Skip to content

Harkin Statement on President Obama Signing PAHPA Reauthorization Into Law


WASHINGTON—Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement after President Obama signed into law the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act  of 2013, a bill he sponsored and helped move through the Senate in his role as Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee:

“I am pleased that this critical update of PAHPA is now law. As often as we hear about gridlock in Congress, the enactment of PAHPA is an example of a successful bipartisan legislative effort that will have real, positive impacts on our country’s readiness to respond to public health threats. Increased coordination among federal, state, and local governments; consideration of the needs of at-risk individuals including children and people with disabilities; investments in medical countermeasure development and research; and stronger planning efforts mean that American families will be better protected from public health emergencies of all kinds.”

###