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S. 185: PATH Act

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S. 185: PATH Act

114th Congress · introduced 2015-01-16 · Health · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 425.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-01-16 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 425. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

PATH Act

Plain summary

Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics for Health Act or the PATH Act (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to encourage the health care facilities of the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Indian Health Service to report on antibacterial drug use, bacterial resistance to antibacterial drugs, and antibiotic stewardship programs. HHS must: (1) annually publish information on antibacterial resistance and antibiotic stewardship; (2) disseminate guidance and materials regarding antibiotic stewardship; (3) continue working with state and local public health departments on antibacterial resistance programs; and (4) collect, evaluate, and publish data from the antibiotic stewardship activities of health care facilities. (Sec. 3) This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to permit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), at the request of the drug sponsor, to approve an antibiotic drug for use in a limited population if the drug is intended to treat a serious infection in a limited population of patients with unmet medical needs. The FDA must issue guidance on demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of such drugs. The FDA's determination of the safety and effectiveness of such a drug must reflect the drug's use in the intended limited population. The label and prescribing information of such a drug must indicate that the drug has been approved for use only in a limited population. The sponsor of such a drug must submit promotional materials for the drug to the FDA prior to dissemination. The FDA may remove these requirements for such a drug that is approved for broader use. The FDA must report the number of requests for approval and the number of approvals of such drugs. The Government Accountability Office must report on activities to combat antimicrobial resistance and the limited population drug approval process established by this bill.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

PATH Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate with amendment(s))

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 185, Promise for Antibiotics and Therapeutics for Health Act (2016-08-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-s185 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114