Border Health Security Act of 2020
This bill modifies the duties and activities of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission and the Canada-United States Pan-Border Public Health Preparedness Council, and makes other changes to address health issues along the U.S. border.
Specifically, the commission must cooperate with the council where appropriate, and members of the commission may provide advice or recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or Congress without authorization or a request. Both the commission and the council must develop strategic plans, work plans, evaluations, and reports concerning their activities.
HHS must award grants to (1) eligible entities in border areas to address recommendations of the commission and the council to improve the health of border area residents; and (2) trauma centers, public health entities, and state, local, or tribal entities for infectious disease surveillance activities in border areas. In addition, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response may coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security in establishing a system that alerts clinicians and public health officials to emerging health threats in border areas.
The Government Accountability Office must evaluate commission and council activities every two years.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6070 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6070
To establish grant programs to improve the health of border area
residents and for all hazards preparedness in the border area including
bioterrorism, infectious disease, and noncommunicable emerging threats,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 3, 2020
Ms. Torres Small of New Mexico (for herself, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mr.
Grijalva, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Vela, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms.
Escobar, Ms. Haaland, Mrs. Davis of California, and Mr. Vargas)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, 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 establish grant programs to improve the health of border area
residents and for all hazards preparedness in the border area including
bioterrorism, infectious disease, and noncommunicable emerging threats,
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 ``Border Health Security Act of
2020''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States-Mexico border is an interdependent
and dynamic region of approximately 15,000,000 residents and
millions of border crossings each year, with significant and
unique public health challenges.
(2) These challenges include low rates of health insurance
coverage, poor access to health care services, lack of
education or access to information, poverty, and high rates of
dangerous diseases, such as tuberculosis and West Nile virus,
as well as other noncommunicable diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes, and obesity.
(3) As the 2020 dengue outbreak in Mexico and many parts of
Latin America illustrates, diseases do not respect
international boundaries, and a strong public health effort at
and along the borders is crucial to not only protect and
improve the health of Americans but also to help secure the
country against threats to biosecurity and other emerging
threats.
(4) For 20 years, the United States-Mexico Border Health
Commission has served as a crucial binational institution to
address these unique and truly cross-border health issues.
(5) In 2016, 66 percent of Canadians lived within 100 miles
of the United States border. The 2003 epidemic of severe acute
respiratory syndrome caused more than 250 illnesses in the
Greater Toronto Area, just 80 miles from New York.
(6) The recent coronavirus outbreak has highlighted the
need for continued coordination of resources, effective
communication, and information sharing between countries to
address emerging public health crises.
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION ACT AMENDMENTS.
The United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act (22 U.S.C.
290n et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 3--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting ``;'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) to cooperate with the Canada-United States Pan Border
Public Health Preparedness Council (referred to in this Act as
the `Council'), as appropriate; and
``(4) to serve as an independent and objective body to both
recommend and implement initiatives that solve border health
issues.'';
(2) in section 5--
(A) in subsection (b), by striking ``should be the
leader'' and inserting ``shall be the Chair''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Providing Advice and Recommendations.--Members of the
Commission and the Council may at any time provide advice or
recommendations to the Secretary, Congress, or any Member of Congress
concerning issues that are considered by the Commission or Council.
Such advice or recommendations may be provided regardless of whether a
request for such is made and regardless of whether the member or
individual is authorized to provide such advice or recommendations by
the Commission or Council or any other Federal official.'';
(3) by redesignating section 8 as section 12;
(4) by striking section 7 and inserting the following:
``SEC. 7. BORDER HEALTH GRANTS.
``(a) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term `eligible
entity' means a State, public institution of higher education, local
government, Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, urban Indian
organization, nonprofit health organization, trauma center, critical
access hospital or other hospital that serves rural or other vulnerable
communities and populations, faith-based entity, or community health
center receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), that is located in the United States-
Mexico border area or the United States-Canada border area.
``(b) Authorization.--From amounts appropriated under section 11,
the Secretary, in consultation with members of the Commission and
Council and in coordination with the Office of Global Affairs, shall
award grants to eligible entities to address priorities and
recommendations outlined by the strategic plan and operational work
plan of the Commission and the Council, as authorized under section 9,
to improve the health of United States-Mexico border area and United
States-Canada border area residents.
