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BIO Praises the U.S. House of Representatives for Passing the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act

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On March 4, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives passed PAHPRA by a vote of 370-28.</p>

WASHINGTON, DC – March 5, 2013 –The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) lauds the House of Representatives for quickly scheduling, and then passing the Senate Amendment to H.R. 307, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PAHPRA), yesterday by a vote of 370-28.

BIO commends Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-CA), Health Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA), Health Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and the bill's sponsors Reps. Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Gene Green (D-TX) for their leadership on this important issue.

Below is a statement from BIO’s President and CEO, Jim Greenwood:

“We applaud the House of Representatives for its commitment to improving our nation’s capacity to prepare and respond to natural disasters, bioterrorist attacks, and outbreaks of infectious disease. PAHPRA enables the frontline response of the public health and healthcare systems, rather than funding on an emergency-by-emergency basis.

“The bipartisan legislation provides needed clarity for the regulatory process for medical countermeasures (MCM) at the Food and Drug Administration and strongly encourages the Agency to work with product sponsors to develop regulatory management plans, provide technical assistance and help solve regulatory and scientific issues.

“These provisions will help provide transparency and consistency to accelerate the development and approval of MCMs.

“The reauthorization of PAHPA signifies the solid commitment of government attention and funding, which will allow the biotech industry to do even more to help protect our nation.

“Biotech companies are willing and active partners in the national security endeavor. Our industry plays a central role in ensuring the effective development of MCMs to protect our nation’s citizens against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, whether naturally occurring or man-made.

“Strengthening the pipeline of medical products, drugs and devices that will safeguard the nation during an emergency or pandemic is vital to our national security.”

Since identical versions of this vitally-important legislation have now passed both the House and the Senate, the bill will be presented to the President for his signature and the bill then will become law.

More information on PAHPA can be found at http://www.bio.org/category/vaccines-biodefense.