Innovating, Advocating & Helping Keep Americans Safe

Highlights and Events

​

NATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY: 7 out of 10 Americans 'Concerned' About Next Pandemic; 81% Support Congress Spending More on Preparedness: Americans are clearly concerned about future pandemics and public health threats, as a new poll from the Alliance for Biosecurity finds. Despite recent government COVID-19 spending in excess of $5 trillion, a nationwide survey reveals that 70% of Americans are "concerned” about the threat of another pandemic. Equally overwhelming, 81% of Americans say they support Congress “increas[ing] the budget this year for developing preventive measures for biological and chemical threats.” This support comes even amidst concerns about inflation and federal spending. Additionally, most Americans say they are more likely to vote for officials who support increased preparedness and response funding. The poll comes as Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ranking Member, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), released a discussion draft of the Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act). Read the Survey Key Findings Here.

​

SIGNED: Alliance for Biosecurity Applauds Bipartisan Increase in Public Health Threat Preparedness Funding: "The Alliance for Biosecurity today welcomed the increase in funding for public health threat preparedness included in the FY2022 Budget passed on a bipartisan basis by both the House and Senate and slated to be signed by President Joe Biden this afternoon. Specifically, the budget includes increase of hundreds of millions of dollars for the Office the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Additionally, the bill also creates the Advanced Research Projects for Health (ARPA-H) and increases funding for pandemic flu research and response. “Taking proactive steps to fund crucial government agencies like ASPR and BARADA allows America to better prepare for future public health threats,” said Chris Frech, co-chair of the Alliance for Biosecurity. “We applaud the bipartisan support for these issues and the foresight to address them in this legislation. As our recent poll proved, voters overwhelmingly support increased spending to plan for and mitigate the risks associated with pandemics, even amidst other demands on federal budgets.”" Read more.

​

Alliance pens letter to Senate HELP leaders on preparedness bill: "The Alliance for Biosecurity (Alliance) appreciates the opportunity to work with you and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee as you work to develop bipartisan legislation to consider lessons learned during the COVID-19 response to improve the nation’s public health infrastructure and medical preparedness and response programs and capabilities. ... The Alliance is supportive of the consolidation of decision-making, planning, procurement, and life cycle management of MCMs within the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR)..." Read more.

​

Biosecurity leaders back Build Back Better's $16 billion for pandemic preparedness: "[W]e write in strong support of the $16 billion funding level for pandemic preparedness included in Division J of the Build Back Better Act, passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on September 15. We strongly recommend that the Senate version of the Build Back Better Act also include at least $16 billion for pandemic preparedness. These funds will deliver tangible national tools and capabilities that we need to save lives, jobs, and money when we inevitably face future dangerous outbreaks. 1 in 500 Americans have died from COVID-19. And it’s estimated that the country has incurred $16 trillion in economic losses." Read more.

​

Alliance for Biosecurity advises Senate HELP Committee regarding upcoming pandemic preparedness legislation: "Dear Chair Murray and Ranking Member Burr: The Alliance for Biosecurity (Alliance) appreciates the opportunity to work with you and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee as you work to develop bipartisan legislation to consider lessons learned during the COVID-19 response to improve the nation’s public health infrastructure and medical preparedness and response programs and capabilities." Read more.

​

Support strong among experts for $30 billion investment in pandemic prevention in American Jobs Plan: "Given the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. should aim to achieve an ambitious but achievable goal of creating a pandemic-free future. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to include this $30 billion investment in a funding vehicle this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the national and international consequences that deadly infectious disease epidemics can cause. Over the past two decades, outbreaks of SARS, Ebola, influenza, Zika and others have cost the U.S. billions in lost productivity. The profound effects of this and other pandemics must galvanize the U.S. government to do everything in its power to prevent this from happening again." Read more.

​

Susan Brooks awarded Alliance for Biosecurity's first ever Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award: Rep. Brooks added: "Thank you so much, and I hope the Alliance continues to grow because the work you all do to keep the country safe is so important." Read more.

