[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 112 (Monday, June 28, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3165-H3171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY ACT OF 2021

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 391) 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. 391

       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 2021''.

     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 No. 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 bio-threats 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''.
       (8) In January 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 
     13987 (86 Fed. Reg. 7019; relating to Organizing and 
     Mobilizing the United States Government to Provide a Unified 
     and Effective Response to Combat COVID-19 and to Provide 
     United States Leadership on Global Health and Security), as 
     well as National Security Memorandum on United States Global 
     Leadership to Strengthen the International COVID-19 Response 
     and to Advance Global Health Security and Biological 
     Preparedness, which include objectives to strengthen and 
     reform the World Health Organization, increase United States 
     leadership in the global response to COVID-19, and to finance 
     and advance global health security and pandemic preparedness.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to--
       (1) promote and invest in global health security and 
     pandemic preparedness 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 and support other countries to advance 
     pandemic preparedness by investing in basic resilient and 
     sustainable health care systems; and
       (5) strengthen global health security across the 
     intersection of human and animal health to prepare for and 
     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 23 Council (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Council'') to 24 perform the 
     general responsibilities described in sub-section (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, and other international 
     efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response.
       (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, and other 
     international efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness and 
     response.
       (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 GUSA 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 tool, as well as gaps 
     identified by such external evaluations.
       (d) Participation.--The Council shall be headed by the 
     Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, in 
     coordination with the heads of relevant Federal agencies. The 
     Council shall consist of representatives 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 the Treasury.
       (7) The Department of Labor.
       (8) The Department of Homeland Security.
       (9) The Office of Management and Budget.
       (10) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
       (11) The United States Agency for International 
     Development.
       (12) The Environmental Protection Agency.
       (13) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
       (14) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
       (15) The National Institutes of Health.
       (16) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 
     Diseases.
       (17) Such other agencies as the Council determines to be 
     appropriate.
       (e) Specific Roles and Responsibilities.--

[[Page H3166]]

       (1) In general.--The heads of agencies described in 
     subsection (d) shall--
       (A) make the GHSA and its implementation and global 
     pandemic preparedness a high priority within their respective 
     agencies, and include GHSA- and global pandemic preparedness-
     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 national health security action plans 
     and with GHSA and other partners, as appropriate, 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.

     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 
     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 President shall coordinate the 
     development and implementation of a strategy to implement the 
     policy aims described in section 3, which shall--
       (1) seek to strengthen United States diplomatic leadership 
     and improve the effectiveness of United States foreign 
     assistance for global health security to prevent, detect, and 
     respond to infectious disease threats, including through 
     advancement of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), the 
     International Health Regulations (2005), and other relevant 
     frameworks that contribute to global health security and 
     pandemic preparedness;
       (2) establish specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, 
     timetables, performance metrics, and monitoring and 
     evaluation plans for United States foreign assistance for 
     global health security that promote learning and reflect 
     international best practices relating to global health 
     security, transparency, and accountability;
       (3) establish mechanisms to improve coordination and avoid 
     duplication of effort between the United States Government 
     and partner countries, donor countries, the private sector, 
     multilateral organizations, and other key stakeholders;
       (4) prioritize working with partner countries with 
     demonstrated--
       (A) need, as identified through the Joint External 
     Evaluation process, the Global Health Security Index 
     classification of health systems, national action plans for 
     health security, GHSA Action Packages, and other 
     complementary or successor indicators of global health 
     security and pandemic preparedness; and
       (B) commitment to transparency, including budget and global 
     health data transparency, complying with the International 
     Health Regulations (2005), investing in domestic health 
     systems, and achieving measurable results;
       (5) reduce long-term reliance upon United States foreign 
     assistance for global health security by promoting partner 
     country ownership, improved domestic resource mobilization, 
     co-financing, and appropriate national budget allocations for 
     global health security and pandemic preparedness and 
     response;
       (6) assist partner countries in building the technical 
     capacity of relevant ministries, systems, and networks to 
     prepare, execute, monitor, and evaluate effective national 
     action plans for health security, including mechanisms to 
     enhance budget and global health data transparency, as 
     necessary and appropriate;
       (7) support and be aligned with country-owned global health 
     security policy and investment plans developed with input 
     from key stakeholders, as appropriate;
       (8) facilitate communication and collaboration, as 
     appropriate, among local stakeholders in support of a multi-
     sectoral approach to global health security;
       (9) support the long-term success of programs by building 
     the capacity of local organizations and institutions in 
     target countries and communities;
       (10) develop community resilience to infectious disease 
     threats and emergencies;
       (11) support global health budget and workforce planning in 
     partner countries, including training in financial management 
     and budget and global health data transparency;
       (12) align United States foreign assistance for global 
     health security with national action plans for health 
     security in partner countries, developed with input from key 
     stakeholders, including the private sector, to the greatest 
     extent practicable and appropriate;
       (13) strengthen linkages between complementary bilateral 
     and multilateral foreign assistance programs, including 
     efforts of the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the 
     Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and 
     Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, that contribute to the 
     development of more resilient health systems and supply 
     chains in partner countries with the capacity, resources, and 
     personnel required to prevent, detect, and respond to 
     infectious disease threats;
       (14) support innovation and public-private partnerships to 
     improve pandemic preparedness and response, including for the 
     development and deployment of effective, accessible, and 
     affordable infectious disease tracking tools, diagnostics, 
     therapeutics, and vaccines;
       (15) support collaboration with and among relevant public 
     and private research entities engaged in global health 
     security; and
       (16) support collaboration between United States 
     universities and public and private institutions in partner 
     countries that promote global health security and innovation.
       (b) 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 
     describe--
       (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.
       (c) 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 
     (b), 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

