Alliance and US Chamber Letter of Support for HR 6378 PAHPA Reauthorization

July 27, 2018

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

On behalf of the Alliance for Biosecurity and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we support
H.R. 6378, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018,
and urge the House to pass this bipartisan legislation before the Pandemic and All-Hazards
Preparedness Act (PAHPA) expires at the end of September 2018. H.R. 6378 is central to
protecting American citizens, organizations, and communities against natural and man-made
biosecurity hazards.

H.R. 6378 would authorize crucial funding for the Project BioShield Special Reserve
Fund and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). However, we
urge policymakers to account for inflation to ensure that future spending levels adequately
support the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) Strategy
and implementation Plan, the BARDA Strategic Plan, and related efforts.

H.R. 6378 would establish several important programs within BARDA, especially
a Pandemic Influenza Program to support research and development activities to enhance
responses to pandemic influenza and an Emerging Infectious Disease Program to monitor and
address infectious diseases that could cause a deadly pandemic. Both programs would be funded
at $250 million per year through FY 2023.

The bill would also create new and sustainable market-based incentives to advance
cutting-edge biomedical research. Our groups support developing strategic partnerships
between BARDA and the business community to mitigate threats that could pose a significant
risk to U.S. health and safety.

Reauthorizing PAHPA would also help ensure the sustainability of the medical
countermeasures enterprise by transferring the authority that governs the procurement of
medical countermeasures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

The legislation would codify ASPR’s role in coordinating Strategic National Stockpile
operations with CDC. We also believe that such teamwork would make the U.S. better equipped
to tackle public health emergencies and natural disasters.

We urge the full House to swiftly consider and pass H.R. 6378.

Sincerely,

The Honorable Jack Kingston
Secretariat
Alliance for Biosecurity

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The Alliance for Biosecurity is a coalition of biopharmaceutical companies and
laboratory/academic partners that promotes a strong public-private partnership to ensure that
medical countermeasures are available to protect public health and enhance national health
security. The Alliance advocates for public policies and funding to support the rapid
development, production, stockpiling, and distribution of critically needed medical
countermeasures. Learn more at www.allianceforbiosecurity.com.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the
interests of more than 3 million businesses and organizations of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as
well as state and local chambers and industry associations. The Chamber is dedicated to
promoting, protecting, and defending America’s free enterprise system.