Casten Introduces Legislation to Address the Monkeypox Public Health Emergency
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Public Health Emergency Flexibility Act to allow for COVID-19 funding included in the American Rescue Plan of 2021 to be used to enhance the response efforts of public health officials to combat the Monkeypox public health emergency.
“After receiving messages of concern from constituents in my district, it became clear that assisting healthcare workers and public health officials in their efforts to decrease and stop the spread of Monkeypox is of the utmost importance,” said Congressman Casten, “Using funding from the American Rescue Plan will allow for more testing, more vaccines, and more widely available treatment. The Public Health Emergency Flexibility Act provides state and local public health workers with all the resources available to curb the spread of the monkeypox virus and keep our communities safe and healthy.”
Currently, funding disbursed through the American Rescue Plan can be used solely for COVID-19 related matters and cannot be repurposed to address the spread of the Monkeypox virus. This Public Health Emergency Flexibility Act would allow for communities that have already received COVID-19 funding from the American Rescue Plan to use it to address Monkeypox. Additionally, funds that have not yet been disbursed can be approved for Monkeypox use.
Monkeypox was declared a Public Health Emergency on August 4, 2022, by the Biden Administration. Over 27,000 Monkeypox cases have been reported since May 2022.