[[Page H3167]]

     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 and 
     bilateral and multilateral institutions;
       (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 
     GHSA and pandemic preparedness, 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.
       (d) Form.--The strategy required under subsection (a) and 
     the report required under subsection (c) shall be submitted 
     in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

     SEC. 8. ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AND 
                   PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS.

       (a) Negotiations for Establishment of a Fund for Global 
     Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness.--The Secretary of 
     State, in coordination 16 with the Secretary of the Treasury, 
     the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments 
     and agencies as necessary and appropriate, should seek to 
     enter into negotiations with donors, relevant United Nations 
     agencies, including the World Health Organization, and other 
     key multilateral stakeholders, for the establishment of--
       (1) a multilateral, catalytic financing mechanism for 
     global health security and pandemic preparedness, which may 
     be known as the Fund for Global Health Security and Pandemic 
     Preparedness (in this title referred to as ``the Fund''), in 
     accordance with the provisions of this section; and
       (2) an Advisory Board to the Fund in accordance with 
     section 9.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Fund should be to close 
     critical gaps in global health security and pandemic 
     preparedness and build capacity in eligible partner countries 
     in the areas of global health security, infectious disease 
     control, and pandemic preparedness, such that it--
       (1) prioritizes capacity building and financing 
     availability in eligible partner countries;
       (2) incentivizes countries to prioritize the use of 
     domestic resources for global health security and pandemic 
     preparedness;
       (3) leverages government, nongovernment, and private sector 
     investments;
       (4) regularly responds to and evaluates progress based on 
     clear metrics and benchmarks, such as the Joint External 
     Evaluation and Global Health Security Index;
       (5) aligns with and complements ongoing bilateral and 
     multilateral efforts and financing, including through the 
     World Bank, the World Health Organization, the Global Fund to 
     Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and Gavi, the Vaccine 
     Alliance; and
       (6) accelerates country compliance with the International 
     Health Regulations (2005) and fulfillment of the Global 
     Health Security Agenda 2024 Framework, in coordination with 
     the ongoing Joint External Evaluation national action 
     planning process.
       (c) Executive Board.--
       (1) In general.--The Fund should be governed by an 
     Executive Board, which should be composed of not more than 20 
     representatives of donor governments, foundations, academic 
     institutions, civil society, and the private sector that meet 
     a minimum threshold in annual contributions and agree to 
     uphold transparency measures.
       (2) Duties.--The Executive Board should be charged with 
     approving strategies, operations, and grant-making 
     authorities, such that it is able to conduct effective 
     fiduciary, monitoring, and evaluation efforts, and other 
     oversight functions. In addition, the Executive Board 
     should--
       (A) be comprised only of contributors to the Fund at not 
     less than the minimum threshold to be established pursuant to 
     paragraph (1);
       (B) determine operational procedures such that the Fund is 
     able to effectively fulfill its mission; and
       (C) provide oversight and accountability for the Fund in 
     collaboration with the Inspector General to be established 
     pursuant to section 1O(e)(1)(A).
       (3) Composition.--The Executive Board should include--
       (A) representatives of the governments of founding 
     permanent member countries who, in addition to the 
     requirements in paragraph (1), qualify based upon meeting an 
     established initial contribution threshold, which should be 
     not less than 10 percent of total initial contributions, and 
     a demonstrated commitment to supporting the International 
     Health Regulations (2005);
       (B) term members, who are from academic institutions, civil 
     society, and the private sector and are selected by the 
     permanent members on the basis of their experience and 
     commitment to innovation, best practices, and the advancement 
     of global health security objectives; and
       (C) representatives of the World Health Organization, and 
     the chair of the Global Health Security Steering Group.
       (4) Qualifications.--Individuals appointed to the Executive 
     Board should have demonstrated knowledge and experience 
     across a variety of sectors, including human and animal 
     health, agriculture, development, defense, finance, research, 
     and academia.
       (5) Conflicts of interest.--
       (A) Technical experts.--The Executive Board may include 
     independent technical experts, provided they are not 
     affiliated with or employed by a recipient country or 
     organization.
       (B) Multilateral bodies and institutions.--Executive Board 
     members appointed under paragraph (3)(C) should recuse 
     themselves from matters presenting conflicts of interest, 
     including financing decisions relating to such bodies and 
     institutions.
       (6) United states representation.--
       (A) In general.--
       (i) Founding permanent member.--The Secretary of State 
     shall seek to establish the United States as a founding 
     permanent member of the Fund.
       (ii) United states representation.--The United States shall 
     be represented on the Executive Board by an officer or 
     employee of the United States appointed by the President.
       (B) Effective and termination dates.--
       (i) Effective date.--This paragraph shall take effect upon 
     the date the Secretary of State certifies and transmits to 
     Congress an agreement establishing the Fund.
       (ii) Termination date.--The membership established pursuant 
     to subparagraph (A) shall terminate upon the date of 
     termination of the Fund.
       (7) Removal procedures.--The Fund should establish 
     procedures for the removal of members of the Executive Board 
     who engage in a consistent pattern of human rights abuses, 
     fail to uphold global health data transparency requirements, 
     or otherwise violate the established standards of the Fund, 
     including in relation to corruption.
       (8) Enforceability.--Any agreement concluded under the 
     authorities provided by this section shall be legally 
     effective and binding upon the United States, as may be 
     provided in the agreement, upon--
       (A) the enactment of appropriate implementing legislation 
     which provides for the approval of the specific agreement or 
     agreements, including attachments, annexes, and supporting 
     documentation, as appropriate; or
       (B) if concluded and submitted as a treaty, receiving the 
     necessary consent of the Senate.
       (9) Eligible partner country defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible partner country'' means a country with 
     demonstrated--
       (A) need, as identified through the Joint External 
     Evaluation process, the Global Health Security Index 
     classification of health systems, national action plans for 
     health security, and other complementary or successor 
     indicators of global health security and pandemic 
     preparedness; and
       (B) commitment to transparency, including budget and global 
     health data transparency, complying with the International 
     Health Regulations (2005), investing in domestic health 
     systems, and achieving measurable results, and in which the 
     Fund for Global Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness 
     established under this section may finance global health 
     security and pandemic preparedness assistance programs under 
     this Act.

