Center for Health Security applauds the bipartisan Senate introduction of the Disease X Act of 2023 

June 28, 2023 – The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security applauds Senators Tammy Baldwin and Thom Tillis for their introduction of the bipartisan Disease X Act of 2023 (S 2093). This legislation would establish a "Disease X" Medical Countermeasures Program at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

This action follows the bipartisan House introduction of a similar bill by the same name (HR 3832) earlier this month, led by Representatives Lori Trahan, Michael Burgess, Dan Crenshaw, and Susie Lee. The Senate version differs from the House bill in 2 important ways, as it:

1. Provides funding of $40M per year for 5 years specifically for the Disease X program.
2. Includes a provision that products developed using funding from the Disease X program must be substantially manufactured in the United States.

The Center for Health Security recommended the establishment of a “Disease X” Medical Countermeasures Program to both the House and Senate and is pleased that Congress is taking decisive action on this critical issue that will help save American lives. 

To learn more about the importance of such actions and what they would mean for the nation’s health, economic, and national security, please visit our Disease X Medical Countermeasures Program project page, where you can find additional resources such as an infographic and links to 2 Center for Health Security reports on the subject. You can also learn more about the background and summary of the Disease X Act of 2023 here. A full list of supporters of this bill, including leaders and experts in academia, industry, and nonprofits, can be found here. 

For more information, please contact: Melissa Hopkins, Health Security Policy Advisor

For media inquiries, please contact: Cagla Giray, Communications Director