Title: Expressing support for the United States Government to be a guaranteed buyer of vaccines and for the United States to develop a "Marshall Plan" for global vaccinations.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution supports (1) fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and (2) investments in the vaccine supply chain and other efforts to meet global needs for vaccines.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 586 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 586

Expressing support for the United States Government to be a guaranteed 
  buyer of vaccines and for the United States to develop a ``Marshall 
                    Plan'' for global vaccinations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 13, 2021

   Mr. Auchincloss (for himself, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Peters, Mr. 
   Espaillat, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Neguse, Mr. 
McGovern, Ms. Ross, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Strickland, Ms. Jacobs 
   of California, Mr. Kahele, Mr. Welch, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. 
Titus, Ms. Norton, Ms. Chu, Mr. Takano, Mr. Bowman, and Ms. Williams of 
Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the United States Government to be a guaranteed 
  buyer of vaccines and for the United States to develop a ``Marshall 
                    Plan'' for global vaccinations.

Whereas, as the United States recovery from COVID-19 accelerates, the United 
        States has an opportunity and a responsibility to provide global 
        leadership in both vaccine procurement and delivery in the battle 
        against the pandemic;
Whereas the American Rescue Plan provided $11.5 billion to support a global 
        COVID-19 response, including $750 million for global health activities 
        to aid our global partners with health security, disease detection and 
        response, and immunization;
Whereas the Biden administration has committed to donating millions of vaccines 
        to partners across the world and pledged to work with COVID-19 Vaccines 
        Global Access, or COVAX, and other partners to ensure these doses are 
        delivered fairly;
Whereas United States diplomatic leadership led to the commitment of an 
        additional 870 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines at the G7 summit, to 
        ensure fair global access and pave the way to global recovery to address 
        the secondary impacts of the pandemic including routine health service 
        disruption, interrupted education, and exacerbated inequalities;
Whereas expanding vaccine production and assuring safe and widespread 
        distribution will give the United States greater leverage in vaccine 
        diplomacy and act as a counterweight to the role being sought by China 
        and Russia;
Whereas just as the Marshall Plan aided in Europe's recovery from the 
        devastation of World War II, the commitment of United States vaccine 
        resources can save countless lives and contribute to the recovery of 
        global economies by leading a global vaccination initiative to beat back 
        the pandemic and build response capacity for the future;
Whereas a global population of over 7 billion people, many in low- and middle-
        income nations, and the likelihood of each of these 7 billion needing 2 
        to 4 doses of vaccine, both initially and as booster shots, will require 
        the production of more than 12 billion doses immediately;
Whereas administering vaccines safely and efficiently using multidose vials and 
        separate syringes in nations with limited medical infrastructure and 
        isolated populations presents significant logistical challenges;
Whereas these delays can, and have already, led to the emergence of more 
        dangerous and highly contagious variants of the disease;
Whereas these immunizations cannot be administered without health care workers, 
        all of whom must be prioritized in order to ensure those who are ill 
        have medical professionals who are healthy and able to provide the 
        necessary care;
Whereas the United States should increase direct investments in the full vaccine 
        manufacturing supply chain through public-private partnerships that will 
        create jobs, leverage vaccine diplomacy, support the biomanufacturing 
        industry, and enable the world to be better prepared for future 
        pandemics;
Whereas investment in the full supply chain, including fill and finish capacity, 
        will allow the United States also to lead in addressing a major cause of 
        health care-associated injury and death; and
Whereas the United States has a responsibility to lead the world in COVID-19 
        immunization: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) affirms the United States enduring commitment to 
        international partnerships that protect the health of all 
        persons;
            (2) supports COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access and its 
        mission to accelerate the development and manufacturing of 
        COVID-19 vaccines to guarantee fair and equitable access;
            (3) emphasizes the need to distribute vaccines globally 
        based on epidemiological and need-based formulas where 
        infection rates are highest;
            (4) understands the importance of Advanced Market 
        Commitments to ensure sufficient supply of end-product vaccines 
        and component raw materials; and
            (5) encourages direct and comprehensive investment in the 
        vaccine supply chain akin to the ``Marshall Plan'' of post-
        World War II recovery at a level sufficient to meet global 
        needs by mid-2022.
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