,,ii  #aahth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #hja  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the
 ,,united ,,states  ,march #ae1 #bjbc   
,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,markey1 
,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 
,smith1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1
 ,ms4 ,stabenow1 ,mr4 ,reed1 ,ms4       
,klobuchar1 and ,mr4 ,king7 introduced  
the following bill2 which was read twice
 and referred to the ,committee on      
,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and        
,pensions  ,a ,,bill  ,to address       
research on1 and improve access to1     
supportive services for individuals with
 ,long ,,covid4  #a4 ,short title ,this 
,act may be cited as the ,comprehensive 
,access to ,resources and ,education for
 ,long ,,covid ,act or the ,,care for   
,long ,,covid ,act4  #b4 ,authorization 
to fund a patient registry for research 
on ,long ,,covid and related conditions 
7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of      
,health and ,human ,services 7referred  
to in this ,act as the ,secretary71     
acting in coordination with the         

,patient-,centered ,outcomes ,research  
,institute established under section    
#aaha of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db
 ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;e7b771 shall fund      
activities described in subsection 7b7  
to improve treatment and outcomes for   
individuals with ,long ,,covid and      
related conditions4  7b7 ,activities    
described ,for purposes of subsection   
7a71 activities described in this       
subsection shall include-- 7#a7 creating
 or maintaining a regularly updated     
patient registry of individuals with    
suspected or confirmed ,long ,,covid and
 related conditions1 including          
information on--  7,a7 symptoms that    
arise while an individual is initially  
infected with ,,covid-#ai and that may  
resolve over time or extend beyond the  
resolution of the initial symptoms2     
7,b7 persistent symptoms that arise     
after an individual is initially        
infected with ,,covid-#ai and that the  
clinician of such individual has reason 
to suspect were related to the          

,,covid-#ai diagnosis2  7,c7 symptoms   
that arise in an individual that may be 
related to ,,covid-#ai1 but a diagnosis 
of ,,covid-#ai was not obtained and     
cannot be identified due to a lack of   
antibodies1 false negative test results1
 or lack of access to timely testing2   
7,d7 treatments of individuals after    
primary diagnosis of ,,covid-#ai and the
 effectiveness of such treatments2  7,e7
 any other relevant questions or issues 
related to individuals who experience a 
diagnosis of1 treatment for1 and        
management of care with ,,covid-#ai1    
,long ,,covid1 and related conditions2  
and  7,f7 comorbidities1 vaccination    
status1 and demographics1 including age1
 gender1 race and ethnicity1 geographic 
location1 disability1 and occupation of 
registry participants2  7#b7 synthesis  
of information relating to individuals  
experiencing ,long ,,covid and related  
conditions and other information        
available through the patient registry2 
7#c7 dissemination of information to    

relevant ,federal departments and       
agencies and patients participating in  
the registry to inform treatment and    
policy related to ,,covid-#ai1 ,long    
,,covid1 and related conditions2  7#d7  
an assurance that the registry utilizes 
common data elements and definitions for
 use in order to promote appropriate    
data sharing for ongoing and future     
research2 and  7#e7 outreach to1 and    
inclusion in the patient registry1 as   
appropriate1 of individuals1 including  
children and older adults1 from         
communities impacted by high ,,covid-#ai
 and ,long ,,covid rates1 communities   
affected by health disparities and      
inequities 7including ,indian ,tribes   
and ,tribal organizations1 urban ,indian
 organizations1 and people with         
disabilities71 individuals with related 
conditions1 health care providers1 first
 responders1 military service members1  
veterans1 pregnant and lactating women1 
frontline workers who may be impacted by
 high ,,covid-#ai and ,long ,,covid     

rates1 and health care providers from   
diverse disciplines that may treat      
individuals with ,,covid-#ai1 ,long     
,,covid1 and related conditions4  7c7   
,voluntary participation2 privacy       
protections  7#a7 ,voluntary            
participation ,participation in the     
registry described in subsection 7b77#a7
 shall be voluntary1 and a person       
creating1 assisting in the creation of1 
or maintaining the registry shall not   
include in the registry information     
about an individual unless the          
individual consents to the inclusion of 
such information4  7#b7 ,privacy        
protections ,information about an       
individual that is included in the      
registry shall be subject to all        
applicable privacy protections under    
,federal and ,state law4  7d7 ,report   
,not later than #a year after the       
establishment of the synthesized patient
 registry under subsection 7b77#b71 and 
annually thereafter1 the ,secretary     
shall submit a report that includes     

