,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ajhe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ad1 #bjbe ,mr4 ,rounds 7for himself and ,mr4 ,heinrich7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to implement a pandemic preparedness and response program using artificial intelligence4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,med,shield ,act of #bjbe4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds as follows3 7#a7 ,the ,,covid-#ai pandemic revealed the need to better organize pathogen defense of the people of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,the ,national ,security ,commission on ,artificial ,intelligence concluded that ,,covid-#ai scientific advancements1 notably accelerated by the application of artificial intelligence1 in addition to many other existing science and technology initiatives in the ,united ,states1 should be used to build a comprehensive1 operational1 and integrated biodefense program that functions like a shield against manmade and non-manmade pathogens4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 an initiative such as ,operation ,warp ,speed should not be required for the next pandemic2 7#b7 there is a requirement for a pandemic preparedness and response program that would negate the need for a future ,operation ,warp ,speed-like program or a declaration of a public health emergency under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d72 and 7#c7 the program established under section #c would operationalize artificial intelligence and a system-of-systems integration across the interagency and private sector1 under the direction of the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 #c4 ,establishment of ,med,shield program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7referred to in this ,act as the ,secretary7 shall implement a pandemic preparedness and response program utilizing artificial intelligence and other relevant technologies1 to be known as the ,med,shield program 7referred to in this ,act as the ,program71 in accordance with recommendations of the ,national ,security ,commission on ,artificial ,intelligence4 ,the ,program shall operationalize a national medical shield that gathers innovations across the public-private ecosystem in the ,united ,states1 as well as from allies and partners1 to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering medical solutions to individuals1 functioning as a shield against biological threats4 ,the ,program shall continuously operate and monitor threats1 for the purpose of safeguarding the public health of the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,plan and integration ,pursuant to the ,program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 develop a plan to integrate the recommendations of the ,national ,security ,commission on ,artificial ,intelligence for pandemic preparedness and response1 in accordance with the responsibilities of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services as the primary agency and coordinator for the emergency support function relating to public health and medical services under the ,national ,response ,framework of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 and 7#b7 consult with heads of appropriate ,federal agencies and select allies and partners to ensure the integration of the ,program between relevant departments and agencies and international partners to achieve a coordinated international effort to address a pandemic4 7c7 ,utilization of artificial intelligence ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall leverage artificial intelligence and other relevant technologies and capabilities1 including as follows3 7#a7 ,development and deployment of a global pathogen surveillance system for the real-time detection and tracking of pathogens4 7#b7 ,employment of artificial intelligence enabled systems to accelerate the identification and development of effective vaccines4 7#c7 ,development and deployment of therapeutic treatments for individuals affected by biological threats4 7#d7 ,advanced artificial intelligence-enabled modeling to optimize strategies for pathogen tracking1 vaccine distribution1 and therapeutic interventions4 7#e7 ,streamlining and enhancing rapid manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics4 #d4 ,reporting ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives a report detailing the plan required under section #c7;b74 ,such report shall be submitted in unclassified form1 and may include a classified annex4 #e4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term artificial intelligence has the meaning given such term in section #ajea7;f7 of the ,john ,s4 ,mc,cain ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjai 7,public ,law #aae-bcb2 #acb ,stat4 #aifb72 7#b7 the term ,med,shield has the meaning given the term ,bio,shield in the final report of the ,commission submitted under section #ajea7;c77#b7 of the ,john ,s4 ,mc,cain ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjai 7#acb ,stat4 #aife2 ,public ,law #aae-bcb72 and 7#c7 the term ,national ,security ,commission on ,artificial ,intelligence means such commission established under section #ajea of the ,john ,s4 ,mc,cain ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjai 7#acb ,stat4 #aifb2 ,public ,law #aae-bcb74 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations ,for purposes of carrying out the ,med,shield program1 there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary-- 7#a7 #cjj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbe2 7#b7 #cej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbf2 7#c7 #djj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbg2 7#d7 #dej1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbh2 and 7#e7 #ejj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbi1 to remain available until expended4