[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1737 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1737
To establish a global zoonotic disease task force, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 20, 2021
Mr. Coons (for himself and Mr. Graham) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a global zoonotic disease task force, 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 ``Global Pandemic Prevention and
Biosecurity Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It shall be the policy of the United States Government--
(1) to support improved community health, forest
management, sustainable agriculture, and safety of livestock
production in developing countries, particularly in tropical
landscapes where there is an elevated risk of zoonotic disease
spillover;
(2) to support the availability of scalable and sustainable
alternative animal and plant-sourced protein for local
communities, where appropriate, to minimize human reliance on
the trade in live wildlife and raw or unprocessed wildlife
parts and derivatives;
(3) to support foreign governments--
(A) to transition from the sale of such wildlife
for human consumption in markets and restaurants to
alternate protein and nutritional sources; and
(B) to prevent commercial trade in live wildlife
and raw or unprocessed wildlife parts and derivatives
that risks contributing to zoonotic spillover events
between animals and humans, excluding commercial trade
in--
(i) fish;
(ii) invertebrates;
(iii) amphibians;
(iv) reptiles; and
(v) the meat of game species--
(I) traded in markets in countries
with effective implementation and
enforcement of scientifically based,
nationally implemented policies and
legislation for processing, transport,
trade, marketing; and
(II) sold after being slaughtered
and processed under sanitary
conditions; and
(C) to establish and effectively manage protected
and conserved areas, particularly in tropical
landscapes where there is an elevated risk of zoonotic
disease spillover, including indigenous and community-
conserved areas;
(4) to encourage development projects that do not
contribute to the destruction, fragmentation, or degradation of
forests or the loss of biodiversity; and
(5) to respect the rights and needs of indigenous people
and local communities dependent on such wildlife for
nutritional needs and food security.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Commercial wildlife trade.--The term ``commercial
wildlife trade'' means trade in wildlife for the purpose of
obtaining economic benefit (whether in cash or otherwise) that
is directed toward sale, resale, exchange, or any other form of
economic use or benefit.
(4) Human consumption.--The term ``human consumption''
means specific use for human food or medicine.
(5) Live wildlife market.--The term ``live wildlife
market'' means a commercial market that sells, processes, or
slaughters live or fresh wildlife for human consumption in
markets or restaurants, regardless of whether such wildlife
originated in the wild or in a captive situation.
(6) One health.--The term ``One Health'' means a
collaborative, multi-sectoral, and trans-disciplinary approach
achieving optimal health outcomes that recognizes the
interconnection between--
(A) people, wildlife, and plants; and
(B) the environment shared by such people,
wildlife, and plants.
(7) Outbreak.--The term ``outbreak'' means the occurrence
of disease cases in excess of normal expectancy.
(8) Public health emergency.--The term ``public health
emergency'' means the public health emergency declared by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to COVID-19
on January 31, 2020, pursuant to section 319 of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).
(9) Spillover event.--The term ``spillover event'' means
the transmission of a pathogen from a species to another
species.
(10) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the Global
Zoonotic Disease Task Force established under section 6(a).
(11) USAID.--The term ``USAID'' means the United States
Agency for International Development.
(12) Zoonotic disease.--The term ``zoonotic disease'' means
any disease that is naturally transmissible between animals and
humans.
SEC. 4. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The majority of recent emerging infectious diseases
have originated in wildlife.
(2) There is a rise in the frequency of zoonotic spillover
events and outbreaks of such diseases.
(3) This rise in such spillover events and outbreaks
relates to the increased interaction between humans and
wildlife.
(4) There is a progressive and increasing rise in
interaction between human populations and wildlife related to
deforestation, habitat degradation, and expansion of human
activity into the habitat of such wildlife.
(5) The increase in such interactions due to these factors,
particularly in forested regions of tropical countries where
there is high mammalian diversity, is a serious risk factor for
spillover events.
(6) A serious risk factor for spillover events also relates
to the collection, production, commercial trade, and sale for
human consumption of wildlife that may transmit to zoonotic
pathogens to humans that may then replicate and be transmitted
within the human population.
(7) Such a risk factor is increased if it involves wildlife
that--
(A) does not ordinarily interact with humans; or
(B) lives under a stressful condition, as such
condition exacerbates the shedding of zoonotic
pathogens.
(8) Markets for such wildlife to be sold for human
consumption are found in many countries.
(9) In some communities, such wildlife may be the only
accessible source of high quality nutrition.
(10) The public health emergency has resulted in--
(A) trillions of dollars in economic damage to the
United States; and
(B) the deaths of hundreds of thousands of American
citizens.
SEC. 5. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD ASSISTING COUNTRIES IN PREVENTING
ZOONOTIC SPILLOVER EVENTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State and the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, in consultation
with the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Secretary of Agriculture, and the heads of other relevant agencies,
shall coordinate, engage, and work with governments, multilateral
entities, intergovernmental organizations, international partners, and
nongovernmental organizations--
(1) to prevent commercial trade in live wildlife and raw or
unprocessed wildlife parts and derivatives for human
consumption that risks contributing to zoonotic spillover, with
a focus on tropical countries and countries with significant
markets for live wildlife for human consumption, including--
(A) high volume commercial wildlife trade and
associated markets;
(B) wildlife trade in and across well connected
urban centers; and
(C) wildlife trade for luxury consumption or where
there is no dietary necessity;
(2) to prevent the degradation and fragmentation of forests
and other intact ecosystems, particularly in tropical
countries, to minimize interactions between wildlife and human
and livestock populations that could contribute to spillover
events and zoonotic disease transmission, including by
providing assistance or supporting policies that--
(A) conserve, protect, and restore the integrity of
such ecosystems;
(B) support the rights of indigenous people and
local communities and their ability to continue their
effective stewardship of their traditional lands and
territories;
(C) support the establishment and effective
management of protected areas, prioritizing highly
intact areas; and
(D) prevent activities that result in the
destruction, degradation, fragmentation, or conversion
of intact forests and other intact ecosystems and
biodiversity strongholds, including activities carried
out by governments, private sector entities, and
multilateral development financial institutions;
(3) to offer alternative livelihood and worker training
programs and enterprise development to wildlife traders,
wildlife breeders, and local communities whose members are
engaged in the commercial wildlife trade for human consumption;
(4) to work with indigenous peoples and local communities--
(A) to ensure that their rights are respected and
their authority to exercise such rights is protected;
(B) to provide education and awareness regarding
animal handling, sanitation, and disease transmission;
(C) to provide sustainable wildlife management and
support for the development of village-level
alternative sources of protein and nutrition;
(D) to reduce the risk of zoonotic spillover, while
ensuring food security and access to healthy diets; and
(E) to improve farming practices to reduce the risk
of zoonotic spillover to livestock;
(5) to strengthen global capacity for detection of zoonotic
diseases with pandemic potential; and
(6) to support the development of One Health systems at the
community level.
(b) Engagement Methods.--The efforts described in subsection (a)
shall be carried out by--
(1) working through existing treaties, conventions, and
agreements to develop new protocols or amend existing protocols
or agreements;
(2) expanding combating wildlife trafficking programs to
support enforcement of the closure of such markets and new
illegal markets in response to closures, and the prevention of
such trade, including--
(A) providing assistance to improve law
enforcement;
(B) detecting and deterring the illegal import,
transit, sale, and export of wildlife;
(C) strengthening such programs to assist countries
through legal reform;
(D) improving information sharing and enhancing
capabilities of participating foreign governments;
(E) supporting efforts to change behavior and
reduce demand for wildlife products described in
subsection (a)(1); and
(F) leveraging United States private sector
technologies and expertise to scale and enhance
enforcement responses to detect and prevent such trade;
(3) leveraging strong bilateral relationships with the
United States to support new and existing interministerial
collaborations or task forces that can serve as regional One
Health models; and
(4) building local agricultural capacity by leveraging
expertise from the Department of Agriculture, the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service, and institutions of higher education
with agricultural expertise.