data1 findings1 and information with    
respect to the status of the patient    
registry 7including progress1 barriers1 
and issues7 to ,congress and the        
,president4  7e7 ,authorization of      
appropriations ,to carry out this       
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year
 #bjbd1 which shall remain available    
until expended4  #c4 ,research on       
,united ,states health care system's    
response to ,long ,,covid  7a7 ,in      
general ,the ,secretary1 in coordination
 with the ,director of the ,agency for  
,healthcare ,research and ,quality1 the 
,director of the ,national ,institutes  
of ,health1 and the ,director of the    
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention1 shall conduct or support   
research related to the ,united ,states 
health care system's response to ,long  
,,covid1 including with respect to--    
7#a7 the expansion and effectiveness of 
post-infectious disease treatment1      
including--  7,a7 identifying barriers  

to access for treatment of ,,covid-#ai1 
,long ,,covid1 and related conditions   
for veterans1 older adults1 people with 
disabilities1 children and young adults1
 communities of color1 underserved and  
rural communities1 and other groups     
impacted by high rates of ,,covid-#ai1  
as determined by the ,secretary2  7,b7  
evaluating and identifying potential    
gaps or other weaknesses that contribute
 to age1 gender1 geographic location1   
disability1 occupation1 and racial and  
ethnic disparities with respect to      
,,covid-#ai infection rates1 severity   
and length of symptoms1 associated      
diagnoses1 and outcomes2 and  7,c7      
identifying trends associated with      
differences in diagnosis and treatment  
of ,long ,,covid and related conditions 
by demographic factors such as age1     
gender1 geographic location1 disability1
 occupation1 race1 ethnicity1 or other  
factors identified by the ,secretary to 
promote health equity2 and  7#b7        
conducting and supporting research to-- 

7,a7 identify health care strategies    
that help mitigate age1 gender1         
geographic location1 disability1        
occupation1 and racial and ethnic       
disparities in ,,covid-#ai infection    
rates1 hospitalizations1 severity and   
length of symptoms1 secondary illnesses1
 and outcomes2  7,b7 identify health    
care-related factors contributing to    
such disparities in ,,covid-#ai         
infection rates1 hospitalizations1      
severity and length of symptoms1        
secondary illnesses1 and outcomes2 and  
7,c7 provide recommendations on ensuring
 equity in diagnosis and access to      
quality post-infectious treatments that 
may be advanced to mitigate such        
disparities4  7b7 ,authorization of     
appropriations ,to carry out this       
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated #ae1jjj1jjj for fiscal year
 #bjbd1 which shall remain available    
until expended4  #d4 ,education and     
dissemination of information on ,long   
,,covid  7a7 ,long ,,covid public       

education program ,the ,secretary shall 
develop and disseminate to the public   
regularly updated information regarding 
,long ,,covid1 in plain language and in 
a manner that is culturally and         
linguistically appropriate and easily   
accessible to people with disabilities  
and people with limited ,english        
proficiency1 including information on-- 
7#a7 the awareness1 incidence1 and      
short- and long-term health effects     
associated with ,,covid-#ai infection1  
including ,long ,,covid associated      
disability2  7#b7 illnesses related and 
often comorbid with ,long ,,covid1 which
 may include-- 7,a7 myalgic             
encephalomyelitis_/chronic fatigue      
syndrome2  7,b7 fibromyalgia2  7,c7     
postural orthostatic tachycardia        
syndrome and other forms of             
dysautonomia2  7,d7 autoimmune diseases 
associated with viral triggers2  7,e7   
connective tissue diseases exacerbated  
or triggered by infections2  7,f7 mast  
cell activation syndrome2  7,g7 related 

conditions and illnesses that may affect
 adults1 young adults1 or children2 and 
7,h7 other conditions1 as the ,secretary
 determines appropriate2  7#c7 the      
availability1 as medically appropriate1 
of treatment options for ,long ,,covid  
and related conditions overlapping with 
,long ,,covid identified under paragraph
 7#b72 and  7#d7 strategies for reducing
 the likelihood of developing ,long     
,,covid4  7b7 ,long ,,covid provider    
education program ,the ,secretary1 in   
consultation with representatives from  
impacted communities and health care    
providers who treat such communities or 
individuals1 shall develop and          
disseminate to health care providers1   
including by developing or improving    
continuing medical education programs   
that advance the education of such      
providers1 information on ,long ,,covid1
 recommended assessment tools1 including
 how to assess patients' functional     
capacity to support applications for    
disability benefits1 and management of  

