[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 710 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 710
To create a Coronavirus Containment Corps, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 2, 2021
Mr. Levin of Michigan (for himself, Ms. Adams, Mr. Auchincloss, Ms.
Barragan, Ms. Bass, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Carson,
Ms. Dean, Ms. DeGette, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Evans, Mr.
Gallego, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Grijalva, Mr.
Hastings, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Lee of California, Mr.
Lieu, Ms. Norton, Mr. Payne, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Porter, Mr. Raskin, Ms.
Ross, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Takano, Ms.
Tlaib, Mr. Trone, and Mr. Vargas) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition
to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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 create a Coronavirus Containment Corps, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS; DEFINITIONS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coronavirus
Containment Corps Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; definitions.
Sec. 2. Nationwide contact tracing strategy.
Sec. 3. Grants to public health departments.
Sec. 4. Awards to Tribes and Tribal organizations.
Sec. 5. Reporting by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sec. 6. Grants to State and Tribal workforce agencies.
Sec. 7. GAO study.
Sec. 8. Application of the Service Contract Act to contracts and
grants.
Sec. 9. Rule of construction.
(c) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) The term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives; and
(C) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate.
(2) The term ``COVID-19 public health emergency'' means--
(A) the public health emergency declared by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to
section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d) on January 31, 2020, as a result of confirmed
cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and any
successor to such declaration; or
(B) the national emergency declared by the
President under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.) on March 13, 2020, as a result of the
COVID-19 outbreak.
(3) The term ``State'' includes any of the 50 States, the
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands.
(4) The terms ``Indian Tribe'' and ``Tribal organization''
have the meanings given to the terms ``Indian Tribe'' and
``Tribal organization'', respectively, in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
SEC. 2. NATIONWIDE CONTACT TRACING STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 21 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in
this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall--
(1) provide to the appropriate congressional committees a
strategy to expand COVID-19 contact tracing; and
(2) include in such strategy recommendations to augment the
capacity of State, Tribal, and local public health departments
to train and place individuals (to be referred to collectively
as the ``Coronavirus Containment Corps'') to--
(A) investigate cases of COVID-19;
(B) identify the contacts of individuals confirmed
or presumed to have been infected by SARS-CoV-2;
(C) trace such contacts; and
(D) provide supports to ensure that such contacts
can take the precautions necessary to safely quarantine
to stop the spread of COVID-19.
(b) Consultation.--In developing the strategy under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall consult with--
(1) State public health officials;
(2) Tribal public health officials, Tribal nations, and
Tribal organizations;
(3) local public health officials;
(4) the Director of the Indian Health Service; and
(5) experts with knowledge of, or field experience
concerning, racial and ethnic disparities in public health and
historically marginalized communities.
(c) Requirements.--The strategy under subsection (a) shall
identify--
(1) the minimum number of persons needed to investigate
cases of COVID-19 and identify the contacts of individuals
confirmed or presumed to have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 for
each State and Indian Tribe;
(2) the minimum number of contact tracers needed for each
State and Indian Tribe;
(3) the minimum number of specialists needed to connect
contacts described in paragraph (1) to social supports to
ensure those contacts can take the precautions necessary to
safely quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19 for each State
and Indian Tribe;
(4) the recommended qualifications necessary for case
investigators, contact tracers, and social support specialists
to perform such duties successfully;
(5) strategies to enable State, Tribal, and local public
health departments to hire, train, and deploy case
investigators, contact tracers, and social support specialists;
(6) strategies to rapidly develop guidance and training
materials necessary to support public health departments in
preparing individuals to serve as case investigators, contact
tracers, and social support specialists;
(7) plans to use mobile or app-based contact tracing
technology, including--
(A) plans to prevent the misuse of data and to
ensure the automatic deletion of data after the
conclusion of the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
(B) plans to prohibit data sharing with and within
the Federal Government, with the exceptions of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the
Indian Health Service;
(8) strategies to record and publicly report de-identified
data, while protecting--
(A) the privacy of individuals and information
regarding their personal health; and
(B) Tribal data sovereignty;
(9) protocols to limit the risks posed to individual
privacy and data security, including through data minimization,
anonymizing and redacting, and limitations on sharing and
storing personally identifiable information;
(10) strategies to monitor and evaluate best practices in
contact tracing, with input from State, Tribal, and local
public health departments; and
(11) strategies to coordinate with State and Tribal
workforce agencies to recruit newly unemployed individuals--
(A) prioritizing individuals from within the
communities in which they will work; and
(B) reflecting the diversity of that community.
(d) Strategies To Enable Hiring, Training, and Deployment.--Not
later than 7 days after the strategy under subsection (a) is provided
to the appropriate congressional committees, the Secretary shall
provide the strategies described in subsection (c)(5) to States and
Tribes.
SEC. 3. GRANTS TO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the
Secretary Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the
``Secretary''), acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, shall award a grant to each State and local
public health department that seeks a grant in accordance with this
section to implement the strategy under section 2(a).
(b) Formula.--The Secretary shall allocate amounts made available
pursuant to subsection (a) in accordance with a formula to be
established by the Secretary that--
(1) provides a minimum level of funding to each grantee;
and
(2) allocates--
(A) additional funding among grantees based on--
(i) population, including the presence of
medically underserved populations (as defined
in section 330(b)(3) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)));
(ii) the projected need for COVID-19 in
vitro diagnostic products (as defined in
section 809.3 of title 21, Code of Federal
Regulations (or successor regulations)) during
the period of the grant;
(iii) the percentage of COVID-19 cases per
10,000 persons as of the date of submission of
the application for the grant;
(iv) the COVID-19 case growth rate; and
(v) the projected number of COVID-19 cases
during the period of the grant; and
(B) an additional increment for States that have a
plan to increase the percentage of the population that
will be tested.
(c) Required Uses of Funds.--Amounts made available to a grantee
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used for the following activities:
(1) Costs, including wages and benefits, including health
care benefits, as appropriate, related to the recruiting and
hiring of individuals--
(A) to serve as case investigators, contact
tracers, and social support specialists described in
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively, of section
2(c); and
(B) employed by--
(i) the State or local government involved;
or
(ii) a nonprofit organization with
demonstrated expertise in implementing public
health programs.
(2) Supplies necessary for grantees to implement the
strategy established under section 2, including any supplies,
equipment, or technology for individuals serving as case
investigators, contact tracers, or social support specialists.
(3) Administrative costs and activities necessary for
grantees to implement the strategy established under section 2.
(4) Development of partnerships with State and local
workforce development systems as defined in section 3 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) to
provide training and supportive service for individuals serving
as case investigators, contact tracers, or social support
specialists.
(5) Reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention on--
(A) implementation of the strategy established
under section 2; and
(B) indicators of performance listed in section
5(c)(1).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
SEC. 4. AWARDS TO TRIBES AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as
the ``Secretary''), acting through the Director of the Indian Health
Service, in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, in consultation with Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations, shall award funds to Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations to implement the strategy established under section 2.
(b) Formula.--The Secretary shall allocate amounts made available
pursuant to subsection (a) in accordance with a formula to be
established by the Secretary in consultation with Indian Tribes and
Tribal organizations that--
(1) provides a minimum level of funding to each Indian
Tribe and Tribal organization; and
(2) allocates additional funding on the basis of
population.
(c) Eligible Activities.--Amounts made available to an awardee
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be used for the following activities:
(1) Costs, including wages and benefits, including health
care benefits, as appropriate, related to the recruiting and
hiring of individuals--
(A) to serve as case investigators, contact
tracers, and social support specialists described in
paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively, of section
2(c); and
(B) employed by--
(i) the Tribal government involved; or
(ii) a nonprofit organizations with
demonstrated expertise in implementing public
health programs.
(2) Supplies necessary for awardees to implement the
strategy established under section 2, including any supplies,
equipment, or technology for individuals serving as case
investigators, contact tracers, or social support specialists.
(3) Administrative costs and activities necessary for
awardees to implement the strategy established under section 2.
(4) Development of partnerships with State and local
workforce development systems as defined in section 3 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) to
provide training and supportive service for individuals serving
as case investigators, contact tracers, or social support
specialists.
(5) Reporting to the Indian Health Service, which shall
then report the information to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, on--
(A) implementation of the strategy established
under section 2; and
(B) indicators of performance listed in section
5(c)(1).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000,000, to remain
available until expended.
SEC. 5. REPORTING BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, and every 30 days thereafter, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (in this section referred to as the
``Secretary'') shall report to the appropriate congressional committees
on the implementation of the strategy established under section 2.
(b) Reporting Infrastructure.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary shall--
(1) support a reporting infrastructure that--
(A) minimizes administrative burdens on States,
Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and localities;
and
(B) protects the privacy of individuals'
information; and
(2) consult with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations and
coordinate with the Indian Health Service to create a reporting
infrastructure for Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations
that--
(A) honors and preserves Tribal data sovereignty;
and
(B) ensures that Indian Tribes and Tribal
organizations consent before any Tribal data is
reported.
(c) Requirements.--The report under subsection (a) shall--
(1) for each State and Indian Tribe include--
(A) the number of case investigators hired,
trained, and deployed;
(B) the number of contact tracers hired, trained,
and deployed;
(C) the number of social support specialists hired,
trained, and deployed;
(D) the number of case investigations launched;
(E) the percentage of contacts reached compared to
the percentage of contacts identified;
(F) the percentage of contacts quarantined or
isolated compared to the percentage of contacts
reached;
(G) the percentage of contacts connected to social
supports compared to the percentage of contacts needing
such supports to quarantine; and
(H) a description of any barriers that limit the
ability of contacts to quarantine, to isolate, or to
access needed social supports;
(2) contextualize the data that is reported so as to
mitigate discrimination against historically marginalized
communities; and
(3) be made public on the internet website of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
SEC. 6. GRANTS TO STATE AND TRIBAL WORKFORCE AGENCIES.
(a) Definitions.--
(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided, the terms in
this section have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(2) Apprenticeship; apprenticeship program.--The term
``apprenticeship'' or ``apprenticeship program'' means an
apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16,
1937 (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship Act'')
(50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), including
any requirement, standard, or rule promulgated under such Act,
as such requirement, standard, or rule was in effect on
December 30, 2019.
(3) Contact tracing and related positions.--The term
``contact tracing and related positions'' means employment
related to contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and
mitigation activities.
(4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State or territory, including the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico;
(B) an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, Urban
Indian organization, Alaska Native entity, Indian-
controlled organization serving Indians, or Native
Hawaiian organization;
(C) an outlying area; or
(D) a local board, if an eligible entity under
subparagraphs (A) through (C) has not applied with
respect to the area over which the local board has
jurisdiction as of the date on which the local board
submits an application under subsection (c).
(5) Eligible individual.--Notwithstanding section 170(b)(2)
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3225(b)(2)), the term ``eligible individual'' means an
individual seeking or securing employment in contact tracing or
related positions and is served by an eligible entity or
community-based organization receiving funding under this
section.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(7) Urban indian organization.--The term ``Urban Indian
organization'' has the meaning given to such term in section 4
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603).
(b) Grants.--
(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations under subsection (g), the Secretary shall award
national dislocated worker grants under section 170(b)(1)(B) of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3225(b)(1)(B)) to each eligible entity that seeks a grant to
assist local boards and community-based organizations in
carrying out activities under subsections (f) and (d),
respectively, for the following purposes:
(A) To support the recruitment, placement, and
training, as applicable, of eligible individuals
seeking employment in contact tracing and related
positions in accordance with the strategy established
under section 2 of this Act.
(B) To assist with the employment transition to new
employment or education and training of individuals
employed under this section in preparation for and upon
termination of such employment.
(2) Timeline.--The Secretary of Labor shall--
(A) issue application requirements under subsection
(c) not later than 10 days after the date of enactment
of this section; and
(B) award grants to an eligible entity under
paragraph (1) not later than 10 days after the date on
which the Secretary receives an application from such
entity.
(c) Grant Application.--An eligible entity applying for a grant
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary, at
such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary may reasonably
require, which shall include a description of--
(1) how the eligible entity will support the recruitment,
placement, and training, as applicable, of eligible individuals
seeking employment in contact tracing and related positions by
partnering with--
(A) a State, local, Tribal, or territorial health
department; or
(B) a community-based organization partnering with
such health departments;
(2) how the activities described in paragraph (1) will
support State efforts to address the demand for contact tracing
and related positions with respect to--
(A) the State plans referred to in the heading
``Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'' in
title I of division B of the Paycheck Protection
Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (Public Law
116-139);
(B) the strategy established under section 2 of
this Act; and
(C) the number of eligible individuals that the
State plans to recruit and train under the plans and
strategies described in subparagraphs (A) and (B);
(3) the specific strategies for recruiting and placement of
eligible individuals from or residing within the communities in
which they will work, including--
(A) plans for the recruitment of eligible
individuals to serve as contact tracers and related
positions, including dislocated workers, individuals
with barriers to employment, veterans, new entrants in
the workforce, or underemployed or furloughed workers,
who are from or reside in or near the local area in
which they will serve, and who, to the extent
practicable--
(i) have experience or a background in
industry-sectors and occupations such as public
health, social services, customer service, case
management, or occupations that require related
qualifications, skills, or competencies, such
as strong interpersonal and communication
skills, needed for contact tracing or related
positions; or
(ii) seek to transition to public health
and public health related occupations upon the
conclusion of employment in contact tracing or
related positions;
(B) how such strategies will take into account the
diversity of such community, including racial, ethnic,
socioeconomic, linguistic, or geographic diversity;
(4) the amount, timing, and mechanisms for distribution of
funds provided to local boards or through subgrants as
described in subsection (d);
(5) for eligible entities described in subparagraphs (A)
through (C) of subsection (a)(4), a description of how the
eligible entity will ensure the equitable distribution of funds
with respect to--
(A) geography (such as urban and rural
distribution);
(B) medically underserved populations (as defined
in section 33(b)(3) of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254b(b)));
(C) health professional shortage areas (as defined
under section 332(a) of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 254e(a))); and
(D) the racial and ethnic diversity of the area;
and
(6) for eligible entities who are local boards, a
description of how a grant to such eligible entity would serve
the equitable distribution of funds as described in paragraph
(5).
(d) Subgrant Authorization and Application Process.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity may award a subgrant to
a community-based organization for the purposes of partnering
with a State or local board to conduct outreach and education
activities to inform potentially eligible individuals about
employment opportunities in contact tracing and related
positions.
(2) Application.--A community-based organization shall
submit an application at such time and in such manner as the
eligible entity may reasonably require, including--
(A) a demonstration of the community-based
organization's established expertise and effectiveness
in community outreach in the local area that such
organization plans to serve;
(B) a demonstration of the community-based
organization's expertise in providing employment or
public health information to the local areas in which
such organization plans to serve; and
(C) a description of the expertise of the
community-based organization in utilizing culturally
competent and multilingual strategies in the provision
of services.
(e) Grant Distribution.--
(1) Federal distribution.--
(A) Use of funds.--The Secretary of Labor shall use
the funds appropriated to carry out this section as
follows:
(i) Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary
shall distribute funds among eligible entities
in accordance with a formula to be established
by the Secretary that--
(I) provides a minimum level of
funding to each eligible entity that
seeks a grant under this section; and
(II) allocates additional funding
with priority given based on the number
and proportion of contact tracing and
related positions that the State plans
to recruit, place, and train as a part
of the State plans described in
subsection (c)(2)(A).
(ii) Not more than 2 percent of the funding
may be used for administration of the grants
and for providing technical assistance to
recipients of funds under this section.
(B) Equitable distribution.--If the geographic
region served by one or more eligible entities
overlaps, the Secretary shall distribute funds among
such entities in such a manner that ensures equitable
distribution with respect to the factors under in
subsection (c)(5).
(2) Eligible entity use of funds.--An eligible entity
described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection
(a)(4)--
(A) shall, not later than 30 days after the date on
which the entity receives grant funds under this
section, provide not less than 70 percent of grant
funds to local boards for the purpose of carrying out
activities in subsection (f);
(B) may use up to 20 percent of such funds to make
subgrants to community-based organizations in the
service area to conduct outreach, to potential eligible
individuals, as described in subsection (d);
(C) in providing funds to local boards and awarding
subgrants under this subsection shall ensure the
equitable distribution with respect to the factors
described in subsection (c)(5); and
(D) may use not more than 10 percent of the funds
awarded under this section for the administrative costs
of carrying out the grant and for providing technical
assistance to local boards and community-based
organizations.
(3) Local board use of funds.--A local board, or an
eligible entity that is a local board, shall use--
(A) not less than 60 percent of the funds for
recruitment and training for activities in accordance
with the strategy established under section 2;
(B) not less than 30 of the funds to support the
transition of individuals hired as contact tracers and
related positions into an education or training
program, or unsubsidized employment upon completion of
such positions; and
(C) not more than 10 percent of the funds for
administrative costs.
(f) Eligible Activities.--The State or local boards shall use funds
awarded under this section to support the recruitment and placement of
eligible individuals, training and employment transition as related to
contact tracing and related positions, and for the following
activities:
(1) Establishing or expanding partnerships with--
(A) State, local, Tribal, and territorial public
health departments;
(B) community-based health providers, including
community health centers and rural health clinics;
(C) labor organizations or joint labor management
organizations;
(D) two-year and four-year institutions of higher
education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), including
institutions eligible to receive funds under section
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(a)); and
(E) community action agencies or other community-
based organizations serving local areas in which there
is a demand for contact tracers and related positions.
(2) Providing training for contact tracing and related
positions in coordination with State, local, Tribal, or
territorial health departments that is consistent with the
State or territorial testing and contact tracing strategy and
ensuring that eligible individuals receive compensation while
participating in such training.
(3) Providing eligible individuals with--
(A) adequate and safe equipment, environments, and
facilities for training and supervision, as applicable;
(B) information regarding the wages and benefits
related to contact tracing and related positions, as
compared to State, local, and national averages;
(C) supplies and equipment needed by the program
participants to support placement of an individual in
contact tracing and related positions, as applicable;
(D) an individualized employment plan for each
eligible individual, as applicable--
(i) in coordination with the entity
employing the eligible individual in a contact
tracing or related position; and
(ii) which shall include providing a case
manager to work with each eligible individual
to develop the plan, which may include--
(I) identifying employment and
career goals, and setting appropriate
achievement objectives to attain such
goals; and
(II) exploring career pathways that
lead to in-demand industries and
sectors, including in public health and
related occupations; and
(E) services for the period during which the
individual is employed in a contact tracing and related
position to ensure job retention, which may include--
(i) supportive services throughout the term
of employment;
(ii) a continuation of skills training as
related to employment as a contact tracer or
related positions, that is conducted in
collaboration with the employers of such
participants;
(iii) mentorship services and job retention
support for eligible individuals; or
(iv) targeted training for managers and
workers working with eligible individuals (such
as mentors), and human resource
representatives.
(4) Supporting the transition and placement in unsubsidized
employment for eligible individuals serving in the contact
tracing or related positions after such positions are no longer
necessary in the State or local area, including--
(A) any additional training and employment
activities as described in section 170(d)(4) of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3225(d)(4));
(B) developing the appropriate combination of
services to enable the eligible individual to achieve
the employment and career goals identified under
paragraph (3)(D)(ii)(I); and
(C) services to assist eligible individuals in
maintaining employment for not less than 12 months
after the completion of employment in contact tracing
or related positions, as appropriate.
(5) Any other activities as described in subsections (a)(3)
and (b) of section 134 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174).
(g) Limitation.--Notwithstanding section 170(d)(3)(A) of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3225(d)(3)(A)), a
person may be employed in a contact tracing or related position using
funds under this section for a period not greater than 2 years.
(h) Reporting by the Department of Labor.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days of the enactment
of this Act, and once grant funds have been expended under this
section, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on
Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate, and make publicly available a report containing a
description of--
(A) the number of eligible individuals recruited,
hired, trained as contact tracers or in related
positions;
(B) the number of individuals successfully
transitioned to unsubsidized employment or training at
the completion of employment in contact tracing or
related positions using funds under this subtitle;
(C) the number of such individuals who were
unemployed prior to being hired, trained, or deployed
as described in paragraph (1);
(D) the performance of each program supported by
funds under this subtitle with respect to the
indicators of performance under section 116 of the
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.
3141), as applicable;
(E) the number of individuals in unsubsidized
employment within six months and 1 year, respectively,
of the conclusion of employment in contact tracing or
related positions and, of those, the number of
individuals within a State, territorial, or local
public health department in an occupation related to
public health;
(F) any information on how eligible entities, local
boards, or community-based organizations that received
funding under this subsection were able to support the
goals of the strategy established under section 2 of
this Act; and
(G) best practices for improving and increasing the
transition of individuals employed in contact tracing
or related positions to permanent, full-time
employment.
(2) Disaggregation.--All data reported under paragraph (1)
shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, age, and, with
respect to individuals with barriers to employment,
subpopulation of such individuals, except for when the number
of participants in a category is insufficient to yield
statistically reliable information or when the results would
reveal personally identifiable information about an individual
participant.
(i) Special Rule.--Any funds used for programs under this section
that are used to fund an apprenticeship or apprenticeship program shall
only be used for, or provided to, an apprenticeship or apprenticeship
program that meets the definition of such term subsection (a) of this
section, including any funds awarded for the purposes of grants,
contracts, or cooperative agreements, or the development,
implementation, or administration, of an apprenticeship or an
apprenticeship program.
(j) Displacement.--
(1) Prohibition.--A participant in a program or activity
authorized under this section shall not displace (including a
partial displacement, such as a reduction in the hours of
nonovertime work, wages, or employment benefits) any currently
employed employee (as of the date of the participation).
(2) Prohibition on impairment of contracts.--A program or
activity authorized under this section shall not impair an
existing contract for services or collective bargaining
agreement, and no such activity that would be inconsistent with
the terms of a collective bargaining agreement shall be
undertaken without the written concurrence of the labor
organization and employer concerned.
(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $500,000,000.
SEC. 7. GAO STUDY.
(a) Scope of Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States
shall conduct a study to evaluate--
(1) the strategies, components, policies, and practices
used by recipients of funding under this Act to successfully
assist--
(A) State, Tribal, and local health departments;
and
(B) State, Tribal, and local workforce development
systems; and
(2) any challenges associated with implementation of such
strategies, components, policies, and practices.
(b) Consultation.--In carrying out the study under subsection (a),
the Comptroller General shall consult with a geographically diverse
(including urban, suburban, and rural) representation of individuals
engaged in implementation of this Act, including the following:
(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees.
(2) Department of Labor employees.
(3) State and local public health departments.
(4) State and local workforce development systems.
(5) Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
(6) Case investigators, contact tracers, and social support
specialists.
(c) Submission.--Not later than two years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit the study
conducted under subsection (a) to the appropriate congressional
committees.
SEC. 8. APPLICATION OF THE SERVICE CONTRACT ACT TO CONTRACTS AND
GRANTS.
Contracts and grants which include contact tracing as part of the
scope of work and that are awarded under this subtitle shall require
that contact tracers and related positions are paid not less than the
prevailing wage and fringe rates required under chapter 67 of title 41,
United States Code (commonly known as the ``Service Contract Act''),
for the area in which the work is performed. To the extent that a
nonstandard wage determination is required to establish a prevailing
wage for contact tracers and related positions for purposes of this
subtitle, the Secretary of Labor shall issue such determination not
later than 14 days after the date of enactment of this Act, based on a
job description used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
and contractors or grantees performing contact tracing for State public
health agencies.
SEC. 9. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to restrict or in any way
infringe upon individuals' freedom of association.
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