     SEC. 9. FUND AUTHORITIES.

       (a) Program Objectives.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the purpose set forth in 
     section 8, the Fund, acting through the Executive Board, 
     should provide grants, including challenge grants, technical 
     assistance, concessional lending, catalytic investment funds, 
     and other innovative funding mechanisms, as appropriate, to--
       (A) help eligible partner countries close critical gaps in 
     health security, as identified through the Joint External 
     Evaluation process, the Global Health Security Index 
     classification of health systems, and national action plans 
     for health security and other complementary or successor 
     indicators of global health security and pandemic 
     preparedness; and
       (B) support measures that enable such countries, at both 
     national and sub-national levels, and in partnership with 
     civil society and the private sector, to strengthen and 
     sustain resilient health systems and supply chains with the 
     resources, capacity, and personnel required to prevent, 
     detect, mitigate, and respond to infectious disease threats 
     before they become pandemics.
       (2) Activities supported.--The activities to be supported 
     by the Fund should include efforts to--
       (A) enable eligible partner countries to formulate and 
     implement national health security and pandemic preparedness 
     action plans, advance action packages under the Global Health 
     Security Agenda, and adopt and uphold commitments under the 
     International Health Regulations (2005) and other related 
     international health agreements, as appropriate;
       (B) support global health security budget planning in 
     eligible partner countries, including training in financial 
     management and budget and global health data transparency;
       (C) strengthen the health security workforce, including 
     hiring, training, and deploying experts to improve frontline 
     preparedness for emerging epidemic and pandemic threats;

[[Page H3168]]

