,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cecd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #ca1 #bjbb,ms4 ,baldwin 7for herself and ,mr4 ,cassidy7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to strengthen and expand activities related to genomic sequencing of pathogens1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,tracking ,pathogens ,act4 #b4 ,genomic sequencing 7a7 ,guidance supporting genomic sequencing of pathogens collaboration ,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 consultation with the heads of other agencies and departments1 as appropriate1 shall issue guidance to support collaboration relating to genomic sequencing of pathogens1 including the use of new and innovative approaches and technology for the detection1 characterization1 and sequencing of pathogens1 to improve public health surveillance and preparedness and response activities1 consistent with section #bhbd of the ,public ,health ,service ,act1 as added by subsection 7b74 ,such guidance shall address the sharing1 for public health surveillance purposes1 of specimens of such pathogens1 between appropriate entities and public health authorities pursuant to the regulations promulgated under section #bfd7;c7 of the ,health ,insurance ,portability and ,accountability ,act of #aiif 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;d-#b note71 in a manner that protects personal privacy to the extent required by applicable ,federal and ,state privacy law1 at a minimum1 and the appropriate use of sequence data derived from such specimens4 7b7 ,genomic sequencing program ,title ,,xxviii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;hh et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #bhbd4 ,genomic sequencing1 analytics1 and public health surveillance of pathogens program 7a7 ,genomic sequencing1 analytics1 and public health surveillance of pathogens program ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention and in consultation with the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health and heads of other departments and agencies1 as appropriate1 shall strengthen and expand activities related to genomic sequencing of pathogens1 including new and innovative approaches and technology for the detection1 characterization1 and sequencing of pathogens1 analytics1 and public health surveillance1 including-- 7#a7 continuing and expanding activities1 which may include existing genomic sequencing activities related to advanced molecular detection1 to-- 7,a7 identify and respond to emerging infectious disease threats2 and 7,b7 identify the potential use of genomic sequencing technologies1 advanced computing1 and other advanced technology1 including strategies for environmental sampling1 to inform surveillance activities and incorporate the use of such technologies1 as appropriate1 into related activities2 7#b7 providing technical assistance and guidance to ,state1 ,tribal1 local1 and territorial public health departments to increase the capacity of such departments to perform genomic sequencing of pathogens1 including recipients of funding under section #bhba2 7#c7 carrying out activities to enhance the capabilities of the public health workforce with respect to pathogen genomics1 epidemiology1 and bioinformatics1 including through training2 and 7#d7 continuing and expanding activities1 as applicable1 with public and private entities1 including relevant departments and agencies1 laboratories1 academic institutions1 and industry4 7b7 ,partnerships ,for the purposes of carrying out the activities described in subsection 7a71 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 may award grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements to academic and other laboratories with expertise in genomic sequencing for public health purposes1 including new and innovative approaches to1 and related technology for1 the detection1 characterization1 and sequencing of pathogens4 7c7 ,centers of excellence 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 shall1 as appropriate1 award grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements to public health agencies or public health agency partnerships for the establishment or operation of centers of excellence to promote innovation in pathogen genomics and molecular epidemiology to improve the control of and response to pathogens that may cause a public health emergency4 ,such centers shall1 as appropriate-- 7,a7 identify and evaluate the use of genomics1 or other related technologies that may advance public health preparedness and response2 7,b7 improve the identification1 development1 and use of tools for integrating and analyzing genomic and epidemiologic data2 7,c7 assist with genomic surveillance of1 and response to1 infectious diseases1 including analysis of pathogen genomic data2 7,d7 conduct applied research to improve public health surveillance of1 and response to1 infectious diseases through innovation in pathogen genomics and molecular epidemiology2 7,e7 develop and provide training materials for experts in the fields of genomics1 microbiology1 bioinformatics1 epidemiology1 and other fields1 as appropriate2 and 7,f7 conduct workforce development through advanced training in academic laboratories4 7#b7 ,requirements ,to be eligible for an award under paragraph 7#a71 an entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including a description of how the entity will partner1 as applicable1 with academic institutions or a consortium of academic partners that have relevant expertise1 such as microbial genomics1 molecular epidemiology1 or the application of bioinformatics or statistics4 7d7 ,authorization ,for purposes of carrying out this section1 there are authorized to be appropriated #age1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg4 4