create a bipartisan commission modeled after the 9/11 Commission to assess the United States’ preparation for and response to pandemics.

“We’re currently grappling with the most significant public health crisis of our lifetime.  Once the pandemic has ended, Congress has a solemn duty to undergo a comprehensive and bipartisan fact-finding mission that explores our nation’s preparation for and response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rep. Katko said. “That’s why I am introducing the bipartisan National Commission on COVID-19 Act.”

The congressman is the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 6429 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), to establish the COVID-19 Commission, which would include an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, appointed by the president and congressional leaders of both chambers and parties, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Katko’s office.

“We must continue our work now to help our country recover from this crisis, and, we must be prepared in the future to address these grave and unprecedented threats,” Rep. Katko said.

If enacted, H.R. 6429 would include commission appointees from fields related to pandemic response, including public health, medicine, emergency management and response, and public administration.

“The commission will study the COVID-19 pandemic and recommend concrete steps the American public and private sector can take to prevent, respond to, and mitigate the harmful impact of future public health threats,” said Rep. Katko.

H.R. 6429 would direct the commission to analyze and make recommendations on topics like testing, treatments and vaccines; personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and other first responders; medical devices, equipment, drugs, and supply chains; social distancing practices, stay-at-home directives, school and business closures, and other mitigation measures ordered by government or adopted voluntarily, according to the bill summary.

Once the study is completed, the commission would issue a report on the pandemic, as well as recommendations for steps the U.S. public and private sector can take to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impact of future pandemics, the summary says.