[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6878 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6878

  To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and 
implement improved, transparent processes for the use and distribution 
    of supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 14, 2020

 Ms. Slotkin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and 
implement improved, transparent processes for the use and distribution 
    of supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile, 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. IMPROVED, TRANSPARENT PROCESSES FOR THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL 
              STOCKPILE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2021, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, in collaboration with the Assistant 
Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop and implement 
improved, transparent processes for the use and distribution of drugs, 
vaccines and other biological products, medical devices, and other 
supplies (including personal protective equipment, ancillary medical 
supplies, and other applicable supplies required for the administration 
of drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices, and 
diagnostic tests) in the Strategic National Stockpile under section 
319F-2 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b) (in this 
section referred to as the ``Stockpile'').
    (b) Processes.--The processes developed under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) the form and manner in which States, localities, 
        Tribes, and territories are required to submit requests for 
        supplies from the Stockpile;
            (2) the criteria used by the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services in responding to such requests, including the reasons 
        for fulfilling or denying such requests;
            (3) what circumstances result in prioritization of 
        distribution of supplies from the Stockpile to States, 
        localities, Tribes, or territories;
            (4) clear plans for future, urgent communication between 
        the Secretary and States, localities, Tribes, and territories 
        regarding the outcome of such requests; and
            (5) any differences in the processes developed under 
        subsection (a) for geographically related emergencies, such as 
        weather events, and national emergencies, such as pandemics.
    (c) Classification.--The processes developed under subsection (a) 
shall be unclassified to the greatest extent possible consistent with 
national security. The Secretary of Health and Human Services may 
classify portions of such processes as necessary to protect national 
security.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than January 1, 2021, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall--
            (1) submit a report to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate regarding the 
        improved, transparent processes developed under this section;
            (2) include in such report recommendations for 
        opportunities for communication (by telebriefing, phone calls, 
        or in-person meetings) between the Secretary and States, 
        localities, Tribes, and territories regarding such improved, 
        transparent processes; and
            (3) submit such report in unclassified form to the greatest 
        extent possible, except that the Secretary may include a 
        classified appendix if necessary to protect national security.
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