[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7531 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7531
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase
Federal efforts to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies
with respect to the spread of infectious diseases, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 9, 2020
Mr. Higgins of New York introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase
Federal efforts to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies
with respect to the spread of infectious diseases, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Infectious Disease Epidemic and
Pandemic Preparedness Act''.
SEC. 2. INCREASED PREPARATION AND RESPONSE FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
(a) National Medical Command.--Title III of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by inserting after
section 319M the following:
``SEC. 319N. NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMAND.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
appropriate Federal agencies and departments, shall establish an
interagency task force to be known as the National Medical Command to
prepare for and respond to a public health emergency for which a
declaration is in effect under section 319 with respect to an
infectious disease.
``(b) Duties.--The National Medical Command shall--
``(1) coordinate measures between Federal agencies to
prevent and respond to a public health emergency described in
subsection (a);
``(2) taking into consideration the coordinated strategy
required under section 2802(a), develop a strategic plan to
respond to a pandemic, including identifying strategies that
may not be identified in such coordinated strategy; and
``(3) in coordination with the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, develop a public health
surveillance system with respect to any infectious diseases
that has a high mortality rate.
``(c) Membership.--
``(1) Represented offices, agencies, and departments.--The
National Medical Command shall be composed of representatives
of Federal agencies, offices, and departments, which shall
include the following:
``(A) The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
``(B) The National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases.
``(C) The Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health
and Human Services.
``(D) The Office of Global Affairs of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
``(E) The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
``(F) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
``(G) The Department of Defense.
``(H) The Department of Transportation.
``(I) The Department of State.
``(J) The Environmental Protection Agency.
``(K) The National Security Council.
``(L) The Agency for International Development.
``(M) The intelligence community.
``(2) Requirements.--Each representative under paragraph
(1) shall--
``(A) have appropriate technical expertise with
respect to the duties of the National Medical Command;
and
``(B) be selected by the head of the agency,
department, or office described in such paragraph.
``(d) National Medical Commander.--The Secretary shall appoint a
chair of the National Medical Command from among the members of the
National Medical Command to be known as the Medical Commander for
Pandemic Preparedness and Response (in this section referred to as the
`Medical Commander').
``(e) Duration.--Notwithstanding section 14(a) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, the National Medical Command shall continue in
existence until otherwise provided by law.''.
(b) Early Detection and Early Warning Systems Management.--Section
319D of the Public Health Service Act (247d-4) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by inserting ``, in coordination
with the National Medical Command'' after the first instance of
``Secretary''; and
(2) in subsection (c), in paragraph (1), by striking
``Secretary,'' and inserting ``Secretary, in coordination with
the National Medical Command and''.
(c) Administration Over National Strategic Stockpile.--Section
319F-2(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Response'' and
inserting ``Response, the Medical Commander for Pandemic
Preparedness and Response,''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting
``Secretary, in collaboration with the Medical
Commander for Pandemic Preparedness and
Response,'';
(ii) by striking ``an annual'' and
inserting ``a biannual''; and
(iii) by inserting ``and September 15''
after ``March 15''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``annual'' and
inserting ``biannual''.
(d) Strategic Plan To Address Infectious Diseases.--
(1) Strategic plan.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the
National Institutes of Health (in this section referred
to as the ``Director''), in consultation with the
Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and
Development Authority and the Commissioner of Food and
Drugs, shall prepare and submit to Congress a strategic
plan for fiscal years 2021 through 2030 to identify,
treat, and develop vaccines for infectious diseases.
Such plan shall take into consideration, the
coordinated strategy developed pursuant to section
2802(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
300hh-1(a)).
(B) Content.--The plan under subparagraph (A) shall
address the following:
(i) Research of pathogens, including
research on the origins of zoonotic pathogens.
(ii) The development of cooperative
partnerships to determine treatments and
vaccines for COVID-19, and other similar
infectious diseases.
(iii) A strategy to fund clinical trials to
determine which pathogens demonstrate a high
mortality rate and high rate of infection.
(iv) The development of partnerships with
private entities to allow such entities to
eliminate industry risk.
(2) Expedited approval.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs,
may designate a treatment or vaccine identified in the plan
under this subsection as a breakthrough therapy, a fast track
product, or eligible for accelerated approval as appropriate
under section 506 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
(21 U.S.C. 356).
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Director to carry out this subsection
$1,000,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2021 through 2030.
(e) Community-Based Prevention Strategies Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall award grants to community-based organizations for the
purpose of preventing, identifying, tracking, and responding to
infectious diseases, including reducing or eliminating health
disparities with respect to race, gender, and socioeconomic
status.
(2) Priority.--The Secretary may give priority to
organizations that prioritize vulnerable populations and the
treatment of individuals who are at a higher risk of mortality
as a result of an infectious disease, including--
(A) the elderly;
(B) children;
(C) the immunocompromised;
(D) the homeless; and
(E) individuals who have a low income.
<all>
Infectious Disease Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Act
#7531 | HR Congress #116
Policy Area: Health
Subjects: AgingCardiovascular and respiratory healthChild healthCommunity life and organizationCongressional oversightDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDrug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulationDrug therapyEmergency medical services and trauma careExecutive agency funding and structureHealth care coverage and accessHealth information and medical recordsHealth programs administration and fundingHealth promotion and preventive careHealth technology, devices, suppliesHomelessness and emergency shelterImmunology and vaccinationInfectious and parasitic diseasesStrategic materials and reserves
Last Action: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (7/9/2020)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text