Center Director Tom Inglesby Testifies at US House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing
Center News
May 11, 2023 – Today, Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, provided expert testimony at a congressional hearing about preparing for and responding to future public health security threats.
The hearing was convened by the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health.
In his testimony, Dr. Inglesby discussed the history of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), legislation first signed into law in 2006 to help advance national health security capabilities. Preparations for the next round of PAHPA reauthorization are underway and due by September 30, 2023.
Dr. Inglesby reflected on the last 3 PAHPA bills, discussing how lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic could inform this year’s reauthorization.
In the event of another public health emergency, he highlighted the need to:
- More rapidly develop, produce, and distribute medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics
- Better prepare the healthcare and public health systems to respond effectively and without warning
- Ensure our federal agencies that play key roles in pandemic response are strong and can move rapidly
- Recognize the great significance of the work being done to prevent future pandemics.
“PAHPA legislation has evolved and reflects lessons learned over 15 years of policymaking and on-the-ground experience,” Dr. Inglesby said, concluding, “Preparedness for biological threats and for responding to national health emergencies should be a priority for all of us.”
Read the full written testimony (PDF).