On December 19, 2006, President George W.
Bush signed the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).
PAHPA had broad implications for HHS’ preparedness and response activities.
Among other things, PAHPA amended the Public Health Service Act to establish an Assistant
credit:
Secretary for Preparedness and Response position in HHS; provided new authorities for a number of programs, including the advanced research and development of medical countermeasures; and called for the establishment of a quadrennial National Health Security Strategy (42 U.S.C.
300hh-1).
President Barack Obama signed the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (PAHPRA) in March 2013; it reauthorizes appropriations for certain programs and further amended the Public Health Service Act.
President Donald Trump signed the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPAIA) on June 24, 2019; further reauthorizing appropriations for certain programs and further amended the Public Health Service Act.
Throughout the COVID-19 response, ASPR discovered a variety of areas and lessons learned where it needs to strengthen and enhance its relationships to be able to leverage public health and healthcare partners to support timely and informed decision making and meet the need of an “all of nation” response to the current pandemic and future emergency incidents.
Key areas include capabilities to:
o enhance domestic and international disease surveillance technology:
o continual assessment of ongoing response impacts, gaps, and the assessment of immediate and future resource needs (e.g., human, financial, material); o quick access to the nation’s public health and healthcare frontline to convey timely and accurate information; and o sharing of established and implemented best practices from the field.
ASPR has identified issues the organization will approach to contribute to national health security and preparedness, including prioritization of stakeholder engagement and coordination.
Cooperative Agreement(s) with public health, healthcare, and emergency management partners subsequent to this funding opportunity will further the actions to accomplish strategic activities and priorities of ASPR.