[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3814 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3814
To modernize biosurveillance capabilities and infectious disease data
collection, and improve epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 10 (legislative day, March 7), 2022
Mr. Hickenlooper (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To modernize biosurveillance capabilities and infectious disease data
collection, and improve epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics.
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 ``Modernizing Biosurveillance
Capabilities and Epidemic Forecasting Act''.
SEC. 2. MODERNIZING BIOSURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
DATA COLLECTION.
Section 319D of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-4) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``, and local''
and inserting ``, local, and Tribal'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``modernize,''
after ``establish,'';
(B) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ``, and make
recommendations to improve the quality of data
collected pursuant to subparagraph (A) to ensure
complete, accurate, and timely sharing of such data, as
appropriate, across such elements as described in
subparagraph (A)'' after ``under subparagraph (A)'';
(C) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``and operating'' and
inserting ``, operating, and updating,
as appropriate,'';
(II) in clause (iv), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(III) in clause (v), by striking
the period and inserting ``; and''; and
(IV) by adding at the end the
following:
``(vi) in collaboration with State, local,
and Tribal public health officials, integrate
and update applicable existing public health
data systems and networks of the Department of
Health and Human Services to reflect
technological advancements, consistent with
section 2823, as applicable.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (i), by inserting
``and 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Modernizing
Biosurveillance Capabilities and
Epidemic Forecasting Act,'' after
``Innovation Act of 2019,'';
(II) in clause (ii), by inserting
``experts in privacy and data
security;'' after ``forecasting);'';
and
(III) in clause (iii)--
(aa) in subclause (V), by
striking ``and'' at the end;
(bb) in subclause (VI), by
striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(cc) by adding at the end
the following:
``(VII) strategies to integrate
laboratory and public health data
systems and capabilities to support
rapid and accurate reporting of
laboratory test results and associated
relevant data;
``(VIII) strategies to improve the
collection and reporting of relevant,
aggregated, deidentified demographic
data to inform responses to public
health emergencies, including
identification of at-risk populations
and to address potential health
disparities; and
``(IX) strategies to improve the
electronic exchange of health
information between State and local
health departments and health care
providers and facilities to improve
public health surveillance.''; and
(D) in paragraph (6)(A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting ``and every 5 years thereafter,''
after ``Innovation Act of 2019,''
(ii) in clause (iii)--
(I) in subclause (III), by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(II) by adding at the end the
following:
``(V) improve coordination and
collaboration, as appropriate, with
other Federal departments; and
``(VI) implement applicable lessons
learned from recent public health
emergencies to address gaps in
situational awareness and
biosurveillance capabilities;'';
(iii) in clause (iv), by striking ``and''
at the end;
(iv) in clause (v), by striking the period
and inserting ``, including a description of
how such steps will further the goals of the
network, consistent with paragraph (1); and'';
and
(v) by adding at the end the following:
``(vi) identifies and demonstrates
measurable steps the Secretary will take to
further develop and integrate infectious
disease detection, support rapid and accurate
reporting of laboratory test results during a
public health emergency, and improve
coordination and collaboration with State,
local, and Tribal public health officials,
clinical laboratories, and other entities with
expertise in public health surveillance.'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, acting
through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and in coordination with the heads of
other appropriate agencies and offices within the
Department of Health and Human Services,'' after ``the
Secretary'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ``, including
any public-private partnerships or other partnerships
entered into to improve such capacity'' before the
semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Non-duplication of effort.--The Secretary shall
ensure that activities carried out under an award under this
subsection do not unnecessarily duplicate efforts of other
agencies and offices within the Department of Health and Human
Services.'';
(4) by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated--
``(1) to carry out subsection (a), $25,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2022 and 2023; and
``(2) to carry out subsections (b), (c), and (d),
$136,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.''; and
(5) by striking ``tribal'' each place it appears and
inserting ``Tribal''.
SEC. 3. EPIDEMIC FORECASTING AND OUTBREAK ANALYTICS.
Title XXVIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 2824. EPIDEMIC FORECASTING AND OUTBREAK ANALYTICS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall continue
activities related to the development of infectious disease outbreak
analysis capabilities to enhance the prediction, modeling, and
forecasting of potential public health emergencies and other infectious
disease outbreaks, which may include activities to support preparedness
for, and response to, such emergencies and outbreaks. In carrying out
this subsection, the Secretary shall identify strategies to include and
leverage, as appropriate, the capabilities to public and private
entities, which may include conducting such activities through
collaborative partnerships with public and private entities, including
academic institutions, and other Federal agencies, consistent with
section 319D, as applicable.
``(b) Considerations.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, may consider public health data and, as
appropriate, other data sources related to the transmission of such
infectious diseases that affect preparedness for, or response to,
public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks.
``(c) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for each of the
subsequent 4 years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit a report, to
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives, regarding an update on progress on activities
conducted under this section to develop infectious disease outbreak
analysis capabilities and any additional information relevant to such
efforts.''.
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