Sanders Introduces Historic Moonshot Legislation to Address the Long COVID Crisis

https://www.sanders.senate.gov/pres...legislation-to-address-the-long-covid-crisis/

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today introduced legislation to address the long COVID crisis that is affecting more than 22 million adults and 1 million children across the United States – and millions more around the globe. The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act of 2024 provides $1 billion in mandatory funding per year for 10 years to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support long COVID research, the urgent pursuit of treatments, and the expansion of care for patients across the country.

Joining Sanders on the legislation are Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).

 

The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act would establish a new research program within the NIH to better understand, prevent, diagnose, manage, and treat long COVID and related conditions. The legislation would also:

• Require the NIH to establish a long COVID database, advisory board, and a new grant process that would accelerate clinical trials.
• Fund information gathering and public health education.
• Require any new treatments developed by the NIH to be reasonably priced so that every patient can receive it.
• Fund multidisciplinary long COVID clinics that provide comprehensive, coordinated care – especially in underserved, disproportionately-impacted communities.
• Develop and implement best practices for clinical care and social services.

 

In "Sec. 499B. Establishment Of Long Covid Research Program" of the Bill (PDF) —

‘‘(b)
DIRECTOR.—
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Program shall be headed by a Director, appointed by the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of NIH, who has—

...

‘‘(ii) demonstrated commitment to addressing Long COVID and other infection-associated chronic conditions, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome/persistent Lyme disease.

 

Also —

‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING EXTERNAL FUNDING AVAILABLE.—With respect to programs of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements described in subsection (a), the Director of NIH shall—

...

‘‘(4) consider research that includes patients with other infection-associated chronic conditions with similar phenotypes, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome/persistent Lyme disease.

 

‘‘(5) conduct comparative research to understand the similarities and differences between Long COVID and other infection-associated chronic conditions with similar phenotypes, such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome/persistent Lyme disease, and how activities funded by the Program could improve understanding of such other conditions; and

‘‘(6) conduct comparative research to understand the similarities and differences between Long COVID and severe, long-term effects from COVID–19 vaccinations.

 

I really hope they don't put some utter eejit in charge of it if it passes.

 

I assumed that it had passed - dah ---it's a Bill therefore it hasn't passed (it becomes an Act when/if it's passed).

 

Previously discussed here, NEWS: Chairman Bernie Sanders Releases Long COVID Moonshot Legislative Proposal

 

Op-Ed by Senator Sanders

Daily Beast: "Bernie Sanders: America Must Confront Its Long COVID Crisis”

Excerpts: 'Long COVID is real. It is negatively impacting tens of millions of people throughout the United States and the world. We can no longer ignore it, or its sufferers’ treatment needs.’

'As the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP Committee), I have heard from Americans of all ages about their struggles with Long COVID and the challenges they face are absolutely heartbreaking.’

''Far too many people with Long COVID have found themselves stuck at home, unable to socialize, unable to work, unable to spend quality time with their families, unable to get out of bed and desperate for help. That is unacceptable and that has got to change.'

'Earlier this year, I chaired a hearing on the Long COVID crisis. It made me more determined than ever to address this ongoing public health emergency. This escalating danger, particularly for those who have suffered repeated infections, poses a severe threat to public health that demands our immediate and focused attention.’

'Let’s be clear. The impact of long COVID-19 is not just a health issue. It’s an economic one as well. It’s estimated that as many as 4 million Americans are out of work due to long COVID-19. The annual cost of those lost wages alone is about $170 billion a year.’

'It means we need to educate medical professionals on how to adequately diagnose Long COVID, better understand the risks associated with it, and identify potential therapeutic options. This crisis is made even worse by the fact that Long COVID patients often require multiple specialists to treat their complex systems.’

'Importantly, this bill will give patients, researchers, and advocates a seat at the table to determine how these funds are spent.’
"The fight against Long COVID is not just a medical challenge. It is a moral one."

"We can no longer turn our backs on the tens of millions of people in America and throughout the world who continue to struggle with Long COVID or the millions more who may contract it in the future. Yes. The time has come for a Long COVID Moonshot."