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House Approves Pappas Amendment to Fund U.S./Israel COVID-19 Research Partnership

July 30, 2020

Watch Congressman Pappas's remarks in support of this legislation here

WASHINGTON, DC - Today Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) passed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations package designating funding at the NIH Office of the Director for a joint program with Israel to support research and development of effective treatments and responses to COVID-19. The amendment was co-sponsored by Congressmen Lance Gooden (R-TX), David Kustoff (R-TN), and Tom Suozzi (D-NY).

"American doctors, scientists, and researchers aren't alone in racing to unlock treatments, vaccines, and other life-saving developments in the fight against COVID-19," said Congressman Pappas. "Their counterparts in Israel are making groundbreaking advancements as well. That's why I offered this bipartisan amendment to fund a new partnership between the U.S. and Israel to bring leading researchers from both countries together to defeat this devastating disease. Through this partnership, we can deepen our expertise in the development of drugs, vaccines, AI solutions, respiratory assist devices, diagnostic tests, and telemedicine in order to save lives."

Congressman Pappas introduced similar standalone legislation in May. HR 6829, which has almost 200 bipartisan co-sponsors, would authorize a bilateral grant program with Israel to jointly develop new approaches to combating COVID-19, including cutting-edge health technologies.

Israeli scientists are currently developing 6 different vaccine candidates as well as more than a dozen different treatment options for the deadly lung inflammation caused by COVID-19.