; (2) the House should continue to support the critical work of medical innovators throughout the country through continued funding for agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to conduct life-saving research and development; and (3) the Federal Government should unleash the power of private-sector medical innovation by removing regulatory obstacles that impede the adoption of new medical technology and pharmaceuticals. 515. Policy statement on public health preparedness (a) Findings The House finds the following: (1) The Constitution requires the Federal Government to provide for the common defense. As such, the Nation must prioritize its ability to respond rapidly and effectively to a public health crisis or bioterrorism threat. (2) There is a persistent threat of bioterrorism against American lives. (3) Naturally-occurring public health threats can spread through the transmission of communicable diseases during international trade and travel. (4) As of April 3, 2016, the World Health Organization reported nearly 29,000 cases of the Ebola virus worldwide, including 4 instances in the U.S. (5) As of July 12, 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the current Zika epidemic resulted in over 5,000 cases of the Zika virus within the United States, with nearly 37,000 more cases reported in U.S. territories. (6) Preventing the spread of disease to Americans requires halting threats before they breach the U.S. border. (7) The United States is a leader in global public health assistance and orchestrates international responses to health crises. (b) Policy on Public Health Preparedness It is the policy of this concurrent resolution that— (1) the House should continue to fund activities of the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to develop and stockpile medical countermeasures to infectious diseases and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents