On July 13, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee marked up and advanced the Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4220) and the Preparing for All Hazards and Pathogens Reauthorization Act (H.R. 4221), which would reauthorize programs authorized under the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), the Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 3887), and other related health legislation. Disagreements over whether PAHPA is the best vehicle for addressing drug shortages continued from last month’s legislative hearing [refer to Washington Highlights, June 16]. The subcommittee rejected a number of amendments from Democrats, including two from Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and one from Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD, (D-Calif.) to modify the PAHPA bills, as well as an amendment from Rep. Kim Schrier, MD, (D-Wash.) to advance a clean CHGME reauthorization.
Meanwhile, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to consider its version of PAHPA reauthorization on July 20. HELP Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, MD, (R-La.), Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) on July 3 released and requested comments on a PAHPA reauthorization discussion draft. While the HELP Committee has not yet announced plans for CHGME reauthorization, Cassidy on July 13 introduced legislation to continue funding for the Community Health Center Fund, the National Health Service Corps, and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. According to an accompanying press release, the bill “mirrors that which the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed in May.”
- Washington Highlights