,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #daah ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #cj1 #bjbj,ms4 ,harris introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,president to appoint a ,special ,presidential ,envoy for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response1 who shall develop and implement a diplomatic strategy to prepare for1 detect1 respond to1 and recover from pandemics and other global outbreaks of infectious disease1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improving ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response ,through ,diplomacy ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to the annual report of the ,global ,preparedness ,monitoring ,board 7an independent panel of experts convened by the ,world ,bank ,group and the ,world ,health ,organization71 ,the world is at acute risk for devastating regional or global disease epidemics or pandemics that not only cause loss of life but upend and create social chaos44 7#b7 ,the ,world ,health ,organization-- 7,a7 declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 a ,public ,health ,emergency of ,international ,concern on ,january #cj1 #bjbj2 7,b7 raised its global risk assessment to ,very ,high on ,february #bh1 #bjbj2 and 7,c7 ultimately declared the outbreak a pandemic on ,march #aa1 #bjbj4 7#c7 ,the risks associated with future outbreaks of infections disease and other global health emergencies1 whether naturally-occurring1 accidental1 or deliberate1 are increasing due to a number of factors1 including-- 7,a7 the spillover of pathogens from animals to humans2 7,b7 the development of antimicrobial resistance2 7,c7 population growth and resulting strains on the environment2 7,d7 urbanization2 7,e7 international travel and trade2 7,f7 forced and voluntary migration2 7,g7 climate change2 7,h7 weak public health infrastructures2 and 7,i7 potential acts of bioterrorism4 7#d7 ,vulnerable populations1 including those who live in poverty and in countries with weak public health and government infrastructure1 and at-risk groups1 such as the sick1 older people1 ethnic and religious minorities1 women1 people with disabilities1 ,,lgbtq people1 indigenous1 migrants1 refugees1 and children1 are particularly susceptible to the outbreak of infectious disease and its consequences4 7#e7 ,according to an ,april #bjbj report of the ,international ,monetary ,fund-- 7,a7 ,it is very likely that this year the global economy will experience its worst recession since the ,depression1 surpassing that seen during the global financial crisis a decade ago42 and 7,b7 ,as a result of the pandemic1 the global economy is projected to contract sharply by #c percent in #bjbj44 7#f7 ,as of ,may #ad1 #bjbj1 the ,department of ,labor estimated that #cf1ejj1jjj workers filed for first-time unemployment claims during the previous #h weeks1 which coincides with the timeframe during which the impact of the coronavirus became widespread across the ,united ,states4 7#g7 ,the ,united ,states ,government1 along with the medical1 scientific1 and public health communities1 has historically promoted global public health through-- 7,a7 multilateral cooperation2 7,b7 funding of relevant research activities2 and 7,c7 the provision of development assistance to prepare for1 detect1 respond to1 and recover from the outbreak of infectious disease4 7#h7 ,the ,global ,health ,security ,agenda is a multi-faceted1 multi-country initiative intended to improve partner countries' measurable capabilities to prevent1 detect1 and respond to infectious disease1 which the ,united ,states is committed to advancing4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 no country1 acting alone1 can effectively protect the health and safety of all its people from the outbreak and spread of infectious disease and other global health emergencies2 7#b7 efforts to prepare for1 detect1 respond to1 and recover from disease outbreaks and pandemics globally-- 7,a7 are in the interests of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 are consistent with the promotion of core values of peace1 prosperity1 health1 and equal dignity and rights of all peoples2 7#c7 robust diplomacy1 including multilateral diplomacy and development assistance1 is an essential part of a well-coordinated1 whole-of-government strategy to prepare for1 detect1 respond to1 and recover from disease outbreak and spread and other global health emergencies2 and 7#d7 support for1 and active participation in1 multilateral organizations1 such as the ,united ,nations and the ,world ,health ,organization1 enhance the efforts of the ,united ,states to prepare for1 detect1 respond to1 and recover from disease outbreaks and pandemics1 both domestically and globally4 #d4 ,special ,presidential ,envoy for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response 7a7 ,defined term ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate2 7#c7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate2 7#d7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,senate2 7#e7 the ,committee on ,agriculture1 ,nutrition1 and ,forestry of the ,senate2 7#f7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7#g7 the ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,senate2 7#h7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#i7 the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#aj7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#aa7 the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#ab7 the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#ac7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services of the ,house of ,representatives2 7#ad7 the ,committee on ,agriculture of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#ae7 the ,permanent ,select ,committee on ,intelligence of the ,house of ,representatives4 7b7 ,office of the ,special ,presidential ,envoy ,there is established in the ,office of the ,secretary of ,state1 an ,office of the ,special ,presidential ,envoy1 which-- 7#a7 shall be led by the ,special ,presidential ,envoy for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response 7referred to in this section as the ,special ,presidential ,envoy7 appointed pursuant to subsection 7c72 7#b7 shall be staffed with-- 7,a7 detailees from the bureaus and offices under the jurisdiction of the ,under ,secretary for ,economic ,growth1 ,energy1 and the ,environment2 7,b7 detailees from the ,bureau of ,oceans and ,international ,environmental and ,scientific ,affairs2 and 7,c7 any other ,department of ,state personnel the ,secretary considers necessary4 7c7 ,appointment ,the ,president1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall appoint a ,special ,presidential ,envoy for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response1 who shall have the rank and status of ,ambassador-at-,large4 7d7 ,qualifications ,the ,special ,presidential ,envoy shall have extensive experience in global public health1 diplomacy1 medicine1 or a related field4 7e7 ,duties 7#a7 ,in general ,the principal duty of the ,special ,presidential ,envoy shall be the overall supervision1 including policy oversight of resources1 of diplomatic efforts to prepare for1 detect1 respond to1 and recover from pandemics and other global outbreaks of infectious disease4 ,the ,special ,presidential ,envoy shall exercise such powers as the ,secretary of ,state may prescribe4 7#b7 ,strategy development ,the ,special ,presidential ,envoy shall develop1 and1 in coordination with the heads of relevant departments and agencies1 direct the implementation of the diplomatic strategy described in section #e4 7f7 ,reports 7#a7 ,report on ,,covid-#ai pandemic ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and quarterly thereafter1 the ,special ,presidential ,envoy shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes his or her efforts to develop and implement a diplomatic strategy comprised of the elements specified in section #e with respect to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic4 7#b7 ,general report ,not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every #ahj days thereafter1 the ,special ,presidential ,envoy shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes his or her efforts to develop and implement a diplomatic strategy comprised of the elements specified in section #e with respect to any and all future outbreaks of infectious disease or pandemics4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for the ,office of the ,special ,presidential ,envoy to carry out this section4 #e4 ,elements of diplomatic strategy ,the diplomatic strategy to prepare for1 detect1 respond to1 and recover from pandemics and other global outbreaks of infectious disease should address-- 7#a7 the development of medical countermeasures1 including vaccines1 antimicrobials1 therapeutics1 and diagnostics for emerging infectious diseases2 7#b7 zoonotic disease prevention1 detection1 and response2 7#c7 the development of disease surveillance systems2 7#d7 the promotion of disease reporting and greater transparency of disease-related information2 7#e7 increasing the capabilities and capacity of national laboratories2 7#f7 combating the spread of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms2 7#g7 scientific workforce development and training2 7#h7 the mitigation of1 disruptions to1 and other issues related to1 global medical supply chains2 7#i7 efforts to prevent the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases among displaced persons and other vulnerable populations2 7#aj7 the development and use of standards and best practices for the imposition and lifting of disease mitigation measures1 including travel restrictions1 social distancing1 quarantining1 and other restrictions on economic and social activities2 and 7#aa7 efforts to combat the spread of disinformation and racial discrimination related to the outbreak and spread of infectious disease4 #f4 ,interagency steering committee 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state1 acting through the ,special ,presidential ,envoy for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response1 shall regularly convene an interagency steering committee to aid in the development1 coordination1 and implementation of the diplomatic strategy described in section #e4 7b7 ,membership ,the interagency steering committee referred to in subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 should be led by the ,special ,presidential ,envoy2 and 7#b7 shall include1 as members-- 7,a7 the ,assistant ,secretary of ,state for ,oceans and ,international ,environmental and ,scientific ,affairs2 7,b7 the ,global ,,aids ,coordinator and ,united ,states ,special ,representative for ,global ,health ,diplomacy2 7,c7 any other ,department of ,state personnel the ,secretary considers necessary2 7,d7 the ,director of the ,office of ,global ,affairs of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services2 and 7,e7 at least #a representative from each of the following agencies3 7i7 ,the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development4 7ii7 ,the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7iii7 ,the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention4 7iv7 ,the ,national ,institutes of ,health4 7v7 ,the ,department of ,agriculture4 7vi7 ,the ,department of ,homeland ,security4 7vii7 ,the ,department of the ,treasury4 7viii7 ,the ,department of ,commerce4 7ix7 ,the ,office of the ,united ,states ,trade ,representative4 7x7 ,the ,department of ,labor4 7xi7 ,the ,white ,house ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy4 7xii7 ,the ,office of the ,director of ,national ,intelligence4 7xiii7 ,the ,department of ,defense4 #g4 ,outside panel of experts 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state1 acting through the ,special ,presidential ,envoy for ,pandemic ,preparedness and ,response1 shall regularly convene an outside panel of experts-- 7#a7 to advise the ,special ,presidential ,envoy regarding scientific1 technical1 and other policy matters2 and 7#b7 to make recommendations for the development and implementation of the diplomatic strategy described in section #e4 7b7 ,composition ,the ,special ,presidential ,envoy1 in consultation with the interagency steering committee established pursuant to section #f1 shall determine who will be included on the panel convened pursuant to subsection 7a74 7c7 ,applicability of ,,faca ,the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app4 shall not apply to the panel convened pursuant to subsection 7a774 #h4 ,honoring financial commitments to the ,world ,health ,organization ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 but notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall remit all ,united ,states assessed contributions to the ,world ,health ,organization not later than the date on which such contributions are due and payable4