[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 88 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3264-S3265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1835. Ms. HASSAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to
establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the
National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security,
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle A of title II of division C, add
the following:
SECTION 3219L. ACTION PLAN AND REPORT ON OUTCOMES OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that the Department of Health
and Human Services--
(1) represents the United States at the World Health
Assembly each year; and
(2) assists with diplomatic efforts in global health
throughout the year.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives;
(F) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
(2) WHA.--The term ``WHA'' means the World Health Assembly.
(c) Action Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, shall provide to the appropriate committees of
Congress an action plan that includes--
(1) a plan for future diplomatic, surveillance, and
interagency efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic by the
Office of Global Affairs in reflection of the SARS-CoV-2
virus and its work with international institutions, including
the World Health Organization and its member states;
(2) the identification of techniques the Office of Global
Affairs has employed that would address future pandemics or
other global health emergencies;
(3) a retrospective analysis of diplomatic efforts to
engage with the People's Republic
[[Page S3265]]
of China regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus, both bilaterally and
through international institutions; and
(4) how the lessons learned from the analysis described in
paragraph (3) could be applied to future scenarios to address
future pandemics or other global health emergencies.
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the closing
session of each annual WHA, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, in consultation with the Director of National
Intelligence, the Secretary of State, and the heads of other
relevant executive departments, shall submit a report to the
appropriate committees of Congress that includes--
(1) a list of all WHA working groups and their members,
including all of the proposals put forth by these working
groups to the WHA;
(2) an explanation of the United States' strategy at the
WHA, including--
(A) a summary of actions taken by United States officials
and diplomats to advance a strategy related to the Peoples
Republic of China and the SARS-CoV-2 virus;
(B) a detailed account of the actions by the People's
Republic of China and other nations of interest, as
designated by the Secretary of State, to impede the United
States' strategy at the WHA; and
(C) the effect of the actions referred to in subparagraph
(B) on the outcome of any votes by the WHA; and
(3) an overview of any outbreaks of infectious diseases
with pandemic potential, including--
(A) detailed descriptions of any Public Health Emergencies
of International Concern; and
(B) the steps taken by the World Health Organization and
national health entities to combat such public health
emergencies.
(e) Form.--The report required under subsection (d) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a
classified annex.
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