The Senate's bipartisan pandemic preparedness bill will be partially included in the omnibus — minus the provision that establishes a 9/11-like commission to study COVID, congressional aides tell Axios' Caitlin Owens and Peter Sullivan.
Between the lines: That means the CDC director will become a Senate-confirmed position, beginning after the next election, one of the aides said.Rochelle Walensky isn't affected.
The bill, the PREVENT Pandemics Act, does not include major new funding for the COVID-19 response, and the White House's request for that funding is not expected to be included in the omnibus.
We'll keep you posted as we get more details on the omnibus!