       (D) improve infection control and the protection of 
     healthcare workers within healthcare settings;
       (E) combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance;
       (F) strengthen laboratory capacity and promote biosafety 
     and biosecurity through the provision of material and 
     technical assistance;
       (G) reduce the risk of bioterrorism, zoonotic disease 
     spillover, and accidental biological release;
       (H) build technical capacity to manage global health 
     security related supply chains, including for personal 
     protective equipment, oxygen, testing reagents, and other 
     lifesaving supplies, through effective forecasting, 
     procurement, warehousing, and delivery from central 
     warehouses to points of service in both the public and 
     private sectors;
       (I) enable bilateral, regional, and international 
     partnerships and cooperation, including through pandemic 
     early warning systems and emergency operations centers, to 
     identify and address transnational infectious disease threats 
     exacerbated by natural and man-made disasters, human 
     displacement, and zoonotic infection;
       (J) establish partnerships for the sharing of best 
     practices and enabling eligible countries to meet targets and 
     indicators under the Joint External Evaluation process, the 
     Global Health Security Index classification of health 
     systems, and national action plans for health security 
     relating to the detection, treatment, and prevention of 
     neglected tropical diseases;
       (K) build the technical capacity of eligible partner 
     countries to prepare for and respond to second order 
     development impacts of infectious disease outbreaks, while 
     accounting for the differentiated needs and vulnerabilities 
     of marginalized populations;
       (L) develop and utilize metrics to monitor and evaluate 
     programmatic performance and identify best practices, 
     including in accordance with Joint External Evaluation 
     benchmarks, Global Health Security Agenda targets, and Global 
     Health Security Index indicators;
       (M) develop and deploy mechanisms to enhance the 
     transparency and accountability of global health security and 
     pandemic preparedness programs and data, in compliance with 
     the International Health Regulations (2005), including 
     through the sharing of trends, risks, and lessons learned; 
     and
       (N) develop and implement simulation exercises, produce and 
     release after action reports, and address related gaps.
       (3) Implementation of program objectives.--In carrying out 
     the objectives of paragraph (1), the Fund should work to 
     eliminate duplication and waste by upholding strict 
     transparency and accountability standards and coordinating 
     its programs and activities with key partners working to 
     advance global health security and pandemic preparedness, 
     including--
       (A) governments, civil society, faith-based, and 
     nongovernmental organizations, research and academic 
     institutions, and private sector entities in eligible partner 
     countries;
       (B) the pandemic early warming systems and emergency 
     operations centers to be established under section 9;
       (C) the World Health Organization;
       (D) the Global Health Security Agenda;
       (E) the Global Health Security Initiative;
       (F) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and 
     Malaria;
       (G) the United Nations Office for the Coordination of 
     Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF, and other relevant funds, 
     programs, and specialized agencies of the United Nations;
       (H) Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance;
       (I) the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations 
     (CEPI);
       (J) the Global Polio Eradication Initiative; and
       (K) the United States Coordinator for Global Health 
     Security and Diplomacy established under section 5.
       (b) Priority.--In providing assistance under this section, 
     the Fund should give priority to low-and lower-middle income 
     countries with--
       (1) low scores on the Global Health Security Index 
     classification of health systems;
       (2) measurable gaps m global health security and pandemic 
     preparedness identified under Joint External Evaluations and 
     national action plans for health security;
       (3) demonstrated political and financial commitment to 
     pandemic preparedness; and
       (4) demonstrated commitment to upholding global health 
     budget and data transparency and accountability standards, 
     complying with the International Health Regulations (2005), 
     investing in domestic health systems, and achieving 
     measurable results.
       (c) Eligible Grant Recipients.--Governments and 
     nongovernmental organizations should be eligible to receive 
     grants as described in this section.

