The health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee will be holding a markup this week for the proposed reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), now known as the Preparing for All Hazards and Pathogens Reauthorization Act. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will not have any of its legislative requests met. PAHPA was originally passed in 2006 and has been reauthorized several times since then. The current reauthorization must be completed by September 30, 2023.
In June, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on the initial proposal for the PAHPA reauthorization. This included 21 individual pieces of legislation, including the actual reauthorization text and potential policy riders. The Senate is also working on its own version of the reauthorization package.
The July markup session will focus on advancing specific bills, including the PAHPA reauthorization. The House version of the package includes provisions for enhancing the Strategic National Stockpile, improving state and local emergency preparedness, and strengthening the health system workforce. It also includes measures to add an Advisory Committee component to the Public Health Emergency Countermeasures Enterprise and establish a diagnostic testing preparedness plan.
Other bills on the markup calendar are focused on various health-related issues, such as enhancing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s epidemiological capacity, reauthorizing substance-use disorder prevention and treatment programs, and supporting specific research initiatives. One notable bill aims to establish a national project to prevent, cure, or ameliorate Parkinson’s disease.
However, there are two key components missing from the House markup: the reauthorization of the Priority Review Voucher (PRV) system and the FDA’s legislative priorities. The PRV system, established in 2016, is not included in the PAHPA reauthorization, and it is uncertain if it will be addressed separately. The FDA’s policy wish list is also not included in the agenda, as House Republican leadership intends to keep the reauthorization narrow for easy passage.
House Democrats, on the other hand, are expressing concerns about the lack of FDA policy in the reauthorization. Representative Frank Pallone has called out this issue and urged for the inclusion of FDA priorities in the legislation.
Overall, the PAHPA reauthorization process is underway, but the FDA may not see its legislative requests met, and the PRV system may require separate attention. The markup session will determine the advancement of specific bills and shape the final reauthorization package.
