HR 6334 Would Obligate The US To Work With Gates

 

The bill would require the US government to partner with CEPI and the B&M Gates Foundation in vaccine research. Initially the bill requires submitting plans to coordinate working with CEPI. All future work would require significant funding from the US and essentially be a sole source contract the US obligated to maintain.

 

H.R.6334 - Securing America From Epidemics Act

 

Summary:

 

This bill authorizes the United States to participate in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), an alliance of countries and private partners whose mission is to finance and coordinate the development of vaccines for high-priority, epidemic-potential threats.

 

The President must submit a report outlining (1) planned U.S. contributions to, and participation in, CEPI; (2) the manner and extent to which the United States shall participate in the governance of CEPI; and (3) how participation in CEPI supports U.S. government strategies and programs in health security and biodefense.

 

Text excerpt:

 

Sec 2 Findings

 

(8) To address this global vulnerability and the deficit of political commitment, institutional capacity, and funding, in 2017, several countries and private partners launched the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). CEPI’s mission is to stimulate, finance, and coordinate development of vaccines for high-priority, epidemic-potential threats in cases where traditional markets do not exist or cannot create sufficient demand.

 

(9) Through funding of partnerships, CEPI seeks to bring priority vaccines candidates through the end of phase II clinical trials, as well as support vaccine platforms that can be rapidly deployed against emerging pathogens.

 

(10) CEPI has funded multiple partners to develop vaccine candidates against the novel coronavirus, responding to this urgent, global requirement.

 

(11) Support for and participation in CEPI is an important part of the United States own health security and biodefense and is in the national interest, complementing the work of many Federal agencies and providing significant value through global partnership and burden-sharing.

 

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION.

 

(a) In General.–The United States is hereby authorized to

participate in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

 

(b) Privileges and Immunities.–The Coalition for Epidemic

Preparedness Innovations shall be considered a public international

organization for purposes of section 1 of the International

Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288).

 

(c) Reports to Congress.–Not later than 180 days after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the

appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the

following:

 

(1) The United States planned contributions to the

Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the

mechanisms for United States participation in such Coalition.

 

(2) The manner and extent to which the United States shall

participate in the governance of the Coalition.

 

(3) How participation in the Coalition supports relevant

United States Government strategies and programs in health

security and biodefense, to include–

 

(A) the Global Health Security Strategy required by

section 7058(c)(3) of division K of the Consolidated

Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141);

(B) the applicable revision of the National

Biodefense Strategy required by section 1086 of the

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

(6 U.S.C. 104); and

(C) any other relevant decision-making process for

policy, planning, and spending in global health

security, biodefense, or vaccine and medical

countermeasures research and development.

 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6334