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LOWEY AND EMANUEL SEEK PARTNERSHIPS TO FIGHT PANDEMIC FLU
October 26, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC – Encouraged by reports that senior Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are seeking legislative proposals to prepare for a possible flu pandemic, Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY18) and Rahm Emanuel (D-IL5) today wrote to Committee Chair Joe Barton (R-TX6) and Health Subcommittee Chair Nathan Deal (R-GA-10) to put forward their legislation as a template for future action.

“We have no time to lose in preparing for a flu pandemic.  Avian flu is spreading around the globe and every expert tells us it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when,’ a pandemic flu will occur.  We have to be ready for that now,” said Lowey. 

“These are clear, pragmatics steps we can take right now, to ensure the American people have the protection they deserve,” said Emanuel.  “Through this legislation, we have an opportunity to ensure we are prepared.”

In a recent letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, Barton and Deal solicited policy suggestions for legislation to prepare for a pandemic.  Today, Lowey and Emanuel offered to join the effort to craft new legislation and provided information on bills previously introduced by Lowey and Emanuel to beef up national and international preparedness.

Most recently, they introduced the Pandemic Preparedness Response Act (PPRA) which would create a comprehensive plan to detect, prepare for and combat a flu pandemic.  The legislation would provide resources to ensure an adequate and accessible supply of vaccines and antiviral medications; expand and coordinate state pandemic preparedness activities; increase vaccine production through creation of a federal buyback program; and improve international surveillance efforts.

“I am encouraged that Chairmen Barton and Deal have realized that the time to act to prepare for avian flu is now.  I look forward to working with them, Congressman Emanuel and Senate leaders such as Barak Obama and Tom Harkin, on a bipartisan basis to enact a plan that will keep Americans safe and healthy,” said Lowey.  “A pandemic could occur at any time; we have to be ready for it when it does.”

 

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October 26, 2005

 

The Honorable Joe Barton                                           The Honorable Nathan Deal

Chairman                                                                     Chairman, Subcommittee on Health

Committee on Energy and Commerce                           Committee on Energy and Commerce

2125 Rayburn House Office Building                            2125 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515                                             Washington, D.C. 20515          

 

 

Dear Chairman Barton and Chairman Deal:

 

            We were encouraged to learn of your recent letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt in which you solicited policy recommendations for a legislative package addressing pandemic influenza currently being developed by the Energy and Commerce Committee.  We share your concerns about the growing risk posed by a possible global influenza outbreak and are anxious to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that our nation is adequately prepared to address and respond to this type of event.

 

            Despite widespread warnings from scientists and health professionals across the globe that a worldwide flu outbreak is an imminent threat to public health, the United States remains dangerously under-prepared for a possible pandemic. We have only one manufacturer of injectable flu vaccine.  We have antiviral medications stockpiled to cover only 1% of our population.  State and local health departments lack the necessary resources to detect, contain, and respond to an outbreak.  The federal government has not finalized a national pandemic preparedness and response plan. 

 

            On October 17, 2005, we introduced the Pandemic Preparedness and Response Act (H.R. 4062).  This comprehensive legislation incorporates those provisions of H.R. 3369, the AVIAN Act (introduced on July 20, 2005), and HR 813, the Flu Protection Act (introduced on February 15, 2005), that address the grave threat of pandemic flu.  H.R. 4062 would close many of the gaps in our nation’s current ability to prepare and respond to a potential pandemic. In our judgment, a successful bipartisan legislative package must include the following elements:   

 

  • Sufficient resources for research and commodities to ensure an adequate and accessible supply of vaccines and antiviral medications for the public when needed.
  • Expansion and coordination of state pandemic preparedness activities, with emphasis on surveillance; preventive and medical care; distribution plans for vaccines; antivirals and other treatments; communication and information networks; maintenance of core public health functions; security; integration with existing bioterrorism preparedness activities; and sufficient funding to carry out increased public health responsibilities.  
  • Increased vaccine production, which could be accomplished by creating a guaranteed market for seasonal flu vaccines through a federal buyback program for a portion of unused vaccine doses.
  • Sufficient assistance for international pandemic surveillance, detection and reporting.
  • Sufficient support for domestic capacity to manufacture influenza vaccines and antiviral medications with appropriate liability protections and a fair compensation program for those injured by taking the vaccine. 

            The American people must be assured that their government is ready to respond to a potential outbreak. The Pandemic Preparedness and Response Act would help to ensure that our nation is prepared to respond to a potential outbreak, and we urge you to schedule a prompt hearing and a subsequent mark-up of this legislation. We look forward to working with you on a bipartisan basis to implement comprehensive legislation to address this very serious health threat.    

 

            Thank you for your consideration.  We look forward to your prompt response. 

 

 

 

Sincerely,