,long ,,covid and related conditions for
 the purpose of ensuring that health    
care providers remain informed about    
current information on ,long ,,covid and
 related conditions1 including          
information on--  7#a7 ,long ,,covid    
symptoms such as cognitive1             
neurological1 psychiatric1              
gastrointestinal1 respiratory1 and      
cardiovascular symptoms2  7#b7 myalgic  
encephalomyelitis_/chronic fatigue      
syndrome and fibromyalgia2  7#c7        
postural orthostatic tachycardia        
syndrome and other forms of             
dysautonomia2  7#d7 autoimmune diseases 
associated with viral triggers2  7#e7   
connective tissue diseases exacerbated  
or triggered by infections2  7#f7 mast  
cell activation syndrome2  7#g7 related 
conditions and illnesses that may affect
 adults1 young adults1 or children2 and 
7#h7 other conditions as the ,secretary 
determines appropriate4  7c7            
,considerations ,in developing and      
disseminating information in subsections

 7a7 and 7b71 the ,secretary shall      
ensure that-- 7#a7 guidance on ,long    
,,covid diagnostics1 treatments1 and    
care include demographic factors such as
 age1 gender1 geographic location1      
disability1 occupation1 race and        
ethnicity1 and other factors identified 
by the ,secretary to promote health     
equity2 and  7#b7 individuals with ,long
 ,,covid and related conditions1 and    
entities representing such individuals1 
are empowered to participate in protocol
 development and outreach and education 
strategies4  7d7 ,dissemination of      
information ,the ,secretary shall       
disseminate1 in plain language and in a 
manner that is culturally and           
linguistically appropriate and easily   
accessible to people with disabilities  
and individuals with limited ,english   
proficiency1 information under          
subsections 7a7 and 7b71 directly or    
through arrangements with intra-agency  
initiatives1 nonprofit organizations1   
consumer groups1 ,federally qualified   

health centers1 institutions of higher  
learning 7as defined in section #aja of 
the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife    
7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja771 local           
educational agencies or ,state          
educational agencies 7as defined in     
section #haja of the ,elementary and    
,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj
 ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja771 or ,federal1 ,state1
 ,tribal1 or local public private       
partnerships4  7e7 ,authorization of    
appropriations ,to carry out this       
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj for each of    
fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbf1 which 
shall remain available until expended4  
#e4 ,interagency coordination and       
information dissemination on rights     
associated with ,long ,,covid  7a7 ,in  
general ,the ,secretary shall convene   
relevant agencies to develop information
 and resources to make available to the 
public and for dissemination to         
individuals and communities impacted by 
,long ,,covid and related conditions to 

raise awareness and provide education on
 the impact ,long ,,covid and related   
conditions may have on rights associated
 with employment1 disability status1 and
 education afforded under ,federal and  
,state law4  7b7 ,collaboration and     
consultation ,in developing the         
information and resources under         
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary-- 7#a7   
shall collaborate with--  7,a7 the      
,secretary of ,labor and the ,assistant 
,secretary of ,labor for ,disability    
,employment ,policy2  7,b7 the          
,secretary of ,education2  7,c7 the     
,commissioner of the ,social ,security  
,administration2  7,d7 the ,secretary of
 ,veterans ,affairs2  7,e7 the heads of 
relevant agencies within the ,department
 of ,health and ,human ,services1       
including-- 7i7 the ,director of the    
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention2  7ii7 the ,director of the 
,national ,institutes of ,health2  7iii7
 the ,administrator of the ,centers for 
,medicare  ,medicaid ,services2  7iv7   

the ,administrator of the               
,administration for ,children and       
,families2 and  7v7 the ,administrator  
of the ,administration for ,community   
,living2 and  7,f7 the heads of other   
,federal departments1 agencies1 or      
offices1 as the ,secretary determines   
appropriate to carry out the activities 
described in this section2 and  7#b7 may
 consult with--  7,a7 communities and   
professionals impacted by high          
,,covid-#ai rates2  7,b7 individuals    
with ,long ,,covid and related          
conditions2  7,c7 caregivers of         
individuals with ,long ,,covid and      
related conditions2 and  7,d7           
organizations and experts that represent
 the rights and interests of the groups 
described in subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b71  
and 7,c74  7c7 ,information and         
resources developed ,not later than #a  
year after the date of enactment of this
 ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the     
entities described in subsection 7b7    
shall develop information and resources 

