Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) reintroduced legislation to strengthen the federal response to seasonal and pandemic influenza (“The Influenza Act”).
"Catching the flu can mean long-term health consequences, lost time at work and school, missed time with loved ones and in severe cases, death,” said Rep. Larsen. “Strengthening U.S. flu infrastructure is especially important in light of the ill-informed decision by the Secretary of Defense to no longer require flu shots for America’s servicemembers. Congress must take action to make sure flu vaccines are available for anyone who wants one and to prepare for future outbreaks."
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has classified the ‘25-’26 flu season as a “high severity season for children,” estimating that 143 children have died from the flu so far. 85% of those children were not fully vaccinated against the flu.
Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Shri Thanedar (MI-13) and Nanette Barragán (CA-44) have signed on as original cosponsors of the legislation.
The Coalition to Stop Flu also expressed its support for the Influenza Act:
“For far too long, our country has seemingly accepted tens of thousands of annual deaths from flu as inevitable — including the 293 children who lost their lives to flu last season,” said Tom Daschle, former Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Coalition to Stop Flu. “And pandemic influenza remains an extraordinary threat to our nation’s health and prosperity. More can, and must, be done. The Influenza Act provides commonsense solutions to improve our ability to prepare for and respond to seasonal and pandemic flu.”
“Physicians across Washington see firsthand the toll influenza takes on our patients, especially the most vulnerable,” said Bridget Bush, MD, FASA, President of the Washington State Medical Association. “The Washington State Medical Association supports the Influenza Act because it strengthens the tools we rely on—vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments—while expanding access and improving public confidence. This is a critical step toward reducing preventable illness and saving lives.”
What Does the Influenza Act Do?
The Influenza Act would build on the National Influenza Vaccine Modernization Strategy to strengthen the federal government’s seasonal and pandemic influenza ecosystem.
The legislation would speed up vaccine development for new flu variants, invest in new flu detection technologies and authorize funding for federal programs that research influenza treatment and support critical health infrastructure. The bill would also require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to devise a strategy to distribute vaccines to areas that urgently need more supplies and conduct outreach efforts in rural communities about vaccine misinformation. The Influenza Act would strengthen efforts to develop an influenza vaccine that combats all flu variants. It also aims to address gaps in vaccine accessibility and confidence so that people understand the science supporting flu vaccines.
You can access the full text of the Influenza Act HERE.
You can access a one-pager on the Influenza Act HERE.
Why the Influenza Act Matters
Often underestimated, seasonal and pandemic flu are real and enduring challenges to public health. During the ‘24-’25 season, 293 children died from the flu nationwide, the highest recorded amount since the CDC started tracking the figure in 2004. For the current season, the CDC estimates as many as 31 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 23,000 deaths from the flu through April 11, 2026.
A recent study showed influenza cost the U.S. economy $29 billion from direct medical costs ($16 billion) and productivity losses ($13 billion) in the '23-'24 flu season.
Larsen Works to Combat Flu and Disease Outbreaks
Rep. Larsen has long supported federal funding for seasonal and pandemic flu infrastructure. Larsen previously introduced the Influenza Act in 2023 and 2022. He also introduced two bills to better protect Americans from seasonal and pandemic flu in 2020. In 2022, the National Aviation Preparedness Plan Act, legislation that Larsen introduced to require the development of a national aviation preparedness plan for future public health emergencies, was signed into law.
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