     SEC. 10. FUND ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Appointment of an Administrator--The Executive Board of 
     the Fund should appoint an Administrator who should be 
     responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the 
     Fund.
       (b) Authority To Solicit and Accept Contributions.--The 
     Fund should be authorized to solicit and accept contributions 
     from governments, the private sector, foundations, 
     individuals, and nongovernmental entities of all kinds.
       (c) Accountability of Funds and Criteria for Programs.--As 
     part of the negotiations described in section 8(a), the 
     Secretary of the State, shall, consistent with 4 subsection 
     (d)--
       (1) take such actions as are necessary to ensure that the 
     Fund will have in effect adequate procedures and standards to 
     account for and monitor the use of funds contributed to the 
     Fund, including the cost of administering the Fund; and
       (2) seek agreement on the criteria that should be used to 
     determine the programs and activities that should be assisted 
     by the Fund.
       (d) Selection of Partner Countries, Projects, and 
     Recipients.--The Executive Board should establish--
       (1) eligible partner country selection criteria, to include 
     transparent metrics to measure and assess global health 
     security and pandemic preparedness strengths and 
     vulnerabilities in countries seeking assistance;
       (2) minimum standards for ensuring eligible partner country 
     ownership and commitment to longterm results, including 
     requirements for domestic budgeting, resource mobilization, 
     and co-investment;
       (3) criteria for the selection of projects to receive 
     support from the Fund;
       (4) standards and criteria regarding qualifications of 
     recipients of such support;
       (5) such rules and procedures as may be necessary for cost-
     effective management of the Fund; and
       (6) such rules and procedures as may be necessary to ensure 
     transparency and accountability in the grant-making process.
       (e) Additional Transparency and Accountability 
     Requirements.--
       (1) Inspector general.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of State shall seek to 
     ensure that the Fund maintains an independent Office of the 
     Inspector General and ensure that the office has the 
     requisite resources and capacity to regularly conduct and 
     publish, on a publicly accessible website, rigorous 
     financial, programmatic, and reporting audits and 
     investigations of the Fund and its grantees.
       (B) Sense of congress on corruption.--It is the sense of 
     Congress that--
       (i) corruption within global health programs contribute 
     directly to the loss of human life and cannot be tolerated; 
     and
       (ii) in making financial recoveries relating to a corrupt 
     act or criminal conduct under a grant, as determined by the 
     Inspector General, the responsible grant recipient should be 
     assessed at a recovery rate of up to 150 percent of such 
     loss.
       (2) Administrative expenses.--The Secretary of State shall 
     seek to ensure the Fund establishes, maintains, and makes 
     publicly available a system to track the administrative and 
     management costs of the Fund on a quarterly basis.
       (3) Financial tracking systems.--The Secretary of State 
     shall ensure that the Fund establishes, maintains, and makes 
     publicly available a system to track the amount of funds 
     disbursed to each grant recipient and sub-recipient during a 
     grant's fiscal cycle.

     SEC. 11. FUND ADVISORY BOARD.

       (a) In General.--There should be an Advisory Board to the 
     Fund.
       (b) Appointments.--There members of the Advisory Board 
     should be composed of--
       (1) individuals with experience and leadership in the 
     fields of development, global health, epidemiology, medicine, 
     biomedical research, and social sciences; and
       (2) representatives of relevant United Nations agencies, 
     including the World Health Organization, and nongovernmental 
     organizations with on-the-ground experience in implementing 
     global health programs in low and lower-middle income 
     countries.
       (c) Responsibilities.--The Advisory Board should provide 
     advice and guidance to the Executive Board of the Fund on the 
     development and implementation of programs and projects to be 
     assisted by the Fund and on leveraging donations to the Fund.
       (d) Prohibition on Payment of Compensation.--
       (1) In general.--Except for travel expenses (including per 
     diem in lieu of subsistence), no member of the Advisory Board 
     should receive compensation for services performed as a 
     member of the Board.
       (2) United states representative.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law (including an international 
     agreement), a representative of the United States on the 
     Advisory Board may not accept compensation for services 
     performed as a member of the Board, except that such 
     representative may accept travel expenses, including per diem 
     in lieu of subsistence, while away from the representative's 
     home or regular place of business in the performance of 
     services for the Board.
       (e) Conflicts of Interest.--Members of the Advisory Board 
     should be required to disclose any potential 9 conflicts of 
     interest prior to serving on the Advisory Board.

     SEC. 12. REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON THE FUND.

       (a) Status Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development, and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit to 
     the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing 
     the progress of international negotiations to establish the 
     Fund.
       (b) Annual Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the establishment of the Fund,

[[Page H3169]]

     and annually thereafter for the duration of the Fund, the 
     Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report on the Fund.
       (2) Report elements.--The report shall include a 
     description of--
       (A) the goals of the Fund;
       (B) the programs, projects, and activities supported by the 
     Fund;
       (C) private and governmental contributions to the Fund; and
       (D) the criteria utilized to determine the programs and 
     activities that should be assisted by the Fund.
       (c) GAO Report on Effectiveness.--Not later than 2 years 
     after the date that the Fund comes into effect, the 
     Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report evaluating the 
     effectiveness of the Fund, including--
       (1) the effectiveness of the programs, projects, and 
     activities supported by the Fund; and
       (2) an assessment of the merits of continued United States 
     participation in the Fund.

     SEC. 13. UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS.

