Advocacy Update ~ June 22, 2020

June 22, 2020

WHO Advocacy

Community Statement of Support

Global Health Council, in coordination with Action for Global Health, CSEM of UHC2030, RESULTS, and WACI Heath, shared a sign-on statement expressing continued support for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the role it plays as an international convener and effective resource. Roughly 200 organizations and 175 individuals signed on. Thank you to everyone that signed the statement! You can read it here.

Letter to Congressional Leadership

Through the Multilateral Roundtable, Global Health Council, along with Better World Campaign, wrote a letter of support to share with Congressional leaders highlighting the global health community’s support for WHO and encouraging full funding and continued membership. More than 80 organizations joined the letter, which was shared ahead of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing detailed below. You can read the letter here.

Congressional News

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing

On Thursday, June 18, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee convened a hearing titled: COVID-19 and U.S. International Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response. Global Health Council, InterAction, and others shared questions for the hearing with Senate staff at which Jim Richardson, Director of the Office of Foreign Assistance at the U.S. Department of State, Chris Milligan, Counselor at USAID, and Garrett Grigsby, Director of the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided testimony. At the hearing, Senators on both sides of the aisle expressed support for WHO and discussed the need for extensive review of lessons learned, both at home and abroad, to refine both domestic and global pandemic response mechanisms. Additionally, there was productive conversation about supply chain issues, secondary and tertiary effects of the pandemic and where the U.S. can improve its response to these problems.

Legislation

As negotiations for the Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act of 2020 (S. 3829) are ongoing, Global Health Council will continue to participate in conversations with both Senate Republicans and Democrats to ensure that global health priorities and concerns are addressed. If your organization would like to provide specific feedback about GHSDA, CIRRA, appropriations, or other legislation, please share your feedback with advocacy@globalhealth.org

Senator Alexander white paper on pandemic preparedness

Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander recently released a white paper, with recommendations for legislative proposals that Congress can work on this year. Feedback from stakeholders is requested by June 26. If you would like to share your comments or suggestions, please send them to advocacy@globalhealth.org no later than 10 am ET on Thursday, June 25.

House Democrats introduce bill requiring National Intelligence Estimate

House Democrats introduced a bill requiring the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to produce a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on the threat of global pandemic disease in the wake of COVID-19. You can find more information about the bill here.

Administration News

PPE Guidance

The US Agency for International Development issued guidance on the use of funds to procure essential medical supplies necessary to proceed with critical programs. This fills a critical gap regarding resources for frontline health workers. You can find the guidance here. For additional information on the guidance, please see this FAQ or email questions directly to CoveredMaterials@usaid.gov. GHC will continue to track member accounts for any potential challenges or needed clarifications. Please share your organization’s experience with the guidance by emailing advocacy@globalhealth.org