,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #geca ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #i1 #bjbj,mr4 ,higgins of ,new ,york introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to increase ,federal efforts to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies with respect to the spread of infectious diseases1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,infectious ,disease ,epidemic and ,pandemic ,preparedness ,act4 #b4 ,increased preparation and response for infectious diseases 7a7 ,national ,medical ,command ,title ,,iii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bda et seq47 is amended by inserting after section #cai,m the following3 #cai,n4 ,national ,medical ,command 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the appropriate ,federal agencies and departments1 shall establish an interagency task force to be known as the ,national ,medical ,command to prepare for and respond to a public health emergency for which a declaration is in effect under section #cai with respect to an infectious disease4 7b7 ,duties ,the ,national ,medical ,command shall-- 7#a7 coordinate measures between ,federal agencies to prevent and respond to a public health emergency described in subsection 7a72 7#b7 taking into consideration the coordinated strategy required under section #bhjb7;a71 develop a strategic plan to respond to a pandemic1 including identifying strategies that may not be identified in such coordinated strategy2 and 7#c7 in coordination with the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 develop a public health surveillance system with respect to any infectious diseases that has a high mortality rate4 7c7 ,membership 7#a7 ,represented offices1 agencies1 and departments ,the ,national ,medical ,command shall be composed of representatives of ,federal agencies1 offices1 and departments1 which shall include the following3 7,a7 ,the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7,b7 ,the ,national ,institute of ,allergy and ,infectious ,diseases4 7,c7 ,the ,office of the ,assistant ,secretary for ,preparedness and ,response of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7,d7 ,the ,office of ,global ,affairs of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7,e7 ,the ,occupational ,safety and ,health ,administration4 7,f7 ,the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency4 7,g7 ,the ,department of ,defense4 7,h7 ,the ,department of ,transportation4 7,i7 ,the ,department of ,state4 7,j7 ,the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7,k7 ,the ,national ,security ,council4 7,l7 ,the ,agency for ,international ,development4 7,m7 ,the intelligence community4 7#b7 ,requirements ,each representative under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 have appropriate technical expertise with respect to the duties of the ,national ,medical ,command2 and 7,b7 be selected by the head of the agency1 department1 or office described in such paragraph4 7d7 ,national ,medical ,commander ,the ,secretary shall appoint a chair of the ,national ,medical ,command from among the members of the ,national ,medical ,command to be known as the ,medical ,commander for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response 7in this section referred to as the ,medical ,commander74 7e7 ,duration ,notwithstanding section #ad7;a7 of the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act1 the ,national ,medical ,command shall continue in existence until otherwise provided by law4 4 7b7 ,early detection and early warning systems management ,section #cai;,d of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#bdg;d-#d7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b71 by inserting 1 in coordination with the ,national ,medical ,command after the first instance of ,secretary2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7c71 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,secretary1 and inserting ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,national ,medical ,command and4 7c7 ,administration over ,national ,strategic ,stockpile ,section #cai;,f-#b7;a7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d-#f;b7a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking ,response and inserting ,response1 the ,medical ,commander for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response12 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 by striking ,secretary and inserting ,secretary1 in collaboration with the ,medical ,commander for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response12 7ii7 by striking an annual and inserting a biannual2 and 7iii7 by inserting and ,september #ae after ,march #ae2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking annual and inserting biannual4 7d7 ,strategic plan ,to address infectious diseases 7#a7 ,strategic plan 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health 7in this section referred to as the ,director71 in consultation with the ,director of the ,biomedical ,advanced ,research and ,development ,authority and the ,commissioner of ,food and ,drugs1 shall prepare and submit to ,congress a strategic plan for fiscal years #bjba through #bjcj to identify1 treat1 and develop vaccines for infectious diseases4 ,such plan shall take into consideration1 the coordinated strategy developed pursuant to section #bhjb7;a7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;hh-#a7;a774 7,b7 ,content ,the plan under subparagraph 7,a7 shall address the following3 7i7 ,research of pathogens1 including research on the origins of zoonotic pathogens4 7ii7 ,the development of cooperative partnerships to determine treatments and vaccines for ,,covid-#ai1 and other similar infectious diseases4 7iii7 ,a strategy to fund clinical trials to determine which pathogens demonstrate a high mortality rate and high rate of infection4 7iv7 ,the development of partnerships with private entities to allow such entities to eliminate industry risk4 7#b7 ,expedited approval ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,commissioner of ,food and ,drugs1 may designate a treatment or vaccine identified in the plan under this subsection as a breakthrough therapy1 a fast track product1 or eligible for accelerated approval as appropriate under section #ejf of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cef74 7#c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,director to carry out this subsection #a1jjj1jjj1jjj for each fiscal year from #bjba through #bjcj4 7e7 ,community-,based prevention strategies grant program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall award grants to community-based organizations for the purpose of preventing1 identifying1 tracking1 and responding to infectious diseases1 including reducing or eliminating health disparities with respect to race1 gender1 and socioeconomic status4 7#b7 ,priority ,the ,secretary may give priority to organizations that prioritize vulnerable populations and the treatment of individuals who are at a higher risk of mortality as a result of an infectious disease1 including-- 7,a7 the elderly2 7,b7 children2 7,c7 the immunocompromised2 7,d7 the homeless2 and 7,e7 individuals who have a low income4