       (a) In General.--Subject to submission of the certification 
     under this section, the President is authorized to make 
     available for United States contributions to the Fund such 
     funds as may be authorized to be made available for such 
     purpose.
       (b) Notification.--The Secretary of State shall notify the 
     appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days 
     in advance of making a contribution to the Fund, including--
       (1) the amount of the proposed contribution;
       (2) the total of funds contributed by other donors, and
       (3) the national interests served by United States 
     participation in the Fund.
       (c) Limitation.--At no point during the five years after 
     enactment of this Act shall a United States contribution to 
     the Fund cause the cumulative total of United States 
     contributions to the Fund to exceed 33 percent of the total 
     contributions to the Fund from all sources.
       (d) Witholdings.--
       (1) Support for acts of international terrorism.--If at any 
     time the Secretary of State determines that the Fund has 
     provided assistance to a country, the government of which the 
     Secretary of State has determined, for purposes of section 
     620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371) 
     has repeatedly provided support for acts of international 
     terrorism, the United States shall withhold from its 
     contribution to the Fund for the next fiscal year an amount 
     equal to the amount expended by the Fund to the government of 
     such country.
       (2) Excessive salaries.--If at any time during the five 
     years after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
     determines that the salary of any individual employed by the 
     Fund exceeds the salary of the Vice President of the United 
     States for that fiscal year, then the United States should 
     withhold from its contribution for the next fiscal year an 
     amount equal to the aggregate amount by which the salary of 
     each such individual exceeds the salary of the Vice President 
     of the United States.
       (3) Accountability certification requirement.--The 
     Secretary of State may withhold not more than 20 percent of 
     planned United States contributions to the Fund until the 
     Secretary certifies to the appropriate congressional 
     committees that the Fund has established procedures to 
     provide access by the Office of Inspector General of the 
     Department of State, as cognizant Inspector General, the 
     Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services, the Inspector General of the United States Agency 
     for International Development, and the Comptroller General of 
     the United States to the Fund's financial data and other 
     information relevant to United States contributions to the 
     Fund (as determined by the Inspector General of the 
     Department of State, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     State).

     SEC. 14. 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 2021.''.

     SEC. 15. 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. 16. SUNSET.

       This Act, and the amendments made by this Act shall cease 
     to be effective 5 fiscal years after the enactment of this 
     Act.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. 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. 391, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 391, the Global Health 
Security Act of 2021.
  As the saying goes: ``An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of 
cure,'' and that is undoubtedly true in global health. Pandemics don't 
respect borders and they don't care about nationalities, and we are 
seeing that play out on the front pages of the news these days as the 
coronavirus pandemic continues to cause severe disruptions around the 
world.
  Over the past few years, global health security has become 
increasingly tied to U.S. national security, as evidenced by not only 
our experience with COVID-19, but also previous pandemics, such as 
Ebola and Zika, both overseas and at home.
  Having a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to prepare for and 
respond to these threats is critical. We must build on the lessons 
learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  The Global Health Security Agenda, which the United States has 
committed to, helps countries invest in preparedness and strengthens 
systems that prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks.
  H.R. 391, a bipartisan bill by Representative Connolly and 
Representative Chabot, would institutionalize the best practices the 
United States has learned in global health security. This bill 
establishes an interagency review council to not only advance global 
health security, but also mandates a U.S. Global Health Security 
Coordinator to manage the U.S. response in these emergencies and allow 
the interagency review council to speak with one voice.
  I believe this person should be at the National Security Council as 
the natural nexus between diplomacy, development, and defense. This 
person would help build capacity, apply lessons learned, and prepare 
for the future.
  While I am heartened to see that the Biden administration has 
recently appointed such a person to tackle the pandemic that we are 
facing, this legislation would create a permanent position focused on 
U.S. global health security.
  Furthermore, this bill would require the U.S. Global Health Security 
Coordinator to develop a strategy and regularly report to Congress on 
the progress the United States is making toward making global health 
security a core national security interest.
  Finally, this bill outlines a framework to leverage assistance to 
increase contributions from other donors, along the lines of the Global 
Fund, to support global health security activities around the world.
  This bill passed the House multiple times in the past, and is more 
timely than ever as we continue to address COVID-19 and seek to prepare 
ourselves for the next outbreak.
  So I would like to thank Representative Connolly and Representative 
Chabot for their work on this legislation over the past several years 
and for recognizing the vital importance of global health security as 
part of America's national security.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the chairman for his 
leadership bringing this very timely bill to the floor. I want to thank 
Mr. Connolly for his leadership, and Mr. Chabot, who, I think, is 
trying to get here as well.

