{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2807", "Larsen Reintroduces Bill to Boost Federal Response to Seasonal and Pandemic Flu", "2023-09-29", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the Protecting America from Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza Act (\u201cThe Influenza Act\u201d) to bolster the federal response to seasonal and pandemic influenza.\n\nReps. Deborah Ross (NC-02), Ami Bera (CA-07), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Ritchie Torres (NY- 15) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.-At-Large) signed on as original cosponsors of the bill.\n\n\u201cGetting the flu can mean missed time with loved ones, lost time at work and school, and long-term health and financial consequences. Congress must make a strong investment in seasonal and pandemic flu infrastructure to keep people healthy and safe and ensure the country is prepared to tackle the next public health emergency,\u201d said Larsen.\n\nThe Coalition to Stop Flu expressed its support for the Influenza Act.\n\n\u201cSeasonal influenza is perhaps our country\u2019s most predictable, preventable public health crisis,\u201d said former Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Coalition to Stop Flu Tom Daschle. \u201cAnd right now, the world is experiencing the worst ever outbreak of avian influenza. More can, and must, be done to protect our nation\u2019s health and economic prosperity. The Influenza Act provides commonsense solutions to improve our ability to prepare for and respond to seasonal and pandemic flu.\u201d\n\nFor a video of Larsen and Daschle discussing the importance of the bill, click here.\n\nWhat the Influenza Act Does\n\nThe Influenza Act would build on the National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy, as well as lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, to increase access to vaccines and therapeutics, strengthen and diversify vaccine development, manufacturing and supply chains, and promote research and development of new technologies to detect, prevent and respond to flu. For a one-pager on the bill, click here.\n\nWhy the Influenza Act Matters\n\nOften underestimated, seasonal and pandemic flu are real and enduring challenges to public health. During the 2022-2023 flu season, 262 people in Washington state died from flu \u2013 the deadliest flu season in five years. Nationwide, the CDC estimates as many as 640,000 flu hospitalizations and 57,000 flu deaths occurred between October 1, 2022, and April 29, 2023 \u2013 more than the number of Americans who died in motor vehicle accidents.\n\nLarsen\u2019s Actions to Combat Flu\n\nLarsen is focused on ensuring communities in Washington state and across the country have the resources they need to keep people healthy and safe. Larsen supports prioritizing funding for seasonal and pandemic flu infrastructure. Last year, Larsen\u2019s bill, the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act, was signed into law to require the development of a national aviation preparedness plan for future public health emergencies.\n\nGet Your Flu Shot!\n\nThe vaccine is the best protection against flu. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, including young children and people over the age of 65. Visit vaccines.gov for more information and to find a flu vaccine location near you.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2807"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.440375741571188, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}