``(c) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant under
subsection (b) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
``(d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
subsection (b) shall use the grant funds for any of the following:
``(1) Programs relating to any one or more of the
following:
``(A) Maternal and child health.
``(B) Primary care and preventative health.
``(C) Infectious disease testing, monitoring, and
surveillance.
``(D) Public health and public health
infrastructure.
``(E) Health promotion, health literacy, and health
education.
``(F) Oral health.
``(G) Behavioral and mental health.
``(H) Substance abuse prevention and harm
reduction.
``(I) Health conditions that have a high prevalence
in the United States-Mexico border area or United
States-Canada border area.
``(J) Medical and health services research.
``(K) Workforce training and development.
``(L) Community health workers and promotoras.
``(M) Health care infrastructure problems in the
United States-Mexico border area or United States-
Canada border area (including planning and construction
grants).
``(N) Health disparities in the United States-
Mexico border area or United States-Canada border area.
``(O) Environmental health.
``(P) Bioterrorism and zoonosis.
``(Q) Outreach and enrollment services with respect
to Federal programs (including programs authorized
under titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.)).
``(R) Trauma care.
``(S) Health research with an emphasis on
infectious disease, such as measles, and pressing
issues related to noncommunicable diseases.
``(T) Epidemiology and health research.
``(U) Cross-border health surveillance coordinated
with Mexican Health Authorities or Canadian Health
Authorities.
``(V) Chronic diseases, such as diabetes and
obesity, particularly childhood obesity.
``(W) Community-based participatory research on
border health issues.
``(X) Domestic violence and violence prevention.
``(Y) Cross-border public health preparedness.
``(2) Other programs as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Amounts provided to an eligible
entity awarded a grant under subsection (b) shall be used to supplement
and not supplant other funds available to the eligible entity to carry
out the activities described in subsection (d).
``SEC. 8. GRANTS FOR EARLY WARNING INFECTIOUS DISEASE SURVEILLANCE IN
THE BORDER AREA.
``(a) Eligible Entity Defined.--In this section, the term `eligible
entity' means a State, local government, Indian Tribe, Tribal
organization, urban Indian organization, trauma center, regional trauma
center coordinating entity, or public health entity.
``(b) Authorization.--From funds appropriated under section 11, the
Secretary shall award grants for Early Warning Infectious Disease
Surveillance to eligible entities for infectious disease surveillance
activities in the United States-Mexico border area or United States-
Canada border area.
``(c) Application.--An eligible entity that desires a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(d) Uses of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under subsection (b) shall use the grant funds, in coordination with
State and local all hazards programs, to--
``(1) develop and implement infectious disease surveillance
plans and networks and public health emergency and readiness
assessments and preparedness plans, and purchase items
necessary for such plans;
``(2) coordinate infectious disease surveillance planning
and interjurisdictional risk assessments in the region with
appropriate United States-based agencies and organizations and
appropriate authorities in Mexico or Canada;
``(3) improve infrastructure, including surge capacity,
syndromic surveillance, and isolation and decontamination
capacity, and policy preparedness, including for mutual
assistance and for the sharing of information and resources;
``(4) improve laboratory capacity, in order to maintain and
enhance capability and capacity to detect potential infectious
disease, whether naturally occurring or the result of
terrorism;
``(5) create and maintain a health alert network, including
risk communication and information dissemination that is
culturally competent and takes into account the needs of at-
risk populations, including individuals with disabilities;
``(6) educate and train clinicians, epidemiologists,
laboratories, and emergency management personnel;
``(7) implement electronic data and infrastructure
inventory systems to coordinate the triage, transportation, and
treatment of multicasualty incident victims;
``(8) provide infectious disease testing in the United
States-Mexico border area or United States-Canada border area;
and
``(9) carry out such other activities identified by the
Secretary, members of the Commission, members of the Council,
State or local public health authorities, representatives of
border health offices, or authorities at the United States-
Mexico or United States-Canada borders.
