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- CAP Urges Congressional Support for the Prevent Pandemics Act
On January 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act) to strengthen the nation’s public health and medical preparedness and response systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CAP, along with 28 other medical and professional laboratory organizations, sent a letter to HELP Committee leadership in support of the bill on February 4. This draft bipartisan legislation would lay the groundwork to build a stronger public health and medical preparedness and response system, the CAP said.
The CAP has also supported national testing and pandemic response strategy, including increased funding for critical manufacturing supply chain resilience and health infrastructure activities to address workforce capacity, health information technology, and disease surveillance.
The pandemic highlighted the critical need for greater support and infrastructure investment in key areas of public health and preparedness. In 2021, the CAP supported increased funding for testing programs, including contact tracing and sequencing programs, as well as funding for a national strategy and providing technical assistance, guidance, and grants to state, local, and territorial public health departments.