​

Alliance on "Buy America" exceptions: "The Alliance for Biosecurity recognizes the importance of sourcing American made goods by American workers and with American-made component parts to avoid supply chain disruption. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has displayed, we must ensure Buy America policies do not jeopardize the country’s ability to access critical medical countermeasures. For over 40 years, the U.S. biodefense industry has confronted the challenge of insufficient quality and quantity of American made components necessary to meet U.S. demand for medical countermeasures. The Alliance strongly urges the Biden Administration to implement a process whereby essential  companies can receive Buy America exceptions and/or waivers necessary for the success and sustainment of the collective MCM enterprise."

​

Alliance for Biosecurity pens letter to US Trade Rep Katherine Tai opposing proposed TRIPS waiver for COVID-19-related drugs and products: "We believe granting this waiver will not address the underlying supply chain and component shortages that are actually to blame for any vaccine shortage; will not accelerate vaccine deployment, which remains the mutual goal of industry and government alike; and will not benefit the United States’ long-term strategic interests." Read more.

​

Medical Countermeasures Industry Leaders Respond to Senate Pandemic White Paper: "The Alliance appreciates the opportunity to submit comments in response to your “Preparing for the Next Pandemic: A White Paper."  The Alliance agrees that it is imperative that Congress act on needed changes this year in order to better prepare for the next pandemic, and submits the following comments in response to select questions posed in the White Paper for which the Alliance is uniquely positioned to respond." Read the full letter.

​

Alliance for Biosecurity offers both praise and concerns regarding the SNS: "As we have seen during the COVID-19 public health emergency, its role in supplementing state and local supplies during such public health emergencies cannot be overstated.  We are therefore supportive of this important initiative to restock and revamp the SNS and to improve SNS inventory management and distribution. That said, the Alliance is concerned with the Next Gen SNS’s proposed approach, as it fails to take into account the unique considerations associated with those countermeasures for which the SNS is the repository." Read the full letter.

​

Health Defense Operations budget increased, Alliance comments: "As a result of supplemental COVID appropriations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now able to invest in depleted state and local public health infrastructure, new laboratory networks, and modernized data systems. Additional CDC funding can boost investment in global health security, as it is now abundantly clear that a health threat is never more than a plane ride away." Read the full comments.

​

Thankfully, the doctor is in: An op-ed in The Hill by Alliance for Biosecurity Secretariat Jack Kingston

​

Three companies join the Alliance for Biosecurity: “Three new companies have joined the Alliance for Biosecurity in recent weeks, growing the medical countermeasure industry's leading coalition to 21 total members as the world continues to battle the most serious pandemic in generations.

The additions of Emerald Bioscience, iBio and Heat Biologics continue to expand the "wealth of knowledge" and vast array of expertise within the Alliance.” Read more here.

​

The Alliance for Biosecurity supports declaring the coronavirus a national emergency: “The Alliance for Biosecurity applauds President Donald Trump’s official declaration of a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We support the ensuing expedited protocols, which catalyze a more rapid delivery of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures to combat the coronavirus. In his announcement, President Trump recognized the work of multiple Alliance member companies working on coronavirus-related projects, including Roche and Emergent BioSolutions. We are proud of all of our members’ work and proud to be part of the public-private partnerships that help protect public health, especially during emergencies such as this. Elected officials, staff, and members of the media are encouraged to contact Alliance leadership any time if we can be of service providing information, background, or updates on biosecurity issues.” Read more here.

​

"Alliance for Biosecurity urges Congress to quickly increase funding to address coronavirus" - Homeland Prep News (House Letter, Senate Letter)

​

Five companies join the Alliance for Biosecurity: “For the Alliance to accurately represent industry in these situations, it is important that we have well-rounded knowledge to bring to these public-private partnerships. Our new members help give us a vast scope of expertise behind the same singular focus: strong and resilient national health security.” Read more here.

