File photo U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, speaks to business leaders during an Aspire Legislation Matters luncheon Thursday at Valle Vista Golf Club and Conference Center in Greenwood.
WASHINGTON — Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, has introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the federal government to develop a national plan to rapidly scale up and distribute diagnostic testing during a public health emergency.
The bill, called the bipartisan Diagnostic Testing Preparedness Plan Act, would direct the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan for rapid development, authorization, scaling, procurement and distribution of diagnostics and clinical and diagnostic laboratory testing capacity during a public health emergency.
The purpose of the plan would be to facilitate the development of diagnostics for a novel chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear threat, as well as emerging infectious diseases, according to a copy of the legislation.
The plan also would seek to facilitate public-private coordination between government agencies and diagnostic laboratories, diagnostic manufacturers, health care product distributors and research laboratories.
Pence is listed as the bill’s sponsor, congressional records show. Rep. André Carson, D-Indiana; Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Indiana; Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Washington; and Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nevada, are listed as co-sponsors. The bill was introduced in the House on Monday and referred to the House committee on energy and commerce.
For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
