[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4516 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4516

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the inclusion of 
 a biological attribution strategy, and an early warning strategy and 
implementation plan, in the National Health Security Strategy, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 10, 2023

 Mr. Crenshaw introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the inclusion of 
 a biological attribution strategy, and an early warning strategy and 
implementation plan, in the National Health Security Strategy, 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. BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTION STRATEGY.

    (a) Preparedness Goal.--Section 2802(b) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-1(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(11) Biological attribution strategy.--Developing a 
        biological attribution strategy to improve Federal coordination 
        of duties and activities related to biological attribution of 
        biological hazards and pathogens of pandemic potential, which 
        shall include developing a strategy in accordance with 
        subsection (c).''.
    (b) Details of Strategy.--Section 2802 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-1) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Biological Attribution Strategy.--
            ``(1) Contents.--The biological attribution strategy under 
        subsection (b)(11) shall include the following:
                    ``(A) A description of the biological attribution 
                duties of each appropriate Federal agency, including--
                            ``(i) the nature of routine bioattribution 
                        activities;
                            ``(ii) the level and type of biological 
                        events that may trigger an attribution 
                        determination by the appropriate Federal 
                        agencies regarding the source, cause, or origin 
                        of such events; and
                            ``(iii) the Federal agency's routine 
                        exercise of the capabilities to perform 
                        bioattribution activities.
                    ``(B) The process by which a bioattribution 
                determination is made by each such Federal agency, 
                including how such process may address national 
                security considerations.
                    ``(C) Development of assignments, milestones, and 
                timelines necessary to establish the strongest possible 
                national capacity for bioattribution.
                    ``(D) A plan for the identification, development, 
                and implementation of new technologies, through both 
                internal and public-private initiatives, with an 
                emphasis on diagnostic, sequencing, and safe collection 
                capabilities.
            ``(2) Coordination.--In developing the biological 
        attribution strategy under subsection (b)(11), the Secretary 
        shall coordinate with the relevant Federal agencies, including 
        the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the 
        Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of the 
        Director of National Intelligence.''.

SEC. 2. EARLY WARNING STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

    (a) Preparedness Goal.--Section 2802(b) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-1(b)), as amended by section 1, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) Early warning strategy and implementation plan.--
        Developing and implementing an early warning strategy and 
        implementation plan for biological, chemical, and radiological 
        threats, in accordance with subsection (d).''.
    (b) Details of Strategy and Plan.--Section 2802 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-1), as amended by section 1, is 
further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Early Warning Strategy and Implementation Plan.--
            ``(1) Objectives.--The objectives of the early warning 
        strategy and implementation plan under subsection (b)(12) shall 
        include--
                    ``(A) development of a robust early warning 
                function for the United States which incorporates new 
                technologies, with an emphasis on diagnostic, 
                sequencing, and safe collection capabilities;
                    ``(B) identification of new biological threats at 
                the earliest time to inform response strategies;
                    ``(C) understanding of the prevalence of current 
                and recurring threats;
                    ``(D) the ability to adapt technologies to emerging 
                chemical and radiological threats, including synthetic 
                drugs and fentanyl;
                    ``(E) ongoing detection from broad sources 
                including wastewater, airports, and transportation 
                hubs; and
                    ``(F) the ability to rapidly deploy technologies at 
                scale during a public health event.
            ``(2) Coordination and eliminating duplication.--
                    ``(A) Consultation.--In developing the early 
                warning strategy and implementation plan under 
                subsection (b)(12), the Secretary shall consult with--
                            ``(i) State and local public health 
                        entities;
                            ``(ii) private sector and academic 
                        partners; and
                            ``(iii) Federal officials as appropriate, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) the Assistant Secretary for 
                                Strategic Preparedness and Response; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) the Director of the Centers 
                                for Disease Control and Prevention.
                    ``(B) Purposes.--The purposes of consultation under 
                paragraph (1) shall be to coordinate activities, 
                streamline Federal programs, and eliminate waste and 
                duplication.
                    ``(C) Meetings.--The Secretary, on a periodic basis 
                as applicable and appropriate, shall meet with the 
                Director of National Intelligence to inform the 
                development and capabilities of the early warning 
                strategy and implementation plan under subsection 
                (b)(12) for foreign and cross-border threats.''.
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