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S 185 114th Congress Senate Health Administrative law and regulatory procedures Department of Health and Human Services Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation Drug therapy Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

PATH Act

Introduced: January 16, 2015 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 18, 2016
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 425.
Apr 18, 2016
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Apr 6, 2016
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jan 16, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jan 16, 2015
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.
What's happening now April 18, 2016

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 425.

 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 185: PATH Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-185/
MLA
"S. 185: PATH Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-185/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 185, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-185/.
Markdown link
[S. 185: PATH Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-185/)
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