H.R. 1478 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1478 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 2, 2021Mr. Taylor (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida, and Mr. Schrader) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Medicine under which the National Academy agrees to conduct a one-year study assessing the effectiveness of current vital statistics reporting and data sharing between State, local, Tribal, and Federal agencies, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Vital Standardization of Thoughtful Administrative Techniques and Statistics Act of 2021 or the Vital STATS Act of 2021. 2. Study on effectiveness of vital statistics reporting (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Medicine under which the National Academy agrees to conduct a one-year study assessing the effectiveness of current vital statistics reporting and data sharing between State, local, Tribal, and Federal agencies and the degree to which there is divergence between State, local, Tribal, and Federal vital statistics reporting. (b) Report The agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall require the National Academy of Medicine to, not later 1 year after the date on which the agreement is entered into, to submit to Congress a report containing the findings of the study conducted pursuant to such subsection. Such report shall include recommendations with respect to— (1) coordination and standardization of State, local, Tribal, and Federal vital statistics reporting methods, including the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of such reporting; and (2) the feasibility of setting national standards for death reporting and collecting vital statistics. (c) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000, to remain available until expended.