[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 736 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 736
To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of
Health and Human Services to make grants to covered health departments
to increase the rate of recommended immunizations, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 2, 2021
Ms. Underwood (for herself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Kuster, and Ms.
Schrier) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of
Health and Human Services to make grants to covered health departments
to increase the rate of recommended immunizations, 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 ``Community Immunity During COVID-19
Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO INCREASE THE RATE OF IMMUNIZATIONS.
Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b) is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(n) Grants To Increase the Rate of Immunizations.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
shall make grants to covered health departments to increase the
rate of recommended immunizations during the COVID-19 public
health emergency.
``(2) Use of funds.--A covered health department receiving
a grant under this section may use funds received through the
grant for the following:
``(A) Providing funds to programs that increase the
rate of recommended immunizations during the COVID-19
public health emergency, including supporting evidence-
based outreach and educational activities in
communities served by the covered health department
involved.
``(B) Supporting efforts by health care providers
to communicate the importance of maintaining
immunization schedules and visiting a primary care
provider during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
``(C) Increasing awareness with respect to health
insurance options and programs that reduce the cost of
vaccines, including the Vaccines for Children program
(or similar program) carried out by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
``(D) Evaluating efforts to increase the rate of
recommended immunizations in communities described in
subparagraph (A) during the COVID-19 public health
emergency.
``(E) Developing and distributing culturally and
linguistically appropriate messages about the
importance of recommended immunizations during the
COVID-19 public health emergency, including vaccines
licensed under section 351 of this Act to prevent,
mitigate, or treat the virus that causes COVID-19.
``(F) Combating misinformation and disinformation
with respect to the safety of vaccines, including a
vaccine that will be licensed under section 351 of this
Act to prevent, mitigate, or treat the virus that
causes COVID-19.
``(3) Partnerships.--A covered health department that
receives a grant under this section may develop a partnership
with entities and individuals in the communities served by the
State, local, or Tribal government involved to carry out the
activities under paragraph (2), including--
``(A) a health care provider;
``(B) a school nurse;
``(C) an organization that primarily provides
health care or social services for--
``(i) groups that have a low rate of
immunizations;
``(ii) individuals with a chronic health
condition or underlying medical condition
associated with increased risk for severe
illness from COVID-19; or
``(iii) individuals with a limited
proficiency in the English language;
``(D) a faith-based organization;
``(E) a long-term care facility, senior center, or
other facility in which recommended immunizations for
older adults may be provided or promoted by the staff
of such facility or center;
``(F) a vaccine coalition;
``(G) a pediatric hospital;
``(H) a pharmacy;
``(I) a kindergarten, elementary, or secondary
school; or
``(J) an institution of higher education.
``(4) Evaluation.--Not later than 18 months after the date
on which a covered health department receives a grant under
this subsection, the covered health department shall submit to
the Secretary an evaluation on the effectiveness of the
activities carried out using such funds to increase the rate of
recommended immunizations.
``(5) Report to congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report that includes--
``(A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
activities under paragraph (2) to increase the rate of
recommended immunizations, based on the evaluations
submitted pursuant to paragraph (4); and
``(B) recommendations to increase the rate of
recommended immunizations, including recommendations
with respect to any public health emergency that occurs
in the future.
``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(A) Covered health department.--The term `covered
health department' means the public health department
of a State, local, or Tribal government.
``(B) COVID-19 public health emergency.--The term
`COVID-19 public health emergency' means the public
health emergency declared by the Secretary under
section 319 on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID-
19.
``(C) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given
that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
``(D) Recommended immunizations.--The term
`recommended immunizations' means immunizations
recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--
``(A) In general.--To carry out this subsection,
there is authorized to be appropriated, $560,000,000 to
remain available until expended.
``(B) Apportionment.--In awarding grant funds under
this subsection, the Secretary shall apportion the
amounts appropriated pursuant to subparagraph (A) for a
fiscal year, based on the population of the State,
local, or Tribal government involved, as follows:
``(i) Not less than 50 percent of such
funds to State and Tribal public health
departments.
``(ii) Not less than 50 percent of such
funds to local health departments.''.
SEC. 3. COVID-19 VACCINE GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 months after the date of
enactment of this section, the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (in this section referred to as the
``Director''), in consultation with the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices and the Administrator of the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall develop and distribute to health
care providers and State education agencies guidance to provide health
counseling services with respect to a vaccine licensed under section
351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262) for the
prevention, mitigation, or treatment of COVID-19.
(b) Content.--The guidance developed pursuant to subsection (a)
shall--
(1) be aligned with evidence-based practices; and
(2) include information that is culturally appropriate.
(c) Update.--The Director shall periodically update and distribute,
as appropriate, the guidance developed pursuant to subsection (a).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $2,500,000 to remain available
until expended.
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