Appropriations Bill's Report Calling for Abraham Accords FDA Bureau Goes to a Full Vote on September 29
September 27, 2023
U.S. Israel Education Association
Birmingham, AL (September 27, 2023): The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4368) is reported to be put to a vote on Friday, September 29th on the House Floor. This important vote follows the markup of the bill earlier this summer and a report by the House Appropriations Committee calling for a report on the viability of establishing an FDA bureau in the Middle East’s Abraham Accords region (pages 71-72).
If the House of Representatives passes this bill and it advances to a Senate vote, this will be the next major step toward reducing America’s essential medical and pharmaceutical supply chain overdependence on China.
“America’s overreliance on China for its essential medical and pharmaceutical supply chains is a serious national security threat, and we are seeing the number of severe drug shortages increase as U.S.-China tensions grow,” said Heather Johnston, Founder and CEO of the U.S. Israel Education Association (USIEA). “It is imperative that Congress takes action by codifying friendshoring to the Abraham Accords region to fortify and diversify our life sciences supply chains among these strategic allies.”
Bloomberg recently reported that “a shortage of penicillin to treat a skyrocketing number of syphilis cases is so dire that U.S. health officials are debating the need to declare a public health emergency.”
USIEA has been educating bipartisan members of Congress about America’s Medical Friendshoring Solution, a strategic plan that calls for the establishment of an FDA bureau in the Abraham Accords region as a staging ground for friendshoring collaboration.
“By establishing an FDA bureau in the Abraham Accords region, we will be laying the groundwork toward the end goal: creating safe supply chain alternatives that pivot away from China and maximize our relationships with Israel and other partners in the region. We need reliable access to the essential medical supplies and pharmaceutical products that save American lives,” continued Johnston. “One step at a time, momentum depends on this bill passing.”
Quality control issues in India, combined with unclear next steps regarding friendshoring supply chains, demonstrate how the Abraham Accords region could be a natural fit for President Biden’s friendshoring push.
About USIEA:
U.S. Israel Education Association (USIEA) advances important dialogue and cooperation between bipartisan senior government leaders in the United States and Israel by filling existing information gaps and enhancing understanding of issues critical to a mutually beneficial partnership. Founded in 2011, USIEA empowers U.S. leaders with innovative initiatives on the path to Middle East peace, connects Members of Congress with direct access to West Bank visits, and educates as thought leaders in the media and through strategic global partnerships. To learn more about USIEA’s work, visit usieducation.org.
