[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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