Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, 4 US Senators, and 3 Former Federal Government Public Health Officials Launch the Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparedness & Health Security
Center News
October 7, 2020 – The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, alongside 4 bipartisan US senators and 3 former federal government public health officials have launched a new educational initiative: The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparedness & Health Security.
The Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparedness & Health Security is a nonpartisan “off-the-Hill” group that convenes educational policy briefings and technology demonstrations for Capitol Hill offices, federal agencies, and the invited public focused on strengthening US health security.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the national and international consequences that deadly infectious disease epidemics can cause. “The profound effects of this pandemic must galvanize the US Government to do everything in its power to prevent this from happening again,” explains Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “With nearly 200 epidemics occurring each year, the next fast-moving, novel infectious disease pandemic could be right around the corner. We must be better prepared.”
The new Steering Committee will host monthly events focused on lessons learned from responses to natural, manmade, and other complex health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to better mitigate and respond to future health crises.
Honorary Senate Co-Chairs
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
Honorary Founding Members
Former CDC Deputy Director, Dr. Stephen Redd
Former HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius
Former HHS ASPR, Dr. W. Craig Vanderwagen
The Steering Committee events will enable critical discussions on nonpartisan policy options for improving the United States’ ability to protect Americans from the next health security threat.
The Steering Committee is sponsored and managed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. For over 20 years, the Center for Health Security has worked to protect people’s health from epidemics and disasters and ensure community resilience through sound science, policy, and programs.