[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 31, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H797-H798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS ALLOWABLE USE ACT
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 437) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to codify
authority under existing grant guidance authorizing use of Urban Area
Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program funding
for enhancing medical preparedness, medical surge capacity, and mass
prophylaxis capabilities.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 437
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 ``Medical Preparedness
Allowable Use Act''.
SEC. 2. USE OF CERTAIN HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT FUNDS FOR
ENHANCING MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS, MEDICAL SURGE
CAPACITY, AND MASS PROPHYLAXIS CAPABILITIES.
Section 2008 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C.
609) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (14) as
paragraphs (11) through (15), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new
paragraph (10):
``(10) enhancing medical preparedness, medical surge
capacity, and mass prophylaxis capabilities, including the
development and maintenance of an initial pharmaceutical
stockpile, including medical kits, and diagnostics sufficient
to protect first responders, their families, immediate
victims, and vulnerable populations from a chemical or
biological event;''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ``subsection
(a)(10)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(11)''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Donovan) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's
Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I
rise today in support of H.R. 437, the Medical Preparedness Allowable
Use Act. H.R. 437 was introduced by Congressman Bilirakis, a former
chairman of the Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
Subcommittee.
This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make it clear
that State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security
Initiative Grant funds may be used to enhance medical preparedness and
purchase medical countermeasures.
H.R. 437 codifies current grant guidance to ensure that recipients of
the State Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security
Initiative Grants will continue to be able to use these funds for
medical preparedness equipment and activities.
Mr. Speaker, the threat of a terrorist attack using a chemical or
biological agent is real. We must ensure our first responders have the
tools and capabilities they need should such an event occur.
In my district, the City of New York has put their Homeland Security
grants to good use for this purpose. In 2014, they held a full-scale
exercise which simulated an anthrax attack on the city. Participants
from agencies across the city, including the health department, the New
York City Police Department, and the Office of Emergency Management
worked to set up locations to quickly distribute lifesaving medical
countermeasures to city residents across the five boroughs.
We must ensure that the State Homeland Security Grant Program and the
Urban Areas Security Initiative funds continue to be available, despite
any changes to yearly grant guidance, for exercises like the one
conducted by New York City and other important medical preparedness
activities. This bill does just that.
Identical language to H.R. 437 passed the House last Congress by a
vote of 377-2.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Bilirakis for introducing this
commonsense bill. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this
bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1630
Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 437. Whether the result of a
naturally occurring outbreak, like Zika or Ebola, or an intentional
release of bio-pathogens, like anthrax attacks that shook Washington
immediately after 9/11, we must ensure that our public health and
medical response communities are prepared to respond to events that may
stretch their capabilities.
In recent years, the Metropolitan Medical Response System Program has
been eliminated, and grants supported by the Department of Health and
Human Services, such as the Hospital Preparedness Program, have been
cut. As a result, many jurisdictions have been forced to make tough
choices and, in many cases, divert other limited funding to support
medical preparedness.
Under current law, the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State
Homeland Security Grant Program funding can be used to bolster medical
preparedness capabilities, but the ability to use funds for that
purpose is contingent on the grant guidance issued
[[Page H798]]
every year. H.R. 437 would make enhancing medical preparedness and
medical surge capacity and capabilities eligible uses of Homeland
Security Grant funds under the law.
This measure passed in the House last Congress, and I urge my
colleagues to again support this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his
support.
I rise today in support of critical legislation to support public
safety and first responders, the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use
Act, H.R. 437.
My bill will help secure medical countermeasures for first
responders, ensuring we are prepared for any type of emergency. For
instance, last year, in Florida, we faced the outbreak of the Zika
virus.
The Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act means that reliable grant
funding would be available to conduct medical preparedness activities
such as planning, training, and purchasing protective equipment to
combat Zika or other public health threats going forward nationwide.
When the worst occurs, our first responders are there for us on the
front lines.
I consistently find myself in awe of these brave men and women and
the sacrifices they make on the public's behalf. They are heroes. The
least we can do is make sure they have the tools they need to do their
jobs and keep us safe. That is what my bill seeks to accomplish. We
want to keep them safe as well, Mr. Speaker.
The legislation authorizes grant funds for the stockpiling of
countermeasures, including medical kits, protective gear, ventilators,
and more. This should give us all peace of mind to know this vital
equipment will be there in case of a crisis.
Importantly, the grant fund used in H.R. 437 already exists. The bill
does not require new or additional funding. Also significant, this bill
has received strong bipartisan support.
I thank my colleagues, Representatives Susan Brooks and Peter King,
for being original cosponsors of H.R. 437.
I was inspired to write this legislation during my time as
subcommittee chairman on the Homeland Security Committee after a series
of hearings with folks from the emergency response community. They
expressed the urgent need for stockpiling these medical countermeasures
and for providing first responders the assurance that grant funding may
be used to support them now and in the future. They need certainty, Mr.
Speaker.
I am proud to have the support of the Emergency Services Coalition
for Medical Preparedness and the International Association of Fire
Chiefs on this issue. The Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act is
going to make a difference to protect the public and protect our
protectors. I strongly urge passage today.
Mr. RICHMOND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 437. Developing and maintaining
medical preparedness is an important part of national preparedness.
State and local governments should not have to wonder whether they will
be able to use DHS grant funds for this purpose from year to year.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 437.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DONOVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 437.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 437.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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