Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response Act
This bill establishes the position of the Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response in the executive branch and sets forth the qualifications for and responsibilities of the position. Among other tasks, the director shall
The director must also (1) identify existing federal agencies charged with elements of pandemic and biodefense preparedness and response, and (2) provide recommendations to Congress for reorganizing such agencies under the Office of the Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response.
The director may not simultaneously serve as the head of any other agency in the federal government and must be a member of the National Security Council.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6610 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6610
To establish the Cabinet-level position of Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response in the executive branch with the
responsibility of developing a National Pandemic and Biodefense
Preparedness and Response Strategy, to prepare for and coordinate the
response to future pandemics, biological attacks, and other major
health crises, including coordinating the work of multiple government
agencies, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 23, 2020
Mr. Rose of New York (for himself, Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Norton, and Ms.
Jackson Lee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on
Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and
Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 the Cabinet-level position of Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response in the executive branch with the
responsibility of developing a National Pandemic and Biodefense
Preparedness and Response Strategy, to prepare for and coordinate the
response to future pandemics, biological attacks, and other major
health crises, including coordinating the work of multiple government
agencies, 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 ``Director of Pandemic and Biodefense
Preparedness and Response Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States could have, and should have, been
significantly more prepared to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2) Examples of this are numerous but include the loss of
stockpiled ventilators to breakage because the Federal
Government let maintenance contracts lapse in 2018, the reuse
of personal protective equipment that is only sanitary for
single-patient use due to shortages, and the scarcity of
available testing compared to other nations.
(3) The loss of life and harm to the national economy is
already staggering yet its extent will not be known for some
time.
(4) As in previous pandemics and other major health crises,
confusion during the COVID-19 pandemic about which agency was
in charge of what and who would coordinate the response of
multiple agencies lead to calls for a ``czar'' to be named, as
well as a task force to be created.
(5) The Federal Government currently supports pandemic and
biodefense preparedness and response in several ways through a
myriad of agencies, each responsible for disparate programs and
responsibilities related to pandemics, biological attacks, and
other major health crises.
(6) Following the attack on our homeland on September 11,
2001, the Director of National Intelligence position was
created to ensure the cooperation of several agencies in the
Intelligence Community through one Cabinet-level official
coordinating between and among multiple Federal agencies
charged with breaking down silos while keeping the Nation safe.
(7) Preparing the United States for and responding to a
future pandemic, biological attack, or other major health
crisis should be a top priority across agencies of the Federal
Government, yet the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the need for
greater cohesion and speed in both preparedness and response.
(8) Various Federal agencies report on recommendations for
preparation and response to pandemics, biological attacks, and
other major health crises, but no one Federal official can
produce and speak with authority on a national pandemic and
biodefense preparedness and response strategy or execute such a
strategy.
(9) A key element for success during response activities
will be ``staying ahead of the emergency''--in other words,
being more proactive than reactive. This will require elements
including--
(A) timely, accurate assessments of newly emerged
risks and vulnerabilities;
(B) a streamlined, unified effort to lead all
Federal Government efforts, coordinate State and local
government activities, and provide clear guidance to
assets in the private sector;
(C) a coordinated national communications program
to inform, educate, and gain the trust and support of
the American public; and
(D) a national leader with the authority,
responsibility, and accountability to ensure the most
effective coordination of Federal agencies and best use
of national assets.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
creation of the Cabinet-level position of the Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response and a well-designed National
Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response Strategy would
benefit the United States in several important ways, including by
ending silos between and among various Federal agencies charged with
parts of pandemic and biodefense preparedness and response, including
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, and the Department of Health and Human
Services.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) National pandemic and biodefense preparedness and
response strategy; strategy.--Each of the terms ``Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response Strategy'' and
``Strategy'' means the strategy developed and submitted to the
Congress under section 5, including any report, plan, or
strategy required to be incorporated into or issued
concurrently with such strategy.
SEC. 4. REORGANIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL
PANDEMIC AND BIODEFENSE RESPONSE AGENCIES.
(a) Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and
Response.--
(1) In general.--There is a Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response who shall be appointed by
the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. Any individual nominated for appointment as Director of
Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response shall have
extensive pandemic and biodefense preparedness and response
expertise.
(2) Location.--The Director of Pandemic and Biodefense
Preparedness and Response shall not be located within the
Executive Office of the President.
(3) Deadline for appointment.--Not later than 3 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President
shall appoint a Director of Pandemic and Biodefense
Preparedness and Response.