SEC. 6. GLOBAL ZOONOTIC DISEASE TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the ``Global Zoonotic
Disease Task Force'' (referred to in this section as the ``Task
Force'').
(b) Composition.--
(1) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of--
(A) a Chairperson, which position shall rotate
every 2 years, in an order to be determined by the
Administrator, among a representative (at the level of
Deputy Assistant Secretary or above) of--
(i) the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service of the Department of Agriculture;
(ii) the Department of Health and Human
Services or the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention;
(iii) the Department of the Interior or the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service;
(iv) the Department of State or USAID; and
(v) the National Security Council; and
(B) at least 13 additional members, from--
(i) the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention;
(ii) the Department of Agriculture;
(iii) the Department of Defense;
(iv) the Department of State;
(v) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(vi) the National Science Foundation;
(vii) the National Institutes of Health;
(viii) the National Institute of Standards
and Technology;
(ix) the Office of Science and Technology
Policy;
(x) USAID;
(xi) the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service;
(xii) U.S. Customs and Border Protection;
and
(xiii) U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement.
(2) Timing of appointments.--Initial appointments to the
Task Force shall be made not later than 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Terms.--
(A) In general.--Each member of the Task Force
shall be appointed for a term of 2 years.
(B) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for
which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed only for the remainder of the prior member's
term. A member may serve after the expiration of his or
her term until a successor has been appointed.
(c) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
(1) ensure an integrated approach across the Federal
Government and globally to the prevention of, early detection
of, preparedness for, and response to zoonotic spillover and
the outbreak and transmission of zoonotic diseases that may
pose a threat to global health security;
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, develop and publish, on a publicly accessible
website, a plan for global biosecurity and zoonotic disease
prevention and response that leverages expertise in public
health, wildlife health, livestock veterinary health,
sustainable forest management, community-based conservation,
rural food security, and indigenous rights to coordinate
zoonotic disease surveillance internationally, including
support for One Health institutions around the world that can
prevent and provide early detection of zoonotic outbreaks; and
(3) expand the scope of the implementation of the White
House's Global Health Security Strategy to more robustly
support the prevention of zoonotic spillover and to respond to
zoonotic disease investigations and outbreaks by establishing a
10-year strategy with specific Federal Government international
goals, priorities, and timelines for action, including--
(A) recommended policy actions and mechanisms in
developing countries to reduce the risk of zoonotic
spillover and zoonotic disease emergence and
transmission, including support for the activities
described in section 5;
(B) new mandates, authorities, and incentives that
are needed to strengthen the global zoonotic disease
prevention and response plan required under paragraph
(2); and
(C) prioritizing engagement in programs that target
tropical countries and regions experiencing high rates
of deforestation, forest degradation, and land
conversion and countries with significant markets for
live wildlife for human consumption.
(d) Meeting.--
(1) Initial meeting.--The Task Force shall hold its initial
meeting not later than 45 days after the final appointment of
all members pursuant to subsection (b)(2).
(2) Meetings.--
(A) In general.--The Task Force shall meet at the
call of the Chairperson.
(B) Quorum.--Eight members of the Task Force shall
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold
hearings.
(e) Compensation.--
(1) Prohibition of compensation.--Except as provided in
paragraph (2), Task Force members may not receive additional
pay, allowances, benefits as compensation for their service on
the Task Force.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each Task Force member shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Report to task force.--Not later than 6 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter,
each Federal agency listed in subsection (b)(1) shall submit a
report to the Task Force containing a detailed statement with
respect to the results of any programming within such agency
that addresses the goals of zoonotic spillover and disease
prevention.
(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Task Force shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees and the National Security Advisor that
contains a detailed statement of the recommendations of the
Task Force pursuant to subsection (c)(3)(A).
(g) Termination.--In accordance with section 14(a)(2)(B) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), the Task Force shall
terminate on the later of--
(1) the date that is 7 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act; or
(2) on a date selected by the Chairperson of the Task Force
that is not later than 2 years after the date referred to in
paragraph (1).
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