``SEC. 9. PLANS, REPORTS, AUDITS, AND BY-LAWS.
``(a) Strategic Plan.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, and every 5 years thereafter, the
Commission (including the participation of members representing
both the United States and Mexican sections) and the Council
(including the participation of members representing both the
United States and Canada) shall each prepare a binational
strategic plan to guide the operations of the Commission and
the Council and submit such plan to the Secretary and Congress.
``(2) Requirements.--The binational strategic plan under
paragraph (1) shall include--
``(A) health-related priority areas determined most
important by the full membership of the Commission or
Council, as applicable;
``(B) recommendations for goals, objectives,
strategies, and actions designed to address such
priority areas; and
``(C) a proposed evaluation framework with output
and outcome indicators appropriate to gauge progress
toward meeting the objectives and priorities of the
Commission or Council, as applicable.
``(b) Work Plan.--Not later than January 1, 2023, and every 2 years
thereafter, the Commission and the Council shall develop and approve an
operational work plan and budget based on the strategic plan under
subsection (a).
``(c) GAO Review.--Not later than January 1, 2024, and every 2
years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct an evaluation of the activities conducted by the Commission and
the Council based on the operational work plans described in subsection
(b) for the previous year and the output and outcome indicators
included in the strategic plan described in subsection (a). The
evaluation shall include a request for written evaluations from members
of the Commission and the Council about barriers and facilitators to
executing successfully the work plans of the Commission and the
Council.
``(d) Biannual Reporting.--The Commission and Council shall each
issue a biannual report to the Secretary that provides independent
policy recommendations related to border health issues. Not later than
3 months following receipt of each such biannual report, the Secretary
shall provide to Congress the report and any studies or other materials
produced independently by the Commission and Council.
``(e) Audits.--The Secretary shall annually prepare an audited
financial report to account for all appropriated assets expended by the
Commission and Council to address both the strategic and operational
work plans for the year involved.
``(f) By-Laws.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment
of this section, the Commission and Council shall develop and approve
by-laws to provide fully for compliance with the requirements of this
section.
``(g) Transmittal to Congress.--The Commission and Council shall
submit copies of the operational work plan and by-laws to Congress. The
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a copy of each
evaluation completed under subsection (c) to Congress.
``SEC. 10. COORDINATION.
``(a) In General.--To the extent practicable and appropriate,
plans, systems, and activities to be funded (or supported) under this
Act for all hazard preparedness, and general border health, including
with respect to infectious disease, shall be coordinated with Federal,
State, and local authorities in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
``(b) Coordination of Health Services and Surveillance.--The
Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and
Response, when appropriate, may coordinate with the Secretary of
Homeland Security in establishing a health alert system that--
``(1) alerts clinicians and public health officials of
emerging disease clusters and syndromes along the United
States-Mexico border area and United States-Canada border area;
and
``(2) warns of health threats, extreme weather conditions,
disasters of mass scale, bioterrorism, and other emerging
threats along the United States-Mexico border area and United
States-Canada border area.
``SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$10,500,000 for fiscal year 2021 and each succeeding year, subject to
the availability of appropriations for such purpose, of which
$7,000,000 shall be made available to fund operationally feasible
functions, activities, and grants with respect to the United States-
Mexico border and the border health activities under cooperative
agreements with the border health offices of the States of California,
Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, and $3,500,000 shall be allocated for
the administration of United States activities under this Act on the
United States-Canada border and the border health authorities, acting
through the Canada-United States Pan-Border Public Health Preparedness
Council.''; and
(5) in section 12 (as so redesignated)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as
paragraphs (4) and (6), respectively;
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2), the
following:
``(3) Indians; indian tribe; tribal organization; urban
indian organization.--The terms `Indian', `Indian Tribe',
`Tribal organization', and `urban Indian organization' have the
meanings given such terms in section 4 of the Indian Health
Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).''; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (4), as so
redesignated, the following:
``(5) United states-canada border area.--The term `United
States-Canada border area' means the area located in the United
States and Canada within 100 kilometers of the border between
the United States and Canada.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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.
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