Bipartisan E&C Leaders Release Statement on GAO Report on Antibiotic Resistance

Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Brett Guthrie (R-KY) released the following statement on a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing recommendations to the federal government for better determining the magnitude and reducing the impact of antibiotic resistance:

“Antibiotic resistance is a serious concern, especially as health care providers grapple with the coronavirus pandemic and more and more COVID-19 patients present with secondary bacterial infections.  Given the urgency of the threat of antibiotic resistance, this report presents important findings and underscores the need for further research to determine the level of antibiotic resistance in the U.S. and around the world.  We look forward to reviewing these recommendations in-depth, continuing our ongoing oversight of this issue and working in a bipartisan way to address the challenges highlighted by this report,” said Pallone, Walden, DeGette and Guthrie.

Background:

The GAO report titled, “Antibiotic Resistance: Additional Federal Actions Needed to Better Determine Magnitude and Reduce Impact” was completed at the request of House and Senate leaders and can be accessed HERE. This report builds upon oversight conducted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

In 2017, Energy and Commerce Committee leaders led a bipartisan effort to request GAO examine the epidemiology of antibiotic resistant bacteria, commonly known as “superbugs.” This report is in response to that request.

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