to include-- 7#a7 educational materials 
to school administrators1 counselors1   
educators1 parents1 coaches1 school     
nurses1 and other school staff about    
,long ,,covid and related conditions    
with clear guidance on appropriate      
academic1 social1 and emotional supports
 and services1 and the rights of        
students with disabilities1 available to
 students and families2  7#b7 guidance  
for employers on the rights of people   
with disabilities related to ,long      
,,covid and related conditions1         
including strategies for how employers  
can support such individuals in the     
workplace2 and  7#c7 guidance on ,long  
,,covid and related conditions as a     
disability1 including recommendations to
 streamline the process of applying for 
benefits through the ,social ,security  
,administration1 including guidance on  
evaluating ,long ,,covid and related    
conditions for individuals under the age
 of #ah1 continuing disability reviews1 
and the payment of benefits under part  

,l of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime   
,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of     
#aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajbha et seq474   
7d7 ,dissemination of information ,the  
,secretary shall disseminate the        
information and resources developed     
under subsection 7c7 to-- 7#a7 ,states  
or ,state agencies implementing the     
,state protection and advocacy system   
7as defined in section #ajb of the      
,developmental ,disabilities ,assistance
 and ,bill of ,rights ,act of #bjjj 7#db
 ,u4,s4,c4 #aejjb772  7#b7 ,state       
agencies on aging or area agencies on   
aging 7as such terms are defined in     
section #ajb of the ,older ,americans   
,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjb772   
7#c7 organizations and experts that     
represent workers' rights and education2
 and  7#d7 other organizations and      
experts that represent the rights and   
interests of individuals with ,long     
,,covid and related conditions4  7e7    
,appropriations ,to carry out this      
section1 there is authorized to be      

appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj for each of    
fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbf1 which 
shall remain available until expended4  
#f4 ,program to support legal and social
 service assistance for individuals with
 ,long ,,covid  7a7 ,in general ,the    
,secretary1 acting through the          
,administrator of the ,administration   
for ,community ,living1 shall award     
grants or contracts to eligible entities
 for purposes of establishing or        
expanding medical-legal partnerships1 or
 increasing the availability of legal   
assistance or social supports necessary1
 to provide effective aid or support to 
individuals with ,long ,,covid and      
related conditions1 and their           
caregivers1 who are seeking assistance  
in obtaining or maintaining access to1  
or in legal matters relating to1 any of 
the following services1 at minimal or no
 cost to the individuals3 7#a7 ,the     
,social ,security ,disability ,insurance
 program under section #bbc of the      
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   

#dbc74  7#b7 ,the supplemental security 
income program under title ,,xvi of the 
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#acha et seq474  7#c7 ,survivors        
benefits under title ,,ii of the ,social
 ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dja et  
seq474  7#d7 ,housing matters4  7#e7    
,access to medical care4  7#f7 ,access  
to vocational rehabilitation services   
under title ,i of the ,rehabilitation   
,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gbj et    
seq474  7#g7 ,access to assistive       
technology under the ,assistive         
,technology ,act of #aiih 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4
 #cjja et seq474  7#h7 ,early           
intervention1 specialized instruction1  
and related services and accommodations 
for children provided under parts ,b and
 ,c of the ,individuals with            
,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj      
,u4,s4,c4 #adaa et seq42 #bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#adca et seq47 and section #ejd of the  
,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi      
,u4,s4,c4 #gid74  7#i7 ,the low-income  
home energy assistance program          

established under the ,low-,income ,home
 ,energy ,assistance ,act of #aiha 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #hfba et seq474  7#aj7        
,employment supports4  7#aa7 ,nutrition 
assistance4  7#ab7 ,traumatic brain     
injury supports4  7#ac7 ,other support  
services for low-income individuals and 
people with disabilities 7as defined in 
section #c of the ,americans with       
,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #abajb774  7b7 ,eligibility   
for awards  7#a7 ,in general ,to be     
eligible to receive an award under this 
section1 an entity shall-- 7,a7 be--    
7i7 a ,state1 or an agency implementing 
the ,state protection and advocacy      
system 7as defined in section #ajb of   
the ,developmental ,disabilities        
,assistance and ,bill of ,rights ,act of
 #bjjj 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aejjb772  7ii7 a 
,state agency or area agency on aging   
7as such terms are defined in section   
#ajb of the ,older ,americans ,act of   
#aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjjb772  7iii7 a  
nonprofit entity or a publicly funded   

