,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dcgg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #cj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,braun 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 and ,mr4 ,brown7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to facilitate the safe re-opening of schools by conducting or supporting research on children's infection with1 and role in transmitting1 ,,sars-,co,v-#b1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protect our ,children from ,,covid-#ai ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the pandemic caused by the virus ,,sars-,co,v-#b has required a whole-of-society response through mitigation efforts such as stay-at-home orders and the physical closing of schools4 7#b7 ,physical school closures can have substantial negative effects on children's education1 mental health1 and social and emotional development4 7#c7 ,in general1 physical school closures compound inequities for many students1 including students in rural and low-income communities1 where students often lack access to computers and high-speed internet1 as well as exacerbate achievement gaps for students from low-income families1 students with disabilities1 ,english learners1 students of color1 and students experiencing homelessness4 7#d7 ,to date1 scientific evidence suggests children have a lower probability of developing a serious illness from ,,covid-#ai1 the illness caused by ,,sars-,co,v-#b1 than adults4 ,it remains unclear1 however1 what role children play in transmitting ,,sars-,co,v-#b to other children or adults4 7#e7 ,pursuing research that analyzes and increases understanding of the transmissibility of ,,sars-,co,v-#b in children will help families1 educators1 and elected leaders make evidence-based decisions on safely physically re-opening schools and our economy4 #c4 ,study on children's contracting and transmitting of ,,sars-,co,v-#b 7a7 ,study 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than the date that is #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7in this section referred to as the ,secretary71 acting through the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health and in coordination with the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and experts from outside of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services1 such as the ,department of ,education1 health1 occupational safety1 and education professional associations1 and academia1 as appropriate1 shall conduct or support research on children's role in transmitting ,,sars-,co,v-#b4 7#b7 ,issues to be studied ,the research under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 shall include research on-- 7i7 the transmissibility of ,,sars-,co,v-#b from child to child1 child to adult1 and adult to child2 7ii7 the vulnerability of children to severe illness with ,,covid-#ai1 including children with underlying health conditions1 detailing any differences by age or grade level2 and 7iii7 the vulnerability of children to ,,covid-#ai while being transported to and from school1 while playing sports 7including contact sports71 and while engaging in other extramural activities1 detailing any differences by age or grade level2 and 7,b7 may include research on-- 7i7 the vulnerability of adults to ,,covid-#ai1 including adults with underlying health conditions1 extended family members living with children1 7such as grandparents71 and vulnerabilities associated with certain activities1 including-- 7,i7 adults sending children from the household back to school2 and 7,,ii7 adults interacting with children who may be asymptomatic but infected with ,,covid-#ai1 including working in schools2 and 7ii7 the types of personal protective equipment that should be provided to students1 educators1 classified school employees1 and other school staff employed in school buildings4 7#c7 ,considerations ,in conducting or supporting the research under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 take into consideration the best available science1 including as provided by the ,national ,academy of ,sciences1 the ,national ,academy of ,medicine1 and other evidence-based or peer-reviewed sources2 and 7,b7 ensure that such research includes consideration of children and adults who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups1 as well as children and adults who are immunocompromised or who may be at a greater risk from ,,covid-#ai1 children and adults with disabilities1 children and families experiencing homelessness1 and children who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the ,richard ,b4 ,russell ,national ,school ,lunch ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #agea et seq474 7b7 ,reporting ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and quarterly thereafter through the end of the public health emergency 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-#ai1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on children's role in transmitting ,,sars-,co,v-#b4 ,each report shall include an overview of the research conducted or supported under subsection 7a7 and any relevant findings1 and the best practices disseminated to stakeholders under subsection 7c74 7c7 ,dissemination of best practices ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and quarterly thereafter through the end of the public health emergency described in subsection 7b71 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall disseminate to stakeholders best practices for protecting children and adults in educational settings1 including the types of personal protective equipment that should be provided to students1 educators1 classified school employees1 and other school staff employed in school buildings4 ,the first set of best practices disseminated pursuant to the preceding sentence shall include any best practices for protecting children and adults in educational settings identified through the research conducted or supported under subsection 7a71 and subsequent quarterly updates shall continue to reflect the best available science4