WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the Treatment Restoration for Emergency Antibody Therapeutics (TREAT) Act. This legislation would prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from implementing policies that restrict hospitals and other healthcare facilities from ordering and receiving COVID-19 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments directly from manufacturers and distributors. The TREAT Act would nullify the Biden Administration’s recent policy requiring hospitals and other facilities to work through states to receive mAb supplies.
In addition to introducing legislation, Senator Tuberville recently sent a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding answers and transparency following the abrupt distribution changes of this lifesaving therapeutic.
“We know that monoclonal antibody treatments save lives so it is beyond me why the Biden administration has taken it into their own hands to throttle the supply of this lifesaving treatment. I have yet to receive any answers to my questions for HHS about the reasoning behind these new restrictions, which is cause for concern, especially considering predominately Republican states are being impacted. Across Alabama, medical professionals and folks who got the virus have stressed to me the importance of ensuring this therapeutic is not caught up in partisan politics. I will do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen, and those who need the treatment receive it without delay,” said Senator Tuberville.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
###