[[Page H3170]]

  COVID-19 could end up, at the end of the day, costing the global 
economy upwards of $10 trillion. Of course, the full impact of viruses 
like COVID-19 is not just measured in economic disruption around the 
world, but also in the millions of lives that have been lost, somewhere 
upwards of four million people.
  COVID-19 has proven viruses know no borders, as the chairman said. It 
is imperative the United States work to prevent future pandemics and be 
prepared to respond to diseases with pandemic potential.
  So, again, I want to thank my colleagues who have been involved in 
this for introducing the Global Health Security Act and for their work 
to address this important issue.
  This bill ensures a whole-of-government approach to prepare for and, 
hopefully, prevent future pandemics. It also establishes a new 
multilateral fund that will ensure all countries have access to the 
necessary resources to prevent and respond to future outbreaks.
  Our committee has a history of working together to achieve bipartisan 
success, but particularly on legislation related to global health. It 
is not Republican or Democrat. This is an American issue. It is also a 
human issue and an international issue.
  The Global Health Security Act is just yet another example of this 
great bipartisan work that we do and that makes me so proud to be a 
Member of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Connolly), the president of the NATO Parliamentary 
Assembly and a valued member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend, chairman of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee; and my good friend, the ranking member of 
the Foreign Affairs Committee, for their generous remarks, for their 
leadership, and for bringing yet again a bipartisan bill to the floor 
of the House, which many people think we can't do, but we, in fact, do 
do.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), my good 
friend, for being my partner in this legislation for 3 years now.
  Our legislation, the Global Health Security Act, reaffirms the United 
States' commitment to promoting global health security.
  Prior to COVID-19, there was a dearth of leadership and strategy 
around U.S. planning for a global health security emergency. Now, as we 
start to emerge from the worst of the pandemic, we understand just how 
important planning is.
  COVID-19 has underscored not only the need for a robust Federal 
response, but also the importance of investing in global health 
security and pandemic preparedness throughout the world. Diseases do 
not stop at national borders.
  I am honored and pleased the House Foreign Affairs Committee has 
coalesced around this legislation, which offers a bipartisan solution 
that addresses deficiencies in the current pandemic response effort. It 
also demonstrates, I think, a commitment to a comprehensive and 
sustainable approach to global health security moving forward.
  The bill establishes a Global Health Security Agenda Interagency 
Review Council overseen by a National Security Advisor, whose 
membership includes the heads of agencies relevant to carrying out the 
Global Health Security Agenda.
  It establishes a U.S. Coordinator for Global Health Security 
responsible for coordinating interagency responses.
  It requires the President to develop a global health security 
strategy with specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, and 
performance metrics to improve U.S. leadership on global pandemic 
preparedness.
  Finally, it establishes an international Fund for Global Health 
Security and Pandemic Preparedness.
  Mr. Speaker, I also appreciate both Chairman Meeks' and Ranking 
Member McCaul's willingness to work to strengthen this bill as it 
passed through the committee during our markup. We made improvements, 
with their suggestion, in elevating the participants of the interagency 
review council in a manner commensurate with the scope of the work. We 
strengthened the scope of the global health security strategy with 
lessons learned; and we added a multilateral Federal fund.
  These improvements are consistent with the Biden administration's 
National Security Memorandum on United States Global Leadership to 
Strengthen the International Response. This statutory framework is not 
overly prescriptive, and it does not prejudge the outcome of the 
current response framework offered by this administration.
  Republican and Democratic Presidents alike have recognized the 
critical importance of global health security; from President Obama's 
role in launching a global health security agenda to President Trump's 
National Security Strategy and National Biodefense Strategy.

                              {time}  1515

  Global health crises are ongoing and increasing, and they affect 
national security.
  Saving lives from the next global pandemic starts now, by investing 
in preparedness before it strikes.
  Diseases, as I said, don't respect borders, and global health crises 
have immense security, economic, and humanitarian consequences as all 
too tragically we have learned from the one we are still going through.
  I am proud that the Global Health Security Act has passed the House 
three times already, and I hope the Senate will act swiftly on this 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for 
closing.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a very timely bill. We have seen utter 
devastation, in terms of human lives, and the economy being impacted by 
this.
  We need to ensure, Mr. Speaker, this never happens again. There will 
be another COVID-like virus that will be a variant. We need to work 
with the global community to ensure this never happens again.
  We also need to find out the origins of COVID-19, how this happened 
in the first place. Not for revenge, but to find out how it happened so 
we can stop it from ever happening again.
  I give my strong support to this important legislation. The timing 
couldn't be more relevant and appropriate. I thank Mr. Connolly for his 
leadership and the chairman for bringing this bill to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for 
closing.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for his partnership 
in working together to bring this bipartisan legislation to the floor, 
because as we all have found, COVID-19, which has caused global 
disruption unlike any other in recent memory, is not a Democratic 
issue; it is not a Republican issue; it is all of our issue. It is an 
issue for all of us, not just here in the United States, but around the 
world.
  Coming together on the committee, as we generally do, is extremely 
important, working together to get this done.
  As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel of this 
pandemic, the United States must seize the opportunity and learn the 
lessons and best practices from the crisis so that we can be better 
prepared to respond to any future and similar threats to the U.S. 
national and global security. COVID-19 caught America off guard, but 
the Global Health and Security Act will ensure that this never happens 
again.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Connolly and Mr. Chabot for their work on 
this legislation and for recognizing the vital importance of global 
health security as part of America's national security.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 391, 
the Global Health Security Act, bipartisan legislation which 
Congressman Gerry Connolly and I introduced to strengthen U.S. and 
global preparedness for, and capacity to respond to pandemics, like 
COVID-19. And I want to thank Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul 
for working with us to improve this Congress's version of the 
legislation in committee as the bill heads toward enactment.
  After a year of lockdowns, masks, social distancing, working from 
home, school closures and worst of all, a horrific death here at

