February 4, 2025

Re: Urging the Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA)

Dear Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries:
The Trauma Coalition writes to urge Congress to swiftly reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), vital legislation that improves the nation’s preparedness and response capabilities to both man-made and natural disasters and public health emergencies. In addition, PAHPA ensures the nation’s readiness against emerging threats, strengthens our national security, and supports frontline providers in saving lives and stabilizing communities.

The Trauma Coalition is comprised of organizations representing physicians, nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics (or emergency medical services (EMS) professionals), trauma centers, burn centers, and blood centers. Trauma systems are critical infrastructure that manage both day-to-day emergency and trauma care while also providing emergency response and surge capacity during disasters when needed. Our organizations know firsthand the important role that PAHPA plays in ensuring that these systems are prepared and can execute their critical mission when called upon.
Failing to reauthorize and properly fund PAHPA will inadequately support essential programs and hinder our nation's ability to respond swiftly, effectively, and in a coordinated effort to public health emergencies. The challenges presented by a recent pandemic and ongoing natural disasters underscore the importance of a robust and comprehensive public health preparedness framework. PAHPA has been instrumental in coordinating federal efforts to enhance our nation's ability to respond effectively to public health emergencies, ensuring that we are adequately prepared to protect the health and safety of our citizens.

The Trauma Coalition was pleased to see bipartisan, bicameral language to reauthorize PAHPA included in the original December 2024 continuing resolution agreement. Unfortunately, that agreement was not enacted. Our organizations cannot understate the immense impact PAHPA has on our nation's preparedness and response capabilities, and we urge Congress to swiftly pass PAHPA reauthorization, as agreed to in December, before these critical programs expire on March 14, 2025.

Sincerely,

American Association of Orthopaedical Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Burn Association
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Surgeons
American Trauma Society
Emergency Nurses Association
National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
Orthopaedic Trauma Association
Society of Trauma Nurses
Trauma Center Association of America