,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbfb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bb1 #bjbj,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,cortez ,masto1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 ,ms4 ,harris1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,warner1 and ,ms4 ,klobuchar7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to develop an action plan1 make targeted grants1 and develop public awareness campaigns with respect to ,,covid-#ai and the disproportionate impact of the ,,covid-#ai pandemic on racial and ethnic minorities and other vulnerable populations4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,covid-#ai ,health ,disparities ,action ,act of #bjbj4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,sec4 #b4 ,health disparity-informed contact tracing grants4,sec4 #c4 ,,covid-#ai health disparities action plan4,sec4 #d4 ,federal public awareness campaigns to address health disparities4,sec4 #e4 ,grant program for public awareness campaigns to address health disparities4,sec4 #f4 ,vaccine safety public awareness campaign4,sec4 #g4 ,addendum to testing plans to address disparities4,sec4 #h4 ,definitions4 #b4 ,health disparity-informed contact tracing grants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary71 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and in coordination with the ,office of ,minority ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 and1 as appropriate1 in coordination with the relevant ,offices of ,minority ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,national ,institute of ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities1 and the ,indian ,health ,service1 shall award grants to eligible entities to conduct contact tracing operations1 using amounts appropriated under the heading ,public ,health and ,social ,services ,emergency ,fund under the heading ,office of the ,secretary under the heading ,department of ,health and ,human ,services of title ,i of division ,b of the ,paycheck ,protection ,program and ,health ,care ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-aci74 7b7 ,eligible entities 7#a7 ,in general ,to be eligible for a grant under this section1 an entity shall-- 7,a7 be a ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 or territorial health department1 a nonprofit community-based organization1 a nonprofit faith-based organization1 an urban ,indian organization1 a ,tribal organization1 or a health care provider1 serving one or more of the grant regions described in paragraph 7#b72 and 7,b7 submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including demographic data on the entity's employees or projected hires at the time of submission4 7#b7 ,grant regions ,the ,secretary may award grants to eligible entities serving one or more of the following3 7,a7 ,a ,state4 7,b7 ,a territory4 7,c7 ,an ,indian ,tribe4 7,d7 ,a ,tribal organization4 7,e7 ,an urban ,indian organization4 7,f7 ,a county4 7,g7 ,a metropolitan statistical area4 7,h7 ,any other city1 town1 or other public body created by1 or pursuant to1 ,state law4 7#c7 ,prohibition on discrimination ,programs funded under this section shall not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived sex1 race1 color1 ethnicity1 national origin1 disability1 sexual orientation1 gender identity1 or religion4 ,nothing in this section shall be construed to invalidate or limit rights1 remedies1 procedures1 or legal standards available under any other ,federal law or any law of a ,state or a political subdivision of a ,state1 including the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;a et seq471 title ,,ix of the ,education ,amendments of #aigb 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #afha et seq471 section #ejd of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid71 the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 and section #aeeg of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahaaf74 7c7 ,prioritization ,in awarding grants under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to eligible entities that have demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and retaining employees who are racial and ethnic minorities representative of the demographic groups of a grant area served by the entity1 which may include entities that employ1 or plan to employ1 community health workers1 as defined in section #baac7;f77#d7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acigmm7f77#d774 7d7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,by entities ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall report to the ,secretary demographic information of employees directly involved in contact tracing operations supported by such grant not later than #fj days after receipt of such grant4 7#b7 ,by the ,secretary ,beginning not later than #ij days after the date on which the first grant is awarded under this section1 the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary for ,minority ,health1 the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 and the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,health and ,health ,equity at the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall make public the data reported under paragraph 7#a74 #c4 ,,covid-#ai health disparities action plan 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 shall develop an evidence-based action plan 7referred to in this section as the action plan7 for addressing health disparities related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations4 7b7 ,coordination ,in developing the action plan described in subsection 7a71 the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,health shall coordinate with-- 7#a7 the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,health and ,health ,equity of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention2 7#b7 the ,director of the ,office of ,extramural ,research1 ,education1 and ,priority ,populations of the ,agency for ,healthcare ,research and ,quality2 7#c7 the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,health of the ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid ,services2 7#d7 the ,director of the ,office of ,minority ,health and ,health ,equity of the ,food and ,drug ,administration2 7#e7 the ,director of the ,office of ,health ,equity of the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration2 7#f7 the ,director of the ,office of ,behavioral ,health ,equity of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration2 7#g7 the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities2 and 7#h7 the ,director of the ,indian ,health ,service4 7c7 ,literature review and consultation ,in developing the action plan described in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 review peer-reviewed literature to identify evidence-informed and evidence-based best practices for addressing health disparities among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations2 and 7#b7 consult with-- 7,a7 community-based organizations with expertise in addressing health disparities that affect racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations2 and 7,b7 ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial health officials that serve areas with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the ,,covid-#ai pandemic4 7d7 ,requirements ,the action plan shall include-- 7#a7 a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the current barriers to complete and accurate data collection on health disparities related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations2 7#b7 a description of the health disparities that have been identified with current data related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations1 using existing metrics where possible2 7#c7 a description of the actions that the ,secretary will take to address the barriers to complete and accurate data collection on health disparities related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations1 including specific dates by when such actions will be completed and the metrics that will be used to evaluate the impact of such actions2 7#d7 the actions that the ,secretary will take to address the health disparities that have been identified with current data related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations1 including specific dates by when such actions will be taken and completed and the metrics that will be used to evaluate the impact of such actions2 and 7#e7 a summary of any additional resources that the ,secretary requires in order to fully identify and address health disparities related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations4 7e7 ,submission of action plan and reports on the action plan 7#a7 ,initial action plan ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit the action plan to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions and the ,committee on ,finance of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce and the ,committee on ,ways and ,means of the ,house of ,representatives1 and make such plan publicly available on the internet website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#b7 ,updates ,not later than #cj days after the date of publication of the initial action plan under paragraph 7#a71 and at least every #cj days thereafter until the date that is #f months after the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency has ended1 the ,secretary shall submit updates to the action plan to ,congress4 ,each such update shall provide updates on the ,secretary's actions and the relevant evaluation metrics1 and shall include any actions that the ,secretary has identified since issuance of the initial action plan under paragraph 7#a7 and any previous updates under this paragraph1 as necessary to address health disparities related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations4 ,the ,secretary shall make each update publicly available on the internet website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#c7 ,final report on action plans ,not later than #a year after the end of the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a final report analyzing the health disparities related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations1 including an analysis of the social determinants of health and the underlying causes of health disparities4 ,the report shall include-- 7,a7 the ,secretary's long-term plan for addressing racial and ethnic health disparities1 including an assessment of any additional resources that may be required for the ,office of ,minority ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 or such department in general1 to sustain long-term initiatives to address racial and ethnic health disparities2 and 7,b7 recommendations for ,congress to address the underlying causes and prevent health disparities among racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations during future public health emergencies4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #a1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj4 #d4 ,federal public awareness campaigns to address health disparities 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and in coordination with the ,office of ,minority ,health and1 as appropriate1 in coordination with the relevant ,offices of ,minority ,health in the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,national ,institute of ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities1 and the ,indian ,health ,service1 shall develop and implement accessible1 multilingual and culturally competent public awareness campaigns about ,,covid-#ai directed at racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations that have experienced health disparities during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency related to testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths4 7b7 ,requirements ,the public awareness campaigns under this section shall-- 7#a7 prioritize communities where the greatest health disparities have been identified with respect to testing access and rates of infections1 hospitalizations1 and deaths related to ,,covid-#ai2 7#b7 7,a7 provide information1 based on scientific evidence1 about the benefits of being tested for ,,covid-#ai1 the availability of ,,covid-#ai testing with no cost-sharing for most ,united ,states residents1 and the actions that individuals can take to protect themselves from ,,covid-#ai1 including masking and social distancing2 and 7,b7 dispel misinformation about ,,covid-#ai symptoms1 testing1 or treatment2 and 7#c7 use print1 radio1 or internet media1 or other forms of public communication1 including local1 independent1 or community-based written news and electronic publications4 7c7 ,coordination ,the public awareness campaigns under this section shall be complementary to1 and coordinated with1 any other ,federal1 ,state1 and local efforts1 including the action plan described in section #c1 as appropriate4 7d7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #de days after the date on which appropriated funds are made available to the ,secretary under this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on how such funds have been used during such #de-;day period and a plan for using any remaining funds within the next #de days4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj4 #e4 ,grant program for public awareness campaigns to address health disparities 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and in coordination with the ,office of ,minority ,health1 and1 as appropriate1 in coordination with the relevant ,offices of ,minority ,health in the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,national ,institute of ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities1 and the ,indian ,health ,service1 shall award competitive grants to eligible entities to support such entities in developing and implementing accessible1 multilingual1 and culturally competent public awareness campaigns about ,,covid-#ai directed at racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations that have experienced health disparities during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency related to testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall be a ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 or territorial health department1 a nonprofit community-based organization1 a ,tribal organization1 an urban ,indian organization1 or a health care provider1 or a nonprofit faith-based organization4 7c7 ,prioritization ,when awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall prioritize entities serving communities where the greatest health disparities exist with respect to testing access1 infections1 hospitalizations1 and deaths related to ,,covid-#ai1 impacting racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations4 7d7 ,requirements ,an entity awarded a grant under this section shall conduct a public awareness campaign that-- 7#a7 7,a7 provides to the public information1 based on scientific evidence1 about the benefits of being tested for ,,covid-#ai1 the availability of ,,covid-#ai testing with no cost-sharing for most ,united ,states residents1 and the actions that individuals can take to protect themselves from ,,covid-#ai1 including masking and social distancing2 and 7,b7 dispels misinformation about ,,covid-#ai symptoms1 testing1 or treatment2 7#b7 uses print1 radio1 or internet media1 or other forms of public communication2 and 7#c7 communicates in the language or languages necessary to reach racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations in the applicable region that have experienced health disparities during the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency related to testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 and deaths4 7e7 ,coordination ,the public health campaigns supported by grants awarded under this section shall be complementary to1 and coordinated with1 any other ,federal1 ,state1 or local efforts1 including the action plan described in section #c1 as appropriate4 7f7 ,timing ,the ,secretary shall award the grants under this section not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj4 #f4 ,vaccine safety public awareness campaign 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and in coordination with the ,office of ,minority ,health1 and1 as appropriate1 the relevant ,offices of ,minority ,health in the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,national ,institute of ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities1 and the ,indian ,health ,service1 shall establish grant funding opportunities for eligible entities to disseminate ,,covid-#ai vaccination information4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall be a ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 or territorial health department1 an urban ,indian organization1 a nonprofit community-based organization1 or a nonprofit faith-based organization4 7c7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,entities receiving a grant under this section shall use such grant funds to-- 7,a7 increase awareness to the benefit of receiving a ,,covid-#ai vaccine1 and include information on where the vaccine can be obtained2 and 7,b7 create and disseminate culturally and linguistically appropriate messaging4 7#b7 ,additional grant funds ,the ,secretary shall have discretion to award additional grant funding under this section to broaden the grant recipient's vaccine public safety awareness campaign to include routine immunizations and general influenza vaccine messaging4 7d7 ,prioritization ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall give priority to eligible entities in either urban or rural communities 7or a combination of urban and rural communities7 that serve vulnerable populations1 including ethnic minority populations1 which may include low-income1 uninsured1 and medically underserved individuals or populations with historically low rates of receiving vaccines4 7e7 ,timing ,the ,secretary shall awards the grants under this section not later than #fj days after the date on the earlier of the date on which the ,food and ,drug ,administration licenses a ,,covid-#ai vaccine under section #cea of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bfb7 or the date on which a manufacturer begins to distribute a ,,covid-#ai vaccine to public or private entities pursuant to an emergency use authorization under section #efd of the ,federal ,food1 ,drug1 and ,cosmetic ,act 7#ba ,u4,s4,c4 #cfj;bbb-#c74 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj4 #g4 ,addendum to testing plans to address disparities 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall report to the ,committee on ,appropriations and the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives1 on ,state testing plans referred to under the heading ,public ,health and ,social ,services ,emergency ,fund under the heading ,office of the ,secretary under the heading ,department of ,health and ,human ,services of title ,i of division ,b of the ,paycheck ,protection ,program and ,health ,care ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-aci74 7b7 ,requirement ,to develop addendum 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall solicit ,states1 territories1 and ,indian tribes to develop an addendum to testing plans described in subsection 7a71 to specifically address testing plans for racial and ethnic minority1 rural1 and other vulnerable populations experiencing health disparities related to ,,covid-#ai testing1 infections1 hospitalizations1 ,,icu admissions1 or deaths4 ,the ,secretary shall model questions for the addendum based on the original testing plans4 7#b7 ,funding ,to carry out this subsection1 the ,secretary shall use amounts appropriated under the heading ,public ,health and ,social ,services ,emergency ,fund under the heading ,office of the ,secretary under the heading ,department of ,health and ,human ,services of title ,i of division ,b of the ,paycheck ,protection ,program and ,health ,care ,enhancement ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-aci74 #h4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term ,,covid-#ai public health emergency means the public health emergency first declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 with respect to ,,covid-#ai2 7#b7 the term ,,icu means intensive care unit2 7#c7 the terms racial and ethnic minority group and racial and ethnic minority have the meaning given the term racial and ethnic minority group in section #agjg7;g7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjju-#f7;g772 7#d7 the term relevant ,offices of ,minority ,health in the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services may include-- 7,a7 the ,office of ,extramural ,research1 ,education1 and ,priority ,populations of the ,agency for ,healthcare ,research and ,quality2 7,b7 the ,office of ,minority ,health and ,health ,equity of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention2 7,c7 the ,office of ,minority ,health of the ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid ,services2 7,d7 the ,office of ,minority ,health and ,health ,equity of the ,food and ,drug ,administration2 7,e7 the ,office of ,health ,equity of the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration2 and 7,f7 the ,office of ,behavioral ,health ,equity of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration2 7#e7 the term ,secretary1 unless indicated otherwise1 means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services2 7#f7 the terms ,indian ,tribe and ,tribal organization have the meanings given the terms ,indian tribe and tribal organization in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd72 and 7#g7 the term urban ,indian organization has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #afjc74