Rep. Schrier’s Health Care Bill Passes with Overwhelming Bipartisan Support

WASHINGTON, DC – This week the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass the bipartisan Food and Drug Amendments of 2022 (H.R. 7667), which included the Diagnostic Device Advisory Committee Act (H.R. 7192) introduced by Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) earlier this year. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.

“I was glad to see such strong support for my bill from both parties during the House vote,” said Rep. Schrier. “By continuing regular discussions within the FDA on pandemic response and preparedness, we can stay better prepared and act quickly when the need arises for crucial diagnostic tests.”

The bill requires the Medical Device Advisory Committee (MDAC) panels to convene once a year to discuss pandemic preparedness, specifically regarding diagnostics, like rapid antigen tests, some diabetes devices, and pregnancy tests. Rep. Schrier has been a major proponent of increasing access to rapid antigen tests during the pandemic. This bill will make sure that if we are in a situation again where tests need to be approved quickly for public health purposes, there is already a system in place, ready to respond.

The Food and Drug Amendments of 2022 reauthorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fee programs to help get prescription drugs, generic drugs, biosimilars, and medical devices to patients.