PASTEUR Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a federal program to secure availability of innovative antimicrobials that target CDC‑listed “urgent” or “serious” resistant pathogens. It pairs guaranteed annual payments to drug sponsors with expanded CDC surveillance, stewardship grants, and a new advisory group to guide scoring and policy.
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- Patients and families: Could see more reliable access to new antibiotics for hard‑to‑treat resistant infections because sponsors must ensure U.S. commercial supply and adequate manufacturing volumes.
- Drug sponsors and manufacturers: Could receive annual payments between $75 million and $300 million, adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. Payments are reduced by prior U.S. net sales and can be ended if the drug is withdrawn or contract terms are not met.
- Hospitals and clinics: Would face stronger incentives and support to track antibiotic use and resistance through CDC systems and could get grants for stewardship, with priority for rural, critical access, Tribal‑serving, and safety‑net facilities.
- Public health system and policymakers: Establishes a Critical Need Antimicrobial Advisory Group and requires public annual reports of resistance, use, diagnostics, and related data beginning two years after enactment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
One-time $6 billion program funding
If enacted, the bill would appropriate $6.0 billion for fiscal year 2026 to carry out the new antimicrobial program. The money would remain available until spent and is designated an emergency requirement. The Secretary could use up to 6.5 percent of the funds for surveillance, reporting, grants, and pilot projects described in the bill.
Payments to keep critical antibiotics
If enacted, this bill would let HHS sign contracts paying drug sponsors $75 million to $300 million a year per eligible antimicrobial (each amount adjusted by CPI‑U). Payments would start no later than 180 days after contract approval and could be reduced by the drug's net U.S. revenue from the prior 12 months. Sponsors would need to apply within 2 years of FDA approval and meet rules set by a scoring system the Secretary must publish within 270 days; applications must be reviewed within 90 days. Contract holders would have to ensure U.S. supply, report resistance data, run stewardship and clinician/patient communications, fix shortages quickly, follow manufacturing and environmental practices, and payments could stop for permanent withdrawal, serious breaches after notice, or missed postmarket studies; contracts can last up to 10 years or until an approved listed or biosimilar product using the drug is marketed.
Grants and new antibiotic tracking
If enacted, CDC would expand data collection on antibiotic and antifungal use and resistance using NHSN modules and other systems. The bill would set up an inpatient grant program within 1 year to help hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities build stewardship and report data, with priority for facilities without programs and for rural, critical access, Tribal-serving, and safety-net hospitals. The bill would also create an outpatient stewardship pilot within 2 years for doctors, urgent care centers, hospital outpatient departments, and retail clinics, with prioritization rules and requirements to follow national guidelines and staffing standards. HHS must report to Congress on the pilot's impacts within 5 years and CDC must publish specified data at least annually starting 2 years after enactment.
New advisory group on critical antibiotics
If enacted, the Secretary would create a 15-member Critical Need Antimicrobial Advisory Group within 60 days. The statute sets membership categories and requires members not to receive compensation from commercial antimicrobial developers during their term. Members must recuse from matters with direct financial effects and Federal Advisory Committee Act rules generally apply, with a limited exception for automatic termination.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Cosponsors
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Langworthy
NY • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Smith, Adrian [R-NE-3]
NE • R
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
CA • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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