Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The PASTEUR Act of 2026 addresses the growing threat of drug-resistant bacteria by creating a federal contract program offering pharmaceutical companies annual payments of $75–300 million (adjusted for inflation) to develop new antibiotics targeting dangerous resistant pathogens. Participating drug manufacturers must maintain U.S. supply, track resistance data, promote antibiotic stewardship, and meet environmental standards, with contracts lasting up to 10 years or until generic competitors enter the market. The bill also establishes a 15-member advisory group of infectious disease experts and patient advocates to guide policy, launches grant programs for hospitals and clinics to improve antibiotic stewardship practices, and requires enhanced tracking and public reporting of antibiotic use and resistance patterns. Congress appropriates $6 billion for fiscal year 2026 to fund these initiatives, with up to 6.5% dedicated to stewardship grant programs. Together, these provisions aim to incentivize innovation in antibiotic development while improving how existing antibiotics are used to slow the spread of drug-resistant infections.
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