Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2016

[AI summary unavailable — showing source text] Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2015 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the program to enhance community and hospital preparedness for public health emergencies to use at least 97% of its funding for awards. The Government Accountability Office must report on programs for public health emergency preparedness. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must ensure procedures are in place to coordinate the ongoing stockpiling of countermeasures (certain medical supplies) by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Procurement of countermeasures using the Biodefense Countermeasures appropriations account no longer requires Presidential approval or an agreement between HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). BARDA is given direct contracting authority. The annual countermeasures plan developed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response must report on the amount of time between a BARDA request and the award of a contract. This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to add diseases and other agents that are dete…