[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2686 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2686

 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
 study on the economic impact and health outcomes associated with the 
        response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 27, 2023

   Mr. Braun introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a 
 study on the economic impact and health outcomes associated with the 
        response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ASSESSMENT OF COVID-19 MITIGATION POLICIES.

    (a) GAO Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study on the economic impact and health outcomes associated 
with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Such 
study shall include--
            (1) a summary of strategies used by local governmental 
        entities, States, and the Federal Government to contain and 
        mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during the public health 
        emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health 
        Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) on January 31, 2020, including--
                    (A) limitations on large gatherings of people;
                    (B) the closure of schools, businesses, houses of 
                worship, and other facilities;
                    (C) masking policies;
                    (D) testing policies; and
                    (E) vaccination policies;
            (2) an analysis and review of the scientific evidence 
        related to the effectiveness of such strategies in preventing 
        or mitigating the spread of COVID-19, including estimates of 
        the burden of disease and death that were avoided through such 
        interventions;
            (3) an analysis and review of the economic and health 
        impacts of such strategies, including impacts related to mental 
        and physical health and student learning loss; and
            (4) an accounting of Federal funding used to implement such 
        strategies.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
a report on the study under subsection (a) to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. Such report shall 
include recommendations based on the findings of the study conducted 
under subsection (a) regarding the impact of such strategies during the 
COVID-19 public health emergency, including how to improve future 
responses.
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