,i  #aagth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #fdfc  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,january #bj1        
#bjbb,mr4 ,tiffany introduced the       
following bill2 which was referred to   
the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1
 and in addition to the ,committees on  
,ways and ,means1 ,education and ,labor1
 and ,natural ,resources1 for a period  
to be subsequently determined by the    
,speaker1 in each case for consideration
 of such provisions as fall within the  
jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
,a ,,bill  ,to provide for equal        
protection of the law and to prohibit   
discrimination and preferential         
treatment on the basis of race1 color1  
or national origin in the administration
 of programs of the ,department of      
,health and ,human ,services1 and for   
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this 
,act may be cited as the ,medical       
,equality and ,discrimination ,stoppage 
,act or the ,,meds ,act4  #b4           
,anti-discrimination policy  7a7 ,in    

general ,notwithstanding any other      
provision of law1 the ,secretary of     
,health and ,human ,services 7or any    
officer1 employee1 or other designee of 
the ,secretary7 7in this section        
referred to as the ,secretary7 shall    
not-- 7#a7 intentionally discriminate   
against1 or grant a preference to1 any  
person or group based in whole or in    
part on race1 color1 ethnicity or       
national origin1 in connection with the 
distribution of1 or access to1 any      
monoclonal antibodies1 vaccines or any  
other medical treatment1 any contract or
 subcontract entered into by the        
,secretary1 award made by the           
,secretary1 or any other program or     
activity carried out by the ,secretary2 
or  7#b7 require1 direct1 recommend or  
encourage any entity under a contract or
 subcontract with the ,secretary1 or the
 recipient of a license issued by the   
,secretary or financial assistance      
provided under a program administered by
 the ,secretary1 to discriminate        

intentionally against1 or grant a       
preference to1 any person or group based
 in whole or in part on race1 color1    
ethnicity or national origin1 in        
connection with such a contract1        
subcontract1 license1 or financial      
assistance4  7b7 ,states1 territories1  
and private entities ,a ,state1         
territory1 or private entity that       
receives financial assistance through   
any program administered by the         
,secretary shall not1 as a condition of 
receiving such assistance1 discriminate 
against1 or grant a preference to1 any  
person or group based in whole or in    
part on race1 color1 ethnicity or       
national origin in connection with any  
grant1 activity1 project1 contract 7or  
subcontract7 carried out using such     
funds1 including the salaries and       
expenses of any employees paid using    
such funds4  7c7 ,civil action  7#a7 ,in
 general ,any person who is aggrieved by
 conduct prohibited by subsection 7a7 or
 7b71 may commence a civil action in the

 appropriate district court of the      
,united ,states to obtain appropriate   
relief1 against ,secretary or a ,state1 
territory1 or private entity referred to
 in subsection 7a7 or 7b74  7#b7        
,damages ,a prevailing plaintiff in a   
civil action under paragraph 7#a7 may   
recover reasonable attorney's fees4     
7#c7 ,effect on other law ,the remedies 
available to a plaintiff pursuant to a  
civil action under paragraph 7#a7 shall 
not affect any remedy available to such 
a plaintiff under any other ,state or   
,federal law4