[[Page H3171]]

home and across the globe, COVID-19 has taught us, like nothing else 
has, the full costs of a pandemic. It has also shown us just how 
vulnerable the United States is to disease outbreaks on the other side 
of the world. A corrupt and opaque health system in China can cause 
millions of deaths here in America. China's politically-motivated 
censorship of coronavirus information early on caused the world untold 
suffering. But a disease like COVID-19 could start anywhere, and if it 
gets out, it can become a pandemic.
  That is why, we must help less prepared countries identify and 
contain future emerging deadly diseases when they originate, and 
mitigate their impact before they have a chance to grow to pandemic 
scale.
  When Mr. Connolly and I first introduced this legislation in 2018, 
COVID-19 didn't exist. However, we realized that Congress needed to 
support, direct, and provide oversight for ongoing global health 
security work and that the proper personnel needed to be in place to 
coordinate our response to an emerging disease threat.
  The Global Health Security Act supports each of these goals. First, 
it gets personnel right. Second, it strengthens Congressional oversight 
over global health security work. Third, it provides a Congressional 
endorsement, and detailed guidance for, U.S. efforts to strengthen 
health systems and pandemic preparedness across the globe.
  Witnessing the death toll and the economic devastation that COVID-19 
brought, I think all Americans will agree with me that protecting our 
nation's health from future pandemics must be seen as a national 
security priority. As the United States comes out of the pandemic, and 
America returns to normal, we must recommit to leadership on global 
health security and prepare the world to face the next deadly disease 
before it becomes a pandemic.
  So I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 391, 
the ``Global Health Security Act,'' important legislation that 
reaffirms and strengthens the United States' strategic approach to 
global health security.
  This bill directs the President to create the Global Health Security 
Agenda Interagency Review Council to be overseen by the National 
Security Advisor, elevating United States' global health security to a 
national security interest.
  It also establishes the permanent position of the United States 
Coordinator for Global Health Security who will be responsible for the 
interagency process for responding to global health security 
emergencies.
  Additionally, H.R. 391 creates a multilateral Fund for Global Health 
Security and Pandemic Preparedness to support the Global Health 
Security Agenda and the 70 percent of the world's countries that are 
unprepared and unable to respond to dangerous public health threats.
  Protecting our local and global community from global health threats 
is imperative as the United States has already exceeded 33 million 
cases of COVID-19 and over 600,000 deaths.
  Almost 3 million of those cases were in Texas and Harris county has 
the largest number with around 403,000 cases to date.
  My district in Houston has suffered the loss of almost 3,000 of its 
citizens to the pandemic of the over 6,500 fatalities in Harris county 
alone.
  The United States plays a vital leadership role in the international 
health security domain and the COVID-19 pandemic epitomizes the urgency 
of global health security.
  The Ebola and Zika epidemics in 2013 and 2015 respectively exposed 
vulnerabilities in the United States' global health strategy, 
highlighting the need for a designated official to coordinate 
interagency response to global health security emergencies.
  Alongside almost 30 other nations, the United States started the 
Global Health Security Agenda to address significant global health 
emergencies and threats.
  As such, it is incumbent upon Congress to codify the United States' 
commitment to addressing global infectious disease threats by requiring 
the development of a sustainable and comprehensive U.S. global health 
strategy strengthened by measurable goals and performance metrics.
  I proudly support H.R. 391 and the advancement of global health 
security so we can protect our communities, including my constituents 
in Houston.
  I thank my colleague, Congressman Connolly of Virginia, for 
championing this bill and persisting in his effort to strengthen the 
United States global health policy.
  I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 391, the Global 
Health Security Act of 2021.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 391, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIDSON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________