Kaine Applauds Committee Passage of Pandemic Preparedness Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, who serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the Committee’s passage of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act (PAHPARA)—which includes critical provisions inspired by Kaine legislation on data modernization and Long COVID—readying the legislation for a vote before the full Senate:

“Throughout my conversations with Virginians over the past few years, it’s been clear that we have more work to do to prepare for future public health emergencies and to support the millions of Americans who are living with Long COVID. I’m proud to have fought to advance provisions to help us meet those challenges, including by conducting the research we need to better treat Long COVID and strengthening our health data systems to improve our response to public health threats. I look forward to getting this bill across the finish line.”

PAHPARA includes a pilot program inspired by Kaine’s Improving Data Accessibility Through Advancements (DATA) in Public Health Act to increase timely and accurate information sharing between local, state, and federal public health departments to improve our preparedness and response to emerging public health threats.

In addition, today’s legislation includes a key provision of Kaine’s Comprehensive Access to Resources and Education (CARE) For Long COVID Act to authorize the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to support crucial research into Long COVID treatments.  Kaine is a leading advocate in Congress for Americans with Long COVID and helped secure $10 million in federal funding appropriated in this year’s government funding bill to support this effort. Kaine will continue to push for more research to understand the causes, treatments and cures for the condition; improve outreach and education for people, providers, and employers about Long COVID; and identify ways to best support Americans with disabling Long COVID symptoms.

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