(b) Principal Responsibilities.--Subject to the authority,
direction, and control of the President, the Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response shall--
(1) serve as head of the Federal national pandemic and
biodefense preparedness and response community;
(2) act as the principal adviser to the President, the
National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council
for pandemic and biodefense preparedness and response;
(3) oversee and direct the implementation of the National
Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response Strategy and
its execution through the coordination of Federal agencies and
through the United States participation in the World Health
Organization and other Intergovernmental Organizations;
(4) act as the principal adviser to the President in a time
of pandemic, biological attack, or other major health crisis;
(5) to coordinate the Nation's response to such a crisis;
(6) conduct a simulation exercise at least once each year
of the response to a fictional pandemic, biological attack, or
other serious health crisis of high-level current and former
government and nongovernmental officials in order to prepare
for these potential events;
(7) address the organizational structure and chain of
command, both in the Federal Government and at the State level;
(8) ensure adequate laboratory surveillance of viruses,
including the ability to isolate and subtype viruses year-
round;
(9) improve vaccine research, development, and production;
(10) procure adequate doses of antivirals for treatment;
(11) develop systems for tracking and distributing
antiviral medication and vaccines;
(12) prioritize who would receive antivirals and vaccines
based on limited supplies;
(13) stockpile medical and safety equipment for health care
workers and first responders;
(14) assure surge capacity capabilities for health care
providers and institutions;
(15) secure a backup health care workforce in the event of
a major health crisis;
(16) ensure the availability of food, water, and other
essential items during a major health crisis;
(17) provide guidance on needed State and local authority
to implement public health measures such as isolation or
quarantine;
(18) maintain core public functions, including public
utilities, refuse disposal, mortuary services, transportation,
police and firefighter services, and other critical services;
(19) establish networks that provide alerts and other
information for health care providers;
(20) communicate with the public with respect to prevention
and obtaining care during a pandemic;
(21) provide security for first responders and other
medical personnel and volunteers, hospitals, treatment centers,
isolation and quarantine areas, and transportation and delivery
of resources; and
(22) work with established agencies and perform such other
functions or activities as the President may assign.
(c) Prohibition on Dual Service.--The individual serving in the
position of Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and
Response shall not, while so serving, also serve as the head of any
other agency of the Federal Government.
(d) National Security Council.--The Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response shall be a member of the National
Security Council.
(e) Existing Federal Agencies.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act the Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response shall--
(1) identify existing Federal agencies charged with
elements of pandemic and biodefense preparedness and response;
and
(2) report to the Congress recommendations for reorganizing
such agencies under the Office of the Director of Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response to ensure full
coordination among such agencies, including changes to existing
law that are necessary to carry out such recommendations.
(f) Pay.--The Director of Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and
Response shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for level II of the
Executive Schedule under subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United
States Code.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL PANDEMIC AND BIODEFENSE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every year thereafter, the Director of
Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response shall submit a
National Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response Strategy to
the President and the Congress. The Strategy shall contain a summary of
the current state of pandemic and biodefense preparedness and response
in the United States, and a comprehensive strategy to--
(1) work across Federal and State government agencies to
implement a coherent integrated Strategy and associated plans;
(2) prepare for and execute interagency planning and
coordination to implement the Strategy;
(3) provide for departmental and agency responsibility and
accountability for each component of the Strategy;
(4) budget for and fund requirements and sources under the
Strategy;
(5) ensure international collaboration and coordination
efforts to implement the Strategy; and
(6) provide recommendations and a timeline for
implementation of the Strategy.
(b) Application of FACA.--Notwithstanding the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), nongovernment individuals and entities
may participate in the preparation of the National Pandemic and
Biodefense Preparedness and Response Strategy.
SEC. 6. HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.
The Director, in consultation with professional health and medical
societies, shall develop and disseminate pandemic and biodefense
training curricula--
(1) to educate and train health professionals, including
physicians, nurses, public health practitioners, virologists
and epidemiologists, veterinarians, mental health providers,
allied health professionals, and paramedics and other first
responders;
(2) to educate and train volunteer, nonmedical personnel
whose assistance may be required during a pandemic, biological
attack, or other major health crisis;
(3) that address prevention, including use of quarantine
and other isolation precautions, pandemic diagnosis, medical
guidelines for use of antivirals and vaccines, and professional
requirements and responsibilities, as appropriate;
(4) targeting distribution to high-risk groups, including
health professionals and relief personnel and other individuals
determined to be most susceptible to illness or death from a
pandemic, biological attack, or other major health crisis;
(5) ensuring equitable distribution of healthcare
resources, particularly across low-income and other underserved
groups; and
(6) that integrate with existing State and local systems as
appropriate.
SEC. 7. REPORTING.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and every 2 years thereafter, the Director of Pandemic and Biodefense
Preparedness and Response, in consultation with the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget, shall submit to the President and the
Congress a report that describes progress made in the implementation of
the National Pandemic and Biodefense Preparedness and Response Strategy
and in fulfilment of its objectives.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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 Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), 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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Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.