I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7029 

To facilitate the re-opening of schools through study of children’s role in 

transmitting SARS–CoV–2, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 27, 2020 

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio (for himself and Ms. FUDGE) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To facilitate the re-opening of schools through study of children’s role in transmitting SARS–CoV–2, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect our Children 

5 from COVID–19 Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) School closures have substantial negative ef9 fects on children’s education, mental health, and so10 cial development. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7029 IH

1 (2) In general, school closures compound in2 equalities in rural and low-income communities, 

3 where students often lack access to computers and 

4 high-speed internet. 

5 (3) Returning children to the classroom will not 

6 only facilitate their development, but also free up 

7 their adult caregivers as they return to work. 

8 (4) To date, scientific evidence suggests chil9 dren have a lower probability of developing a serious 

10 illness from COVID–19 than adults. It remains un11 clear, however, what role children play in transmit12 ting SARS–CoV–2. 

13 (5) Pursuing research that analyzes and under14 stands the transmissibility of SARS–CoV–2 in chil15 dren will help families, educators, and elected lead16 ers make better decisions on re-opening schools and 

17 our economy. 

18 SEC. 3. STUDY ON CHILDREN’S ROLE IN TRANSMITTING 

19 SARS–COV–2. 

20 (a) STUDY.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than August 1, 

22 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

23 (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), in 

24 coordination with the heads of agencies of the De25 partment of Health and Human Services and exVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:02 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7029.IH H7029

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7029 IH

1 perts from outside of the Department, as appro2 priate, shall complete a study on children’s role in 

3 transmitting SARS–CoV–2. 

4 (2) ISSUES TO BE STUDIED.—The study under 

5 paragraph (1) shall address— 

6 (A) the transmissibility of COVID–19 from 

7 child to child, child to adult, and adult to child; 

8 (B) the vulnerability of children, especially 

9 those with underlying health conditions, to se10 vere illness as such vulnerability relates to 

11 COVID–19; 

12 (C) the vulnerability of adults, especially 

13 those with underlying health conditions, who 

14 send their children back to school; and 

15 (D) the vulnerability of adults, especially 

16 those with underlying health conditions, who 

17 interact with children who may be asymp18 tomatic but infectious. 

19 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the 

20 study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 

21 (A) take into consideration the best avail22 able science, including as provided by the Na23 tional Academy of Sciences; and 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 7029 IH

1 (B) ensure that such study includes con2 sideration of children who are members of ra3 cial or ethnic minority groups. 

4 (b) REPORTