Bill Summary
This piece of legislation, known as the "Health Emergencies Are Literally Tenets of HHS Act of 2020" or the "HEALTH Act of 2020", aims to amend the Public Health Service Act in order to clarify that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for leading all federal public health and medical responses during emergencies and disasters declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. This includes assuming operational control of emergency response assets and deploying the National Strategic Stockpile in consultation with relevant federal agencies. It also outlines the authority and responsibilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with HHS during such emergencies.
Possible Impacts
1. The bill could give the Secretary of Health and Human Services more power and authority in times of public health emergencies, potentially affecting the decisions and actions taken in response to these events.
2. It could also impact the Federal Emergency Management Agency's role and responsibilities in managing the Strategic National Stockpile, potentially changing the level of coordination and direction required from other federal agencies.
3. The legislation could also potentially have financial implications for the government, as it may require additional funding for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out their new responsibilities. This could ultimately affect taxpayers and government budgeting decisions.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8010 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8010
To amend the Public Health Service Act to clarify that the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall lead all Federal public health and
medical response to emergencies and disasters declared by the President
pursuant to the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 11, 2020
Mr. Hudson (for himself, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Brooks of Indiana, and Ms.
Eshoo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and Homeland Security, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to clarify that the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall lead all Federal public health and
medical response to emergencies and disasters declared by the President
pursuant to the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 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 ``Health Emergencies Are Literally
Tenets of HHS Act of 2020'' or the ``HEALTH Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. LEAD AGENCY FOR FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESPONSE TO
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES.
Section 2801 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting after ``shall lead all
Federal public health and medical response to public health
emergencies and incidents'' the following: ``(including
emergencies and disasters declared by the President pursuant to
the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act)''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by inserting after ``shall assume
operational control of emergency public health and medical
response assets, as necessary, in the event of a public health
emergency'' the following: ``or in the event of an emergency or
disaster declared by the President under the National
Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act''.
SEC. 3. DEPLOYMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OF
NATIONAL STRATEGIC STOCKPILE.
Section 319F-2(a)(3)(F) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d-6b(a)(3)(F)) is amended by striking ``as required by'' and
inserting ``in consultation with''.
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY REGARDING THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL
STOCKPILE.
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A) of section 503(b)(2) (6 U.S.C.
313(b)(2)), by inserting ``, in coordination with relevant
Federal agencies,'' after ``lead''; and
(2) in subparagraph (D) of section 504(a)(3) (6 U.S.C.
314(a)(3)), by striking ``requiring'' and inserting ``, at the
direction of the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
assisting in''.
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