BREAKING NEWS - MISSION Zero, Emergency Preparedness Legislation Heads to President

The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 is officially on its way to the President’s desk for signature. On May 16, 2019, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to approve the bill after being delayed for several months due to a disagreement over an unrelated policy. Ultimately, the Senate decided to drop that unrelated policy from the bill and were able to move forward.

That bill then had to go back to the House for approval. The House voted unanimously to approve the legislation.

S.1379/H.R. 269 implement TCAA’s top legislative priority, the “MISSION ZERO Act”, by authorizing $11.5 million per year to award grants that will enable military trauma care providers and trauma teams to provide trauma care and related acute care at civilian trauma centers.

The legislation also authorizes a TCAA-supported initiative known as the Regional Health Care Emergency Preparedness and Response System. The program, developed by the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) with input from trauma centers, will help create regional systems of trauma centers, hospitals, and other public and private entities to respond to public health emergencies.

TCAA members urged Senators to advance S.1379/H.R. 269 during its Lobby Day in February 2019, and worked closely with its member organizations, advocacy partners and legislative champions to get the bill over the finish line.

“We applaud Congress for advancing this legislation that will help improve and strengthen the preparedness and response capabilities of our nation’s trauma care system,” said TCAA President, Jennifer Ward. “Trauma centers play a critical role in our nation’s emergency preparedness and response system and we look forward to continuing to work with ASPR and others to implement this critical legislation.”

TCAA would like to thank Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Susan Brooks (R-IN), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Greg Walden (R-OR) in the House and Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Jack Reed (D-RI), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) in the Senate for their leadership on this bill and helping ensure that these important programs become reality.

TRAUMA COALITION PRESS RELEASE