Pandemic, Drug Overdose Agendas Shape Health Priorities Fight

Policy fights between Democrats and Republicans have put the Senate in the lead on pandemic preparation legislation and House at the forefront of tackling the nation’s overdose crisis.

These disagreements between committee leaders are shaping up to define who in Congress will design key health bills this year. The bipartisan packages contain riders bolstering the priorities of committee heads.

Democrats in the House voted against advancing proposed reauthorization of key pandemic preparedness programs (H.R. 4420, H.R. 4421) this week, saying the legislation needed to address drug shortages.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), ranking member of the House Energy ...