Urges Sustainable and Robust Funding to Prepare for Existing and Future Threats
WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Alliance for Biosecurity urges Congress to support increased funding for federal programs that promote the rapid development, production, stockpiling, and distribution of vital medical countermeasures (MCMs) in annual funding legislation and through critical reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).
The Alliance is a coalition of biopharmaceutical companies and laboratory/academic partners that promotes a strong public-private partnership to ensure MCMs 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 MCMs. For more information on the Alliance’s activity and industry resources, visit our new website at allianceforbiosecurity.com.
Through meetings with House and Senate appropriations and authorizing committees, the Alliance emphasizes the need for robust and sustainable funding for critical biosecurity programs. Specifically, the Alliance prioritizes:
- Sustained and sufficient funding of critical biodefense programs, including the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Project BioShield Special Reserve Fund (SRF), and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness;
- Creating a Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) Advisory Committee; and
- Ensuring that PHEMCE’s strategic planning and decision-making around stockpile needs and requirements is more transparent, current and based on up-to-date risk assessments.
To maximize America’s preparedness and response capabilities, government and industry must work together in pursuit of long-term, sustainable investment strategies. The Alliance’s FY2024 Appropriations Requests take into consideration the FY 2022-2026 PHEMCE Multiyear Budget – the comprehensive five-year budget plan for MCM development prepared by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and other federal agencies – as the minimum funding needed to support the MCM enterprise.
The Alliance supports the integration of decision-making, planning, procurement, and life cycle management of MCMs within the ASPR. Through appropriate funding, government collaboration with industry, and a coordinated MCM enterprise, America is in the best position to prepare for and respond to future public health threats.
For more information on Alliance for Biosecurity Priorities, see:
Response to Representatives Hudson (R-NC) and Eshoo (D-CA) PAHPA Request for Information (RFI) Response to Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (“HELP”) PAHPA RFI Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Appropriations Requests