Photo courtesy Buchanan's office: Reps. Brett Guthrie and Vern Buchanan lead Healthy Future Task Force.

As Congressional Republicans unroll public health policy ahead of the midterm elections, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, continues to play a central role. On Wednesday, he unveiled a party agenda that involves permanently banning fentanyl in the U.S. and keeping the federal government “mission ready” for the next pandemic.

The details were developed by the Healthy Future Task Force, appointed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Buchanan co-chairs that panel with U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, and if Republicans win a majority in the House in November, Buchanan will hold significant influence in advancing the agenda.

“America learned a costly lesson regarding our public health security as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Buchanan said in a joint statement with Guthrie. Beyond thanking other members of the task force, Buchanan stressed readiness must play a greater role in the future than reaction.

“Public health security is national security, and Republicans are ready to tackle future health crises head-on to keep Americans safe and help save lives.”

In April, the same task force under Buchanan’s leadership pushed for private sector solutions in lowering health care costs. That included reducing government interference on research into innovative medicines, devices and diagnostics, promoting U.S.-manufactured medicines and working to lower out-of-pocket costs for consumers.

Buchanan now serves as the ranking Republican on the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, where he will advocate for conservative policy regardless which party maintains power.

But more important, retirements and resignations will leave Buchanan the most senior Republican on the full Ways & Means Committee, the most powerful in Congress, in the next Congress. That means he will chair the most powerful committee in House should Republicans win the midterms nationwide. That’s assuming, of course, that he wins re-election in the fall. 

Photo courtesy Buchanan's office: Reps. Brett Guthrie and Vern Buchanan lead Healthy Future Task Force.