Washington, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) cosponsored the bipartisan Pandemic Rapid Response Act, which establishes a true bipartisan commission to analyze our nation’s response and make recommendations to better prepare our country for any future pandemic.

“As our country continues to address this pandemic, the creation of a nonpartisan National Commission is a crucial additional step needed to analyze our nation’s response and make recommendations to better prepare our country in the future.  It makes sense, now more than ever, to have such commission to provide comprehensive review from experts in fields like biological science, higher education, and medicine including hospital experts and administrators, who are often on the frontlines,” said Congressman Lucas.

“I applaud Congressman Davis, who worked to make the bill truly bipartisan, so that the Commission is not overpowered by one party or the other, and so our country can get answers during this time.”

Introduced by Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), the bill is closely modeled after the establishment of the 9/11 Commission.

The Pandemic Rapid Response Act:

• Establishes the National Commission on the COVID-19 Pandemic, which would be made up of 10 experts (a chair and vice chair chosen by House and Senate leadership as well as 8 other members that will be chosen on a bipartisan basis) from fields like governmental service, biological science, higher education, and medicine including hospital experts and administrators.
• Ensures the Administration has a say in the process, the President will have the ability to make at least one appointment to the commission.
• The Commission will analyze and make recommendations to the President and Congress regarding a comprehensive national plan to respond to future global and national viral outbreaks and medical emergencies in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Additionally, the Commission will build on reports from the intelligence community as well as other information and investigations that have been conducted by various federal agencies, Congressional committees, and international organizations, like the World Health Organization.

###