Additionally, we are working to develop new treatments and therapeutics through health care innovation. This includes the creation of a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19 as well as ongoing research to treat and cure medical conditions like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and others. We support investments and public-private partnerships that make these health care innovations possible.
I will support investments and public-private partnerships to develop health care innovations, including COVID-19 vaccines and treatments for major diseases.
Occurrences
Evidence
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Roll Call 86 passed H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, 415-2. The vote list records Higgins (LA), Republican, Louisiana, as Yea.
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The law appropriated $3,100,000,000 for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for coronavirus response, including development of countermeasures and vaccines, purchase of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, manufacturing platform innovations, and contracts involving non-Federally owned facilities for vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic production.
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Roll Call 251 on H.R. 133, concurring in the Senate amendment with amendment except Divisions B, C, E, and F, passed 359-53. The vote list records Higgins (LA), Republican, Louisiana, as Nay.
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Roll Call 72 on the American Rescue Plan Act passed 220-211. The vote list records Higgins (LA), Republican, Louisiana, as Nay.
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The law appropriated $7,500,000,000 for COVID-19 vaccine activities, including planning, preparation, promotion, distribution, administration, monitoring, and tracking, and $500,000,000 for FDA activities on vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, advanced continuous manufacturing, inspections, and supply-chain oversight.
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Higgins announced a $3.5 million HHS research facilities construction grant for UL Lafayette's New Iberia Research Center and said the federal investment would help continue medical research efforts.
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Higgins urged appropriators to prohibit federal funds for state health departments and national associations that promote COVID-19 vaccination for children and adolescents.
Assessments
Higgins can receive partial credit because he supported at least one enacted federal investment directly tied to COVID-19 vaccine, therapeutic, diagnostic, and manufacturing innovation funding, and later announced a same-term HHS research facilities grant for medical research in his district. However, the record is mixed: he also voted against later major COVID relief and appropriations measures containing substantial vaccine, therapeutic, diagnostic, FDA, and manufacturing support, and later took actions opposing some COVID vaccine-related federal funding. That inconsistency prevents a full delivered rating for a promise to support investments and public-private partnerships in health care innovation.
Higgins did support at least one enacted federal investment directly aligned with the promise: he voted for the March 2020 Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which funded vaccine, therapeutic, diagnostic, manufacturing, and public-health countermeasure work. However, his record was mixed because he later voted against major enacted COVID-19 relief and appropriations measures that also contained substantial vaccine, therapeutic, diagnostic, FDA, manufacturing, distribution, and administration funding. That supports partial credit rather than full delivery.