Daines calls for more funding for COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutic drugs

Note: This was provided by the Office of Sen Steve Daines 

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont, called Tuesday for more robust funding for the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs in any upcoming coronavirus relief package in Congress. This request for funding follows Daines successfully securing $10 billion in the CARES Act to accelerate the manufacturing and development of drugs to treat and prevent COVID-19. 

“As you continue your work on critical legislation to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, I write to you today to urge your support for robust funding that will help accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments,” Daines wrote. “Finding a cure to this virus will help save lives, restore confidence in our communities to safely re-open, and jumpstart our economy to reach the heights it did before the pandemic.”

Daines is running for re-election and faces Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock and Green Party candidate Wendie Fredrickson in the November election.

To read the full letter, visit https://www.daines.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2020.07.14.Senator%20Daines%20Letter%20to%20Senate%20Leadership%20on%20Operation%20Warp%20Speed.pdf, online.

Daines was instrumental in authoring the provision that provided $10 billion to accelerate the development and manufacturing of drugs to treat and prevent COVID-19 in the Phase Three Coronavirus Relief Package, or CARES Act.

Vice President Mike Pence applauded Senator Daines’ leadership on this issue. On Face The Nation, former FDA Commissioner Dr. Gottlieb also touted Daines’ work on accelerating drug development. Additionally, he discussed Daines’ work on this effort in the Wall Street Journal.

Daines worked with top healthcare and medical leaders including National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Collins, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Hahn, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority officials, Former Federal Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Gottlieb and the White House on what they needed on this dual tracking plan, known as “Operation Warp Speed.”