​

Alliance & US Chamber write second letter to Congress in support of PAHPA reauthorization: "On behalf of the Alliance for Biosecurity and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we support the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019, and urge the House to pass this bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). This bill is central to protecting American citizens, organizations, and communities against natural and manmade biosecurity hazards." See the full letter here.

​

Secretary of HHS, biosecurity officials, Members of Congress, and industry leaders convene at Congressional Biodefense Caucus event: Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar addressed Members of Congress, staff, Administration officials, and representatives from the Alliance for Biosecurity’s member companies on Capitol Hill Wednesday evening. The discussion, hosted by the Congressional Biodefense Caucus in coordination with the Alliance for Biosecurity, centered around the National Biodefense Strategy and the Administration’s priorities. Read more here.

​

Alliance Invited to Provide Testimony to Congress Regarding 2019 Appropriations: The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has invited the Alliance for Biosecurity to provide testimony in a public hearing on Thursday, April 26. Chris Frech, Co-Chair of the Alliance, will testify before the Subcommittee and speak to the importance of consistent, long-term funding that the biosecurity industry relies on to ensure the availability of lifesaving medical countermeasures and to sustain the public-private partnerships that protect national health security. The hearing will take place on Thursday, April 26, at 10 AM EDT. A full list of witnesses providing testimony can be found here.

​

SURVEY: Most Americans Favor More Funding and Congressional Support for Biosecurity Capabilities, Public Confidence in US Preparedness to Address Biosecurity Threats Has Dropped: A new nationwide survey of the American electorate reveals that the vast majority of Americans support increased funding to address biosecurity threats. Additionally, most Americans support their elected officials actively engaging to promote and support biosecurity. Nationally, 73% of the 1,612 Americans surveyed say they would have a favorable reaction “if Congress decided to increase the budget this year for developing preventive measures for biological and chemical threats.” How elected officials act on biosecurity issues is important enough to affect voters at the ballot box, according to the survey. A majority of Americans – 52% –  say they are more likely to support their elected representative if that representative is “actively engaged in promoting and supporting biosecurity.” Learn more and see the full survey here.

 

Biosecurity Experts Commend Congress for Historic Increase in Project BioShield Funding, Increased Support for National Health Security in Omnibus: America faces real, imminent threats from intentional chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) attacks.  Serious naturally occurring pandemics and infectious disease threats, such as pandemic influenza and Ebola, do not respect borders.  The government cannot protect the American people on its own.  An effective, highly functioning public-private partnership is the best way to prepare.  Members of the Alliance for Biosecurity share a strong commitment to improving our national security in partnership with the federal government through public-private partnerships.  Read more here.

 

The Alliance for Biosecurity Applauds the Successful Launch of the New Congressional Biodefense Caucus: More than 50 attendees, including Members of Congress, biodefense industry experts, Congressional staff and others, took part in a reception to launch a new Congressional Biodefense Caucus. The caucus already boasts a membership roll including 27 bipartisan Members of Congress and is chaired by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA). The Alliance issued the following statement: “We are very excited not only about the initiative taken by Members of Congress to form this important new group, but by the exceptional early engagement and increase in Member support of the Congressional Biodefense Caucus. We commend the 27 Members of Congress who have already joined the caucus, and particularly Reps. Brooks and Eshoo for their commitment to leading this new coalition as Chairs. This caucus will help strengthen the biodefense enterprise, identify and fill gaps in preparedness and response capabilities, educate even more Members on these issues and – most importantly – protect the people of the United States from potentially catastrophic chemical or biological threats. Thank you for your dedication to enhancing America’s national security by becoming active members of this caucus, and we look forward to continuing to develop the important public-private partnerships that ensure medical countermeasures are available to protect public health.” Read more here.

 

VIDEO: Alliance for Biosecurity Co-Chair Brent MacGregor testifies at Senate HELP Committee Hearing on "Facing 21st Century Public Health Threats: Our Nation’s Preparedness and Response Capabilities." Watch the full hearing here.