We’ve made it past the end of the Fiscal Year (FY) on September 30 and Halloween is behind us, but November brings a gentle reminder of the continued threats that lurk in the shadows of Washington, DC.
Narrowly avoiding a government shutdown, Congress secured a deal to continue government funding and keep federal agencies operating at current spending levels through November 17. However, a handful of federal health programs expired at the end of September
without congressional action to extend them—including the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). PAHPA includes several programs that ensure our public health systems are ready to combat emerging threats. Even though we are still in the
wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and have clearly seen the need for preparedness funding, Congress failed to act before PAHPA expired.
PAHPA, which has historically been regarded by Congress as an essential reauthorization and always advanced with bipartisan agreement, has become the subject of conflict this year. In the House, Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans split the legislation
into two vehicles, to extend programs at pre-pandemic funding levels. You can view both bills
here and
here. In the Senate, however, the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee
advanced a bipartisan version of PAHPA that reauthorizes core public health preparedness programs. Amid turbulent efforts to advance
appropriations, avert a government shutdown, and elect a new Speaker of the House, PAHPA remains stalled for the time being.
While Congress can still fund programs like the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC), Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) program, and others through the annual appropriations process, the stalled bill means authorization of public health preparedness funding remains at pre-pandemic levels. A friendly reminder that authorizing legislation just establishes the framework of federal programs and policies, it does not provide the dollars for those programs. Actual spending is set through the federal appropriations process.
And so, while PAHPA remains stalled, the most urgent business before Congress is to keep the government funded. The Senate has shown the American people that it is possible for political leaders to work together to proceed with the appropriations process. The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced 12 bipartisan bills this summer, which are slowly being considered on the Senate floor. However, while the House has passed several bills, with the deadline looming, that chamber continues to argue over deep cuts to federal programs. Even with the election of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), complications are likely to arise when it comes to agreeing on a final spending package. Congress will most certainly need to pass another CR to postpone the expiration of current funding levels before they can even negotiate final spending levels for Fiscal Year 2024.
The future is uncertain as legislators must either agree on a long-term budget plan or pass another temporary funding measure by the November 17 deadline. CSTE will continue to advocate for the reauthorization of PAHPA and will continue to provide
updates as the appropriations process goes on.
Victoria Barahona is policy associate at CRD Associates, LLC, which represents CSTE’s interests on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
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