WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Alliance for Biosecurity (Alliance) commends the Senate Appropriations Committee for prioritizing Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 funding increases for critical biosecurity programs within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).* Within the FY 2025 Labor-Health and Human Services (LHHS) bill, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the following funding increases for Alliance priorities:
- Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) – $55 million increase
- Project Bioshield SRF – $10 million increase
- Pandemic Influenza Preparedness – $21 million increase
- Strategic National Stockpile – $30 million increase
The Alliance applauds LHHS Subcommittee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and committee staff for continued bipartisan support for these essential biodefense programs. The Senate’s proposed funding increases follow similar increases from House appropriators earlier this year.
In response to the release of the draft text, Alliance Co-Chair Chris Frech said:
“The Alliance is, once again, proud of the bipartisan, bicameral leadership in Congress to support the medical countermeasures enterprise. Proposed increases to biodefense programs by both the House and Senate sends a clear signal to the Biden Administration that Congress considers biodefense and preparedness programs as an urgent national security priority.
“The Alliance stands committed to working with the House and Senate to maintain proposed funding increases in final FY 2025 appropriations legislation. As the Alliance has made clear, America’s national biodefense capabilities require government and industry to work together and robust and consistent funding for these programs is necessary to protect the public and the war fighter from threats.”
A full summary of the proposed FY 2025 Senate LHHS Appropriations bill is available here. Final bill text and report, as well as adopted amendments and Congressionally Directed Spending projects included in the bill, are available here.
*In advance of FY 2025, the Alliance for Biosecurity submitted appropriations requests to over one hundred Members of Congress in support of federal funding for biodefense and preparedness programs. To learn more about the Alliance’s FY 2025 appropriations request click here.