Senator Hassan’s Key Bipartisan Provisions Included in Committee-Passed Pandemic Preparedness & Response Legislation

WASHINGTON – The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee passed the bipartisan Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act. It includes key bipartisan provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pushed for.

The bill includes a bipartisan provision introduced by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to extend the state medical stockpile grant program and encourage regional coordination of these stockpiles, building on previous successful efforts by Senator Hassan to establish the state stockpile grant program and improve the effectiveness of the Strategic National Stockpile.

“This week we worked across the aisle to move forward key legislation to ensure that our country is ready for future emergencies. I am glad it includes my bipartisan measure to pilot a system of state medical stockpiles and strengthen regional coordination. It will help ensure that federal and state governments are better prepared to meet the needs of communities during national emergencies,” said Senator Hassan.

The Senator’s measure, the State Strategic Stockpile Act of 2023, would extend the authority of the state medical stockpile grant program through fiscal year 2028, while also encouraging state grant recipients to coordinate regionally and share best practices with one another. The bill would also clarify that state and local officials should be consulted by federal advisors to the Strategic National Stockpile.

Additionally, the bill includes a bipartisan amendment led by Senator Budd that Senator Hassan cosponsored to improve the Strategic National Stockpile’s inventory management processes and establish standard operating procedures for procuring medical countermeasures for the Stockpile.

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s efforts to ensure that the United States is prepared for any future public health emergencies. Senator Hassan worked with her colleagues to pass into law at the end of 2022 her bipartisan Strengthening America’s Strategic National Stockpile Act, which helps end America’s dependence on China for critical supplies, boost domestic manufacturing, and improve transparency to ensure the effectiveness of the Strategic National Stockpile during future public health emergencies.

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