ASCP is urging Congress to support the
Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act, or PREVENT Pandemics Act, before it finishes its current legislative session. In a
letter to congressional leaders, ASCP observed that our nation has encountered numerous infectious disease challenges over the last few years and that with many U.S. hospitals now at or near capacity due to the “tripledemic” of Flu, RSV, and COVID-19, Congress should act to address the serious challenges facing our public healthcare system.
Among the legislative provision for which ASCP urged support are the BIO-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program, which would help incentivize public health care professionals, including laboratory professionals, to pursue careers in infectious disease (ID) and bio-preparedness as part of the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program; the Tracking Pathogens Act, which would strengthen and expand the use of pathogen genomic sequencing and surveillance activities; and provisions to strengthen the medical product supply chain and support rapid and accurate reporting of laboratory test results.
A number of the provisions embraced by the PREVENT Pandemics Act are items outlined in 2020 as part of ASCP’s call for the United States to develop a
COVID-19 Testing and Support Strategy.
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For more information regarding ASCP's advocacy initiatives and policy positions, please contact ASCP's Center for Public Policy at (202) 408-1110.
ASCP ePolicy News is supported by an unrestricted grant from Hologic.