organization not acting in a            
governmental capacity1 such as a law    
school2  7iv7 an ,indian ,tribe or      
,tribal organization2  7v7 an urban     
,indian organization2  7vi7 a territory2
  7vii7 a health care provider with an  
existing multi-disciplinary clinic or   
other specialized program focused on    
serving individuals with ,long ,,covid1 
underserved communities1 or low-income  
patients1 or with a demonstrated intent 
to create such a program2  7viii7 an    
entity providing legal services2 or     
7ix7 a consortium of entities described 
in clauses 7i7 through 7viii72  7,b7    
agree to use the award for the purposes 
described in subsection 7c72 and  7,c7  
partner with at least one               
community-based organization with a     
demonstrated history of serving people  
with disabilities1 including helping    
people with disabilities access         
supportive services1 or a demonstrated  
history of serving impacted communities1
 including limited-,english proficient  

communities4  7#b7 ,priority ,in making 
awards under subsection 7a71 the        
,secretary shall give priority to       
entities described in paragraph 7#a7    
that certify in writing that any person 
providing legal assistance through a    
program supported by the award--  7,a7  
7i7 has demonstrated expertise in       
providing legal assistance to people    
with disabilities2 or  7ii7 is partnered
 with a person or organization that has 
demonstrated expertise described in     
clause 7i72 and  7,b7 has completed1 or 
will complete1 training in connection   
with disability-related legal issues4   
7c7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity   
receiving an award under this section   
may use such award to--  7#a7 establish 
or expand medical-legal partnerships or 
other cooperative efforts between       
community-based organizations1 medical  
and social service providers1 and legal 
assistance providers to provide legal   
assistance and help accessing or        
maintaining social services for         

individuals with ,long ,,covid2  7#b7   
establish or expand efforts and projects
 to provide legal assistance for        
individuals with ,long ,,covid by       
organizations with a demonstrated       
history of providing direct legal or    
advocacy services on behalf of people   
with disabilities2  7#c7 provide        
technical assistance to organizations or
 agencies for educating individuals with
 ,long ,,covid1 caregivers1 and parents1
 including foster parents1 caring for   
children with ,long ,,covid about rights
 related to accommodations in           
employment1 education1 or other matters 
as determined by the ,secretary2 and    
7#d7 employ staff or educate current    
staff on assisting individuals with     
,long ,,covid in obtaining health care1 
social services1 or legal services4  7d7
 ,reporting ,eligible entities receiving
 an award under this section shall      
collect data and report information to  
the ,secretary of ,health and ,human    
,services in a manner prescribed by such

 ,secretary4  7e7 ,evaluation ,not later
 than #a year after the date of         
enactment of this ,act1 and annually    
thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,health   
and ,human ,services shall submit a     
report to the ,committee on ,health1    
,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy  
and ,commerce of the ,house of          
,representatives1 which shall also be   
made publicly available1 outlining the  
number of individuals who sought        
services offered by recipients of awards
 under this section and the services    
provided4 ,such report shall include a  
summary of activities conducted under   
the program under this section1 and     
information broken down by award        
recipient4  7f7 ,authorization of       
appropriations  7#a7 ,in general ,there 
is authorized to be appropriated to     
carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for  
each of fiscal years #bjbd through      
#bjbh4  7#b7 ,nonsupplantation ,amounts 
made available under this section shall 

be used to supplement and not supplant  
other ,federal1 ,state1 and local funds 
expended to further the purpose of this 
section4  #g4 ,definitions ,in this     
,act3 7#a7 ,indian ,tribe ,the terms    
,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the
 term ,indian tribe in section #ajb of  
the ,federally ,recognized ,indian      
,tribe ,list ,act of #aiid 7#be         
,u4,s4,c4 #eacj74  7#b7 ,long ,,covid   
,the term ,long ,,covid means health    
conditions that may result1 directly or 
indirectly1 from ,,covid-#ai4  7#c7     
,urban ,indian organization ,the term   
urban ,indian organization has the      
meaning given such term in section #d of
 the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement 
,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #afjc74  7#d7       
,tribal organization ,the term ,tribal  
organization means the recognized       
governing body of any ,indian ,tribe2   
any legally established organization of 
,indians which is controlled1           
sanctioned1 or chartered by such        
governing body or which is              

democratically elected by the adult     
members of the ,indian community to be  
served by such organization and which   
includes the maximum participation of   
,indians in all phases of its           
activities3 ,provided1 ,that in any case
 where a contract is let or grant made  
to an organization to perform services  
benefitting more than one ,indian       
,tribe1 the approval of each such       
,indian ,tribe shall be a prerequisite  
to the letting or making of such        
contract or grant