A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The PASTEUR Act of 2026 aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to create a new program for developing innovative antimicrobial drugs. The bill allows the Secretary to enter into contracts with drug sponsors to ensure the availability of medicines targeting serious or urgent pathogens. These contracts involve annual payments ranging from $75 million to $300 million to stimulate research and development. Additionally, the act establishes a grant program for health care facilities to improve antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance. The goal is to maintain medical care standards, promote national health preparedness, and defend the United States.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into medical research?
The bill provides significant funding through contracts to drive research into novel antimicrobials.
- Scored +7
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?
The bill strengthens national health system preparedness by stimulating research into threatening pathogens.
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill creates a multi-billion dollar mechanism to fund medical research into antimicrobial drugs.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?
The bill authorizes $6,000,000,000 in new government spending for fiscal year 2026.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases government spending through new drug development contracts and grant programs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Availability of Lifesaving Medicines: The bill establishes contracts to ensure the commercial availability and sufficient supply of eligible antimicrobials in the United States (Section 399PP(a) and 399PP(e)(1)).
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Improved Patient Care Outcomes: The scoring methodology for new drugs includes points for contributions such as improved clinical outcomes for multi-drug-resistant infections, reduced toxicity, and improved dose frequency (Section 399PP(d)(2)(A)).
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Support for Health Care Facilities: A grant program will be created to help hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other institutions implement appropriate use programs and monitor resistance (Section 399PP-2(a)(1)).
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Targeted Assistance for Vulnerable Populations: Grant awards will prioritize facilities in rural areas, critical access hospitals, and those serving Tribal populations (Section 399PP-2(a)(2)).
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Enhanced Outpatient Care: A pilot program will provide grants to outpatient entities, such as urgent care settings and retail clinics, to expand antibiotic stewardship (Section 399PP-2(b)).
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Better Public Health Information: The Secretary is required to make data regarding antimicrobial resistance and use publicly available to improve monitoring of trends and patient outcomes (Section 399PP-2(c)(5)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Burden of High Payment Caps: The bill authorizes annual payments to drug sponsors of up to $300,000,000 per antimicrobial, which is adjusted annually based on the consumer price index (Section 399PP(f)(2)(A)).
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Significant Government Spending: The act authorizes $6,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026 to carry out these provisions (Section 399PP-4(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides substantial government revenue through new drug development contracts. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes health care facilities serving Tribal populations for grant awards. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes health care facilities located in rural areas for grant awards. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill includes the Department of Veterans Affairs as a potential partner in data collection for antimicrobial use. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill mandates that communications regarding drug use include information for individuals with disabilities.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill provides significant funding through contracts to drive research into novel antimicrobials. Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill strengthens national health system preparedness by stimulating research into threatening pathogens. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill ensures availability and supply of life-saving antimicrobials for patients.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill prioritizes grant awards for health care facilities located in rural areas. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill requires drug sponsors to abide by environmental best practices for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill creates a multi-billion dollar mechanism to fund medical research into antimicrobial drugs.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to make antimicrobial resistance and use data publicly available. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill grants the Secretary broad authority to enter into large-scale pharmaceutical contracts.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases government spending through new drug development contracts and grant programs. Does this reduce what the federal government owes? — The bill authorizes $6,000,000,000 in new government spending for fiscal year 2026.
- 6/23/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana