[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 164 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4667-H4671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY ACT OF 2020

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2166) to authorize a comprehensive, strategic 
approach for United States foreign assistance to developing countries 
to strengthen global health security, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2166

       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 ``Global Health Security Act 
     of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) In December 2009, President Obama released the National 
     Strategy for Countering Biological Threats, which listed as 
     one of seven objectives ``Promote global health security: 
     Increase the availability of and access to knowledge and 
     products of the life sciences that can help reduce the impact 
     from outbreaks of infectious disease whether of natural, 
     accidental, or deliberate origin''.
       (2) In February 2014, the United States and nearly 30 other 
     nations launched the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) to 
     address several high-priority, global infectious disease 
     threats. The GHSA is a multi-faceted, multi-country 
     initiative intended to accelerate partner countries' 
     measurable capabilities to achieve specific targets to 
     prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, 
     whether naturally occurring, deliberate, or accidental.
       (3) In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable 
     Development Goals (SDGs), which include specific reference to 
     the importance of global health security as part of SDG 3 
     ``ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all 
     ages'' as follows: ``strengthen the capacity of all 
     countries, in particular developing countries, for early 
     warning, risk reduction and management of national and global 
     health risks''.
       (4) On November 4, 2016, President Obama signed Executive 
     Order 13747, ``Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda to 
     Achieve a World Safe and Secure from Infectious Disease 
     Threats''.
       (5) In October 2017 at the GHSA Ministerial Meeting in 
     Uganda, the United States and more than 40 GHSA member 
     countries supported the ``Kampala Declaration'' to extend the 
     GHSA for an additional 5 years to 2024.
       (6) In December 2017, President Trump released the National 
     Security Strategy, which includes the priority action: 
     ``Detect and contain biothreats at their source: We will work 
     with other countries to detect and mitigate outbreaks early 
     to prevent the spread of disease. We will encourage other 
     countries to invest in basic health care systems and to 
     strengthen global health security across the intersection of 
     human and animal health to prevent infectious disease 
     outbreaks''.
       (7) In September 2018, President Trump released the 
     National Biodefense Strategy, which includes objectives to 
     ``strengthen global health security capacities to prevent 
     local bioincidents from becoming epidemics'', and 
     ``strengthen international preparedness to support 
     international response and recovery capabilities''.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to--
       (1) promote global health security as a core national 
     security interest;
       (2) advance the aims of the Global Health Security Agenda;
       (3) collaborate with other countries to detect and mitigate 
     outbreaks early to prevent the spread of disease;
       (4) encourage other countries to invest in basic resilient 
     and sustainable health care systems; and
       (5) strengthen global health security across the 
     intersection of human and animal health to prevent infectious 
     disease outbreaks and combat the growing threat of 
     antimicrobial resistance.

     SEC. 4. GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA INTERAGENCY REVIEW 
                   COUNCIL.

       (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish a Global 
     Health Security Agenda Interagency Review Council (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Council'') to perform the 
     general responsibilities described in subsection (c) and the 
     specific roles and responsibilities described in subsection 
     (e).
       (b) Meetings.--The Council shall meet not less than four 
     times per year to advance its mission and fulfill its 
     responsibilities.
       (c) General Responsibilities.--The Council shall be 
     responsible for the following activities:
       (1) Provide policy-level recommendations to participating 
     agencies on Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) goals, 
     objectives, and implementation.
       (2) Facilitate interagency, multi-sectoral engagement to 
     carry out GHSA implementation.
       (3) Provide a forum for raising and working to resolve 
     interagency disagreements concerning the GHSA.
       (4)(A) Review the progress toward and work to resolve 
     challenges in achieving United States commitments under the 
     GHSA, including commitments to assist other countries in 
     achieving the GHSA targets.
       (B) The Council shall consider, among other issues, the 
     following:
       (i) The status of United States financial commitments to 
     the GHSA in the context of commitments by other donors, and 
     the contributions of partner countries to achieve the GHSA 
     targets.
       (ii) The progress toward the milestones outlined in GHSA 
     national plans for those countries where the United States 
     Government has committed to assist in implementing the GHSA 
     and in annual work-plans outlining agency priorities for 
     implementing the GHSA.
       (iii) The external evaluations of United States and partner 
     country capabilities to address infectious disease threats, 
     including the ability to achieve the targets outlined within 
     the WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tool, as well as gaps 
     identified by such external evaluations.
       (d) Participation.--The Council shall consist of 
     representatives, serving at the Assistant Secretary level or 
     higher, from the following agencies:
       (1) The Department of State.
       (2) The Department of Defense.
       (3) The Department of Justice.
       (4) The Department of Agriculture.
       (5) The Department of Health and Human Services.
       (6) The Department of Labor.
       (7) The Department of Homeland Security.
       (8) The Office of Management and Budget.
       (9) The United States Agency for International Development.
       (10) The Environmental Protection Agency.
       (11) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
       (12) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
       (13) The National Institutes of Health.
       (14) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 
     Diseases.
       (15) Such other agencies as the Council determines to be 
     appropriate.
       (e) Specific Roles and Responsibilities.--
       (1) In general.--The heads of agencies described in 
     subsection (d) shall--
       (A) make the GHSA and its implementation a high priority 
     within their respective agencies, and include GHSA-related 
     activities within their respective agencies' strategic 
     planning and budget processes;
       (B) designate a senior-level official to be responsible for 
     the implementation of this Act;
       (C) designate, in accordance with subsection (d), an 
     appropriate representative at the Assistant Secretary level 
     or higher to participate on the Council;
       (D) keep the Council apprised of GHSA-related activities 
     undertaken within their respective agencies;
       (E) maintain responsibility for agency-related programmatic 
     functions in coordination with host governments, country 
     teams, and GHSA in-country teams, and in conjunction with 
     other relevant agencies;
       (F) coordinate with other agencies that are identified in 
     this section to satisfy programmatic goals, and further 
     facilitate coordination of country teams, implementers, and 
     donors in host countries; and
       (G) coordinate across GHSA national plans and with GHSA 
     partners to which the United States is providing assistance.
       (2) Additional roles and responsibilities.--In addition to 
     the roles and responsibilities described in paragraph (1), 
     the heads of agencies described in subsection (d) shall carry 
     out their respective roles and responsibilities described in 
     subsections (b) through (i) of section 3 of Executive Order 
     13747 (81 Fed. Reg. 78701; relating to Advancing the Global 
     Health Security Agenda to Achieve a World Safe and Secure 
     from Infectious Disease Threats), as in effect on the day 
     before the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 5. UNITED STATES COORDINATOR FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY.

       (a) In General.--The President shall appoint an individual 
     to the position of United States Coordinator for Global 
     Health Security, who shall be responsible for the 
     coordination of the interagency process for responding to 
     global health security emergencies. As appropriate, the 
     designee shall coordinate with the President's Special 
     Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance.
       (b) Congressional Briefing.--Not less frequently than twice 
     each year, the employee designated under this section shall 
     provide to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     briefing on the responsibilities and activities of the 
     individual under this section.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 8 of the Global 
     Health Security Act of 2019.

     SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that, given the complex and 
     multisectoral nature of global health threats to the United 
     States, the President--
       (1) should consider appointing an individual with 
     significant background and expertise in public health or 
     emergency response management to the position of United

[[Page H4668]]

     States Coordinator for Global Health Security, as required by 
     section 5(a), who is an employee of the National Security 
     Council at the level of Deputy Assistant to the President or 
     higher; and
       (2) in providing assistance to implement the strategy 
     required under section 7(a), should--
       (A) coordinate, through a whole-of-government approach, the 
     efforts of relevant Federal departments and agencies to 
     implement the strategy;
       (B) seek to fully utilize the unique capabilities of each 
     relevant Federal department and agency while collaborating 
     with and leveraging the contributions of other key 
     stakeholders; and
       (C) utilize open and streamlined solicitations to allow for 
     the participation of a wide range of implementing partners 
     through the most appropriate procurement mechanisms, which 
     may include grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and 
     other instruments as necessary and appropriate.

     SEC. 7. STRATEGY AND REPORTS.

       (a) Strategy.--The United States Coordinator for Global 
     Health Security (appointed under section 5(a)) shall 
     coordinate the development and implementation of a strategy 
     to implement the policy aims described in section 3, which 
     shall--
       (1) set specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, 
     timetables, performance metrics, and monitoring and 
     evaluation plans that reflect international best practices 
     relating to transparency, accountability, and global health 
     security;
       (2) support and be aligned with country-owned global health 
     security policy and investment plans developed with input 
     from key stakeholders, as appropriate;
       (3) facilitate communication and collaboration, as 
     appropriate, among local stakeholders in support of a multi-
     sectoral approach to global health security;
       (4) support the long-term success of programs by building 
     the capacity of local organizations and institutions in 
     target countries and communities;
       (5) develop community resilience to infectious disease 
     threats and emergencies;
       (6) leverage resources and expertise through partnerships 
     with the private sector, health organizations, civil society, 
     nongovernmental organizations, and health research and 
     academic institutions; and
       (7) support collaboration, as appropriate, between United 
     States universities, and public and private institutions in 
     target countries and communities to promote health security 
     and innovation.
       (b) Coordination.--The President, acting through the United 
     States Coordinator for Global Health Security, shall 
     coordinate, through a whole-of-government approach, the 
     efforts of relevant Federal departments and agencies in the 
     implementation of the strategy required under subsection (a) 
     by--
       (1) establishing monitoring and evaluation systems, 
     coherence, and coordination across relevant Federal 
     departments and agencies; and
       (2) establishing platforms for regular consultation and 
     collaboration with key stakeholders and the appropriate 
     congressional committees.
       (c) Strategy Submission.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President, in consultation 
     with the head of each relevant Federal department and agency, 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the 
     strategy required under subsection (a) that provides a 
     detailed description of how the United States intends to 
     advance the policy set forth in section 3 and the agency-
     specific plans described in paragraph (2).
       (2) Agency-specific plans.--The strategy required under 
     subsection (a) shall include specific implementation plans 
     from each relevant Federal department and agency that 
     describes--
       (A) the anticipated contributions of the department or 
     agency, including technical, financial, and in-kind 
     contributions, to implement the strategy; and
       (B) the efforts of the department or agency to ensure that 
     the activities and programs carried out pursuant to the 
     strategy are designed to achieve maximum impact and long-term 
     sustainability.
       (d) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
     which the strategy required under subsection (a) is submitted 
     to the appropriate congressional committees under subsection 
     (c), and not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, 
     the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report that describes the status of the 
     implementation of the strategy.
       (2) Contents.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall--
       (A) identify any substantial changes made in the strategy 
     during the preceding calendar year;
       (B) describe the progress made in implementing the 
     strategy;
       (C) identify the indicators used to establish benchmarks 
     and measure results over time, as well as the mechanisms for 
     reporting such results in an open and transparent manner;
       (D) contain a transparent, open, and detailed accounting of 
     expenditures by relevant Federal departments and agencies to 
     implement the strategy, including, to the extent practicable, 
     for each Federal department and agency, the statutory source 
     of expenditures, amounts expended, partners, targeted 
     populations, and types of activities supported;
       (E) describe how the strategy leverages other United States 
     global health and development assistance programs;
       (F) assess efforts to coordinate United States global 
     health security programs, activities, and initiatives with 
     key stakeholders;
       (G) incorporate a plan for regularly reviewing and updating 
     strategies, partnerships, and programs and sharing lessons 
     learned with a wide range of stakeholders, including key 
     stakeholders, in an open, transparent manner; and
       (H) describe the progress achieved and challenges 
     concerning the United States Government's ability to advance 
     the Global Health Security Agenda across priority countries, 
     including data disaggregated by priority country using 
     indicators that are consistent on a year-to-year basis and 
     recommendations to resolve, mitigate, or otherwise address 
     the challenges identified therein.
       (e) Form.--The strategy required under subsection (a) and 
     the report required under subsection (d) shall be submitted 
     in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

     SEC. 8. COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOREIGN AID TRANSPARENCY AND 
                   ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2016.

       Section 2(3) of the Foreign Aid Transparency and 
     Accountability Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-191; 22 U.S.C. 
     2394c note) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) the Global Health Security Act of 2020.''.

     SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate.
       (2) Global health security.--The term ``global health 
     security'' means activities supporting epidemic and pandemic 
     preparedness and capabilities at the country and global 
     levels in order to minimize vulnerability to acute public 
     health events that can endanger the health of populations 
     across geographical regions and international boundaries.

     SEC. 10. SUNSET.

       This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, (other than 
     section 5) shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2024.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Castro) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2166.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, pandemics don't respect borders and they don't care 
about nationalities. We have witnessed that this year with the spread 
of the coronavirus. That is why this bill comes before us at a critical 
time. I want to say a very big thank you to Gerry Connolly from 
Virginia for authoring this important legislation.
  In the last 8 months, we have watched this pandemic spread around the 
world, upending the global economy, disrupting our lives and creating 
grave uncertainty about what happens next. Unfortunately, the 
administration's catastrophic response to the current COVID-19 pandemic 
has led to nearly 200,000 American deaths.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                                      Committee on Armed Services,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, July 30, 2020.
     Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     2166, the ``Global Health Security Act of 2020.'' There are 
     certain provisions in this legislation that fall within the 
     Rule X jurisdiction of the Armed Services Committee.
       In the interest of permitting your Committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     we will not formally consider H.R. 2166. We do so with the 
     understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the 
     Committee on Armed

[[Page H4669]]

     Services does not waive any future jurisdictional claims over 
     the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within 
     its Rule X jurisdiction.
       Please ensure that our exchange of letters is included in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the 
     bill. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have 
     worked regarding this matter and others between our 
     respective Committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Adam Smith,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, July 31, 2020.
     Hon. Adam Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Smith: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     2166, the Global Health Security Act. I appreciate your 
     willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the House Committee on Armed Services under 
     House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on 
     H.R. 2166 to expedite floor consideration. I further 
     acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect 
     to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim 
     over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your 
     jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of House 
     Armed Services Committee conferees during any House-Senate 
     conference convened on this legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Eliot L. Engel,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, July 31, 2020.
     Hon. Adam B. Schiff,
     House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Schiff: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     2166, the Global Health Security Act. I appreciate your 
     willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
       I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the 
     jurisdiction of the House Permanent Select Committee on 
     Intelligence under House Rule X, and that your Committee will 
     forgo action on H.R. 2166 to expedite floor consideration. I 
     further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with 
     respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional 
     claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within 
     your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of 
     House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence conferees 
     during any House-Senate conference convened on this 
     legislation.
       Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is 
     included in the Congressional Record during floor 
     consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your 
     cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to 
     continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the 
     legislative process.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Eliot L. Engel
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House of 
           Representatives,
                                                  August 24, 2020.
     Hon. Eliot Engel,
     Committee on Foreign Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Engel: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 
     2166, the Global Health Security Act. Certain provisions in 
     the legislation fall within the jurisdiction of the House 
     Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), as set 
     forth in Rule X of the House of Representatives for the 116th 
     Congress.
       In the interest of permitting your committee to proceed 
     expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, 
     I am willing to waive this committee's right to sequential 
     referral. By waiving consideration of H.R. 2166, HPSCI does 
     not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subjects 
     contained in the bill which fall within HPSCJ's Rule X 
     jurisdiction. I further request that you urge the Speaker to 
     appoint members of HP SCI to any conference committee which 
     is named to consider provisions addressing such subjects.
       Finally, I ask that our exchange of letters be included in 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure 
     on the House floor.
       I continue to be grateful for the cooperative spirit in 
     which you have worked regarding this matter and others 
     between our respective committees, and look forward to a 
     prompt floor vote on H.R. 2166.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Adam B. Schiff,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as this painful year has hammered home: viruses and 
pandemics know no borders. The bipartisan Global Health Security Act 
reaffirms our commitment to promoting global health security as a core 
issue of national security.
  This bill--and I want to thank my friend, Gerry Connolly and   Steve 
Chabot, who, I am not sure if he will be able to speak or not--but I 
want to thank them for bringing this bill forward.
  This bill directs the President to establish an interagency review 
council that will support our executive branch agencies and ensure 
coordination between their efforts. It also requires the designation of 
a lead official as the United States coordinator for Global Health 
Security, who will be responsible for coordinating the U.S. response to 
global health crises across agencies.
  As our country continues to fight COVID-19 and this pandemic, we must 
make sure our preparations to fight future threats to the health and 
security of Americans are as efficient and effective as they can be.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank the sponsors of the bill, Mr. Connolly 
and Mr. Chabot, for their leadership in supporting and introducing this 
bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Texas (Mr. 
Castro) and my other good friend from Texas (Mr. McCaul) for their 
leadership and generosity in allowing us to bring this bipartisan bill 
before the floor.
  Madam Speaker, I rise, of course, in support of H.R. 2166, the Global 
Health Security Act, which reaffirms the United States' commitment in 
promoting global health security.
  I first introduced this bill in partnership with my colleague,   
Steve Chabot of Ohio, 2 years ago, before the pandemic, when we 
identified a dearth of leadership and strategy around U.S. planning for 
a global health security emergency.
  Tragically, the global COVID-19 pandemic has underscored not only the 
need for a robust Federal response to such a crisis, but also the 
importance of investing in global health security around the world 
because viruses and diseases do not respect national borders. We are 
truly in this together.
  Amid concerns about the response to COVID-19, I welcome the fact that 
the House Foreign Affairs Committee coalesced around a bipartisan 
solution that addresses deficiencies in the current response as well as 
to demonstrate a commitment to a comprehensive and sustainable approach 
to global health security.
  One of the critical lessons learned during the U.S. response to the 
2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the need for a permanent 
designated official responsible for coordinating the interagency 
response to a global health security emergency in the event of a 
pandemic.
  In fact, the primary recommendation of the recent CSIS report on 
Strengthening America's Health Security is to restore the health 
security leadership at the White House National Security Council by 
naming a senior level leader in charge of coordinating U.S. efforts to 
anticipate, to prevent, and to respond to biological crises.
  Despite bipartisan support, sadly, the administration eliminated the 
previous NSC position responsible for just such a crisis 2 years ago.
  At a time when decisive leadership and robust Federal coordination is 
sorely needed to combat the global COVID-19 pandemic, our Global Health 
Security Act would reestablish the government-wide lead for pandemic 
response by creating a U.S. coordinator.
  This legislation also establishes an interagency review council, as 
Mr. McCaul indicated, charged with implementing U.S. commitments around 
a Global Health Security Agenda and sets important metrics for global 
health security planning.
  And the bill requires a global health security strategy that helps 
other countries, as well as our own, to strengthen their healthcare 
systems in order to detect, prevent and mitigate outbreaks early.
  Republican and Democratic Presidents have recognized the critical 
importance of global health security,

[[Page H4670]]

from President Obama's role in launching the Global Health Security 
Agenda to President Trump's National Security Strategy and National 
Biodefense Strategy.
  Whether it is the current COVID-19 pandemic or the next crisis, it is 
clear these threats are going to be ongoing and perhaps increasing. 
Saving lives from the next global pandemic starts with investing in 
preparedness before it strikes. As we have seen time and again, 
diseases don't respect borders, and global health crises have immense 
security, economic, and humanitarian consequences, as we are seeing 
now.
  Our Global Health Security Act recognizes the critical role of U.S. 
leadership in international health security and enshrines U.S. global 
health security policy in statute.
  I am proud that this bill passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee 
unanimously and was included in both the House-passed HEROES Act and 
the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act.
  The Global Health Security Act is endorsed by ChildFund 
International, Global Health Council, International Medical Corps, 
IntraHealth International, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health 
Security, Nuclear Threat Initiative, the ONE Campaign, PATH, the 
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Management Sciences 
for Health, Sabin Vaccine Institute, The Borgen Project, and the 
American Society for Microbiology, among others.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on a bipartisan basis, 
my friend from Ohio,   Steve Chabot, Rick Larsen from Washington, Brian 
Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania, Ami Bera from California, and Ann Wagner 
from Missouri, for serving as original cosponsors on this bipartisan 
bill.

  I urge my colleagues to adopt it as a prudent measure in response to 
this pandemic.
  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I reiterate the vision of both Mr. Connolly and Mr. 
Chabot for introducing this bill, and the discussions I believe, as the 
gentleman stated from Virginia, took place 2 years ago, well before the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Chabot), who introduced the bill and is the coauthor.
  Mr. CHABOT. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for 
yielding. And I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Connolly) for his leadership on this.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2166, the Global Health 
Security Act. And this was already stated, it was bipartisan 
legislation offered by my good friend, Mr. Connolly. We have worked on 
a whole range of issues in a bipartisan manner over the years. He is a 
Democrat and I am a Republican, but we actually worked together. He and 
I introduced it at the beginning of last year. So this was early 2019 
to strengthen U.S. and global preparedness for and capacity to respond 
to pandemics like the coronavirus.

                              {time}  1300

  This legislation was not born out of the coronavirus. It was born out 
of a bipartisan vision for strengthening global health systems around 
the world in case a disease like the coronavirus emerged. And as we 
know, it did, catching the whole world really flat-footed.
  Congressman Connolly and I introduced this legislation in April 2019, 
well before anyone had ever heard the term ``COVID-19.'' When the 
Foreign Affairs Committee considered this legislation in March of this 
year, there were 100,000 coronavirus cases worldwide. That number has 
now risen, as we know, to over 30 million that we know of.
  The Global Health Security Act has two main objectives.
  First, it codifies bipartisan support for the Global Health Security 
Agenda. This multilateral partnership started under the Obama 
administration and was embraced by the Trump administration. It aims to 
strengthen health systems and laboratories in countries across the 
globe so that they meet International Health Regulation standards.
  Many of our constituents may wonder why we should support health 
systems abroad when there are so many needs here at home. Well, the 
coronavirus pandemic clearly shows that a weak and opaque health system 
in another country--in this case, China--can directly threaten us right 
here in America. That is why we must remain vigilant, so we can contain 
future emergent deadly diseases where they originate before they have a 
chance to become a pandemic and affect us here at home.
  Second, our bill makes sure that we have the personnel in place to 
prepare and respond to pandemics like the coronavirus. We need someone 
to coordinate our government's response since that response inevitably 
involves several agencies across the government, from the State 
Department to the CDC, et cetera.
  Several Republicans, including then-Chairman Ed Royce, called on the 
Obama administration to appoint a single point person with a health 
background during the Ebola outbreak back in 2014. President Obama's 
team got it half right by choosing a single person, who was a political 
appointee. The Trump administration appointed Dr. Debbie Birx, this 
time a universally respected health expert, as White House Coronavirus 
Response Coordinator under Vice President Mike Pence.
  In any event, our bill would make this position permanent so that 
when the next pandemic comes, America and the world are fully prepared 
to address that crisis.
  Witnessing the death toll and the economic devastation that the 
coronavirus has brought, I think all Americans will agree that 
protecting our Nation's health from future pandemics must be seen as a 
national security priority. We need to take this opportunity to 
recommit to leadership on global health security and prepare the world 
to face and defeat the next pandemic.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I again thank the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for his leadership on this bill.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), an esteemed member of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, the vice chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and 
also a cosponsor of this bill.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2166, the bipartisan 
Global Health Security Act. This very important bill will greatly 
bolster the United States' ability to prevent and respond to global 
health threats like the coronavirus pandemic.
  As we have seen during this tragedy, infectious diseases can spread 
across borders and oceans with deadly speed. Improving nations' 
abilities to address public health threats before they spin out of 
control is, in fact, a matter of national security.
  The United States must lead the way in strengthening international 
health security measures. Investing in multilateral initiatives that 
reduce the threat of global health catastrophes is a bipartisan 
priority, and I am proud to colead this landmark bill with 
Representatives Connolly, Chabot, Bera, Fitzpatrick, and Larsen.
  The Global Health Security Act establishes a special adviser for 
global health security at the National Security Council, ensuring that 
U.S. efforts to respond to public health emergencies are efficient and 
well-coordinated.
  It also requires the United States to proactively strategize for 
future crises and strengthens our ability to help our partners fight 
and contain outbreaks within their own borders.
  The Global Health Security Act will save lives by helping us prepare 
for or prevent the next pandemic. I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.

  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  The thing I really enjoy about the Foreign Affairs Committee, as I 
know the Speaker would agree with me, is that it is bipartisan. I would 
say that the majority of bills passed out of our committee--in fact, I 
would say no

[[Page H4671]]

other committee has passed more bipartisan bills than the House 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, as it should be.
  I thank my good friend Joaquin Castro from Texas.
  Of course, Madam Speaker, you are from Texas. We seem to have a 
trifecta here today from Texas.
  But I will say Chairman Engel has been a great partner to me, working 
together as a chairman and ranking member should on a national security 
committee. We should put the interests of the Nation above partisan 
politics, and that has been our charge and our duty.
  I am, quite frankly, proud to say that is how we have conducted 
ourselves in this Congress. It is very gratifying, Madam Speaker, to 
close out this session of Congress, before this very tumultuous 
election cycle and very divisive time in our politics and our American 
history, but for me to be able to close this out in a very bipartisan 
way, that, I think, is what most Americans out there want from their 
leaders in the Congress.
  I thank the gentleman from Texas and the Speaker from Texas for your 
bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time for the purpose of closing.
  As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, 
and that is undoubtedly true in global health. We have seen firsthand 
the dangers of a lack of preparedness.
  Today's legislation will prepare a coordinated response for future 
pandemics. I give a special thank you to Mr. Connolly for authoring 
this important legislation and, of course, I thank Mr. McCaul of Texas 
and the others who have worked in a bipartisan way to get this bill to 
the floor today.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Jackson Lee). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2166, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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