,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cggb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services to develop1 submit1 and allocate funding to advance a plan for efficiently building testing capacity for facilities serving significant populations of individuals aged #fe and older4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protecting ,our ,seniors from the ,pandemic ,act4 #b4 ,protecting ,our ,seniors ,plan 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #aj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary71 in consultation with relevant stakeholders1 departments1 and agencies1 shall develop a ,protecting ,our ,seniors ,plan and submit such plan to the ,committee on ,appropriations1 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions1 the ,committee on ,finance1 and the ,special ,committee on ,aging of the ,senate and to the ,committee on ,appropriations1 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives4 7b7 ,plan content ,the ,protecting ,our ,seniors ,plan under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 outline the portions of previous and planned allocations from the ,public ,health and ,social ,services ,emergency ,fund related to ,,covid-#ai testing capacity that have been targeted or will be targeted to meet the needs of nursing facilities1 long-term care facilities1 senior living communities1 and other facilities that serve a significant population of individuals aged #fe and older2 7#b7 establish national goals and objectives related to meeting the ,,covid-#ai testing needs of such providers and facilities and bolstering testing capacity for workers and other individuals who regularly interact with individuals aged #fe and older2 7#c7 describe progress at the ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal levels towards meeting the ,,covid-#ai testing needs of such providers and facilities2 7#d7 identify remaining ,,covid-#ai testing access challenges and needs related to protecting seniors served by or residing in nursing facilities1 long-term care facilities1 senior living communities1 and other facilities that provide treatment1 care1 or other services to a significant population of individuals aged #fe and older2 7#e7 issue recommendations to ,congress regarding the authorities1 flexibility1 and additional appropriations needed to address ,,covid-#ai testing access and capacity challenges2 and 7#f7 include such other information as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7c7 ,stakeholder consultation ,in developing the ,protecting ,our ,seniors ,plan1 the ,secretary shall consult1 where appropriate1 with relevant stakeholders1 departments1 and agencies1 including-- 7#a7 the governors or designees of ,states and territories1 and local governments1 ,tribes1 and ,tribal organizations2 7#b7 the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health2 7#c7 the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention2 7#d7 the ,administrator of the ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid ,services2 7#e7 the ,administrator of the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration2 7#f7 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 7#g7 administrators and other leaders from nursing facilities1 long-term care facilities1 senior living communities1 and other facilities that serve a significant population of individuals aged #fe and older2 7#h7 health care workers and other essential workers who regularly interact with individuals aged #fe and older2 7#i7 individuals who reside in1 or receive care from1 nursing facilities1 long-term care facilities1 senior living communities1 or other facilities that serve a significant population of individuals aged #fe and older2 7#aj7 public health laboratories1 commercial laboratories1 academic laboratories1 and other clinical laboratories that process tests associated with ,,covid-#ai2 7#aa7 manufacturers and developers of diagnostic tests associated with ,,covid-#ai2 and 7#ab7 epidemiologists and other health care experts4 7d7 ,definition ,in this section and in section #c1 the term senior living communities includes independent living1 assisted living1 memory care1 and continuing care retirement communities1 and personal care homes1 adult care homes1 and residential care facilities for the elderly with #ae or more residential units4 #c4 ,allocating appropriate funding to protect our seniors 7a7 ,funding for testing capacity ,to protect seniors ,out of the amounts appropriated under division ,b of the ,paycheck ,protection ,program and ,health ,care ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-aci7 for necessary expenses associated with ,,covid-#ai tests1 the ,secretary shall allocate not less than #c1ejj1jjj1jjj1 from amounts not otherwise allocated1 for expenses related to building consistent and sustainable testing capacity for nursing facilities1 long-term care facilities1 senior living communities1 and other facilities that serve a significant population of individuals aged #fe and older1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7b7 ,funding for providers for testing-,related purposes ,out of the amounts appropriated under division ,b of the ,paycheck ,protection ,program and ,health ,care ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-aci7 for eligible health care providers1 the ,secretary shall allocate not less than #f1ejj1jjj1jjj1 from amounts not otherwise allocated1 for nursing facilities1 long-term care facilities1 senior living communities1 and other facilities that serve a significant population of individuals aged #fe and older1 as determined by the ,secretary1 to be used for expenses related directly or indirectly to ,,covid-#ai testing4