II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1798 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 17, 2007 Mr. Bingaman (for himself, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Cornyn, and Mrs. Boxer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 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 and infectious disease, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Border Health Security Act of 2007.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Border area

The term border area has the meaning given the term United States-Mexico Border Area in section 8 of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act (22 U.S.C. 290n–6). (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

3.

Border health grants

(a)

Eligible entity defined

In this section, the term eligible entity means a State, public institution of higher education, local government, tribal government, nonprofit health organization, trauma center, 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 border area. (b)

Authorization

From funds appropriated under subsection (f), the Secretary, acting through the United States members of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, shall award grants to eligible entities to address priorities and recommendations to improve the health of border area residents that are established by— (1)the United States members of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission; (2)the State border health offices; and (3)the Secretary. (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— (1)programs relating to— (A)maternal and child health; (B)primary care and preventative health; (C)public health and public health infrastructure; (D)health promotion; (E)oral health; (F)behavioral and mental health; (G)substance abuse; (H)health conditions that have a high prevalence in the border area; (I)medical and health services research; (J)workforce training and development; (K)community health workers or promotoras; (L)health care infrastructure problems in the border area (including planning and construction grants); (M)health disparities in the border area; (N)environmental health; (O)health education; (P)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 and 1397aa)); (Q)trauma care; (R)infectious disease testing and monitoring; (S)health research with an emphasis on infectious disease; and (T)cross-border health surveillance; and (2)other programs determined appropriate by the Secretary. (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). (f)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year.

4.

Grants for all hazards preparedness in the border area including bioterrorism and infectious disease

(a)

Eligible entity defined

In this section, the term eligible entity means a State, local government, tribal government, trauma centers, regional trauma center coordinating entity, or public health entity. (b)

Authorization

From funds appropriated under subsection (e), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities for all hazards preparedness in the border area including bioterrorism and infectious disease. (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 to, in coordination with State and local all hazards programs— (1)develop and implement all hazards preparedness plans and readiness assessments and purchase items necessary for such plans; (2)coordinate all hazard and emergency preparedness planning in the region; (3)improve infrastructure, including surge capacity syndromic surveillance, laboratory capacity, and isolation/decontamination capacity; (4)create a health alert network, including risk communication and information dissemination; (5)educate and train clinicians, epidemiologists, laboratories, and emergency personnel; (6)implement electronic data systems to coordinate the triage, transportation, and treatment of multi-casualty incident victims; (7)provide infectious disease testing in the border area; and (8)carry out such other activities identified by the Secretary, the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, State and local public health offices, and border health offices. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.

5.

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 by adding at the end the following:

9.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.

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6.

Coordination of health services and surveillance

The Secretary 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 border area; and (2)is alerted to signs of health threats, disasters of mass scale, or bioterrorism along the border area.

7.

Binational health infrastructure and health insurance

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine for the conduct of a study concerning binational health infrastructure (including trauma and emergency care) and health insurance efforts. In conducting such study, the Institute shall solicit input from border health experts and health insurance issuers. (b)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary of Health and Human Services enters into the contract under subsection (a), the Institute of Medicine shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the study conducted under such contract. Such report shall include the recommendations of the Institute on ways to expand or improve binational health infrastructure and health insurance efforts.

8.

Provision of recommendations and advice to Congress

Section 5 of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act (22 U.S.C. 290n–3) is amended by adding at the end the following: (d)

Providing advice and recommendations to Congress

A member of the Commission, or an individual who is on the staff of the Commission, may at any time provide advice or recommendations to Congress concerning issues that are considered by the Commission. Such advice or recommendations may be provided whether or not a request for such is made by a member of Congress and regardless of whether the member or individual is authorized to provide such advice or recommendations by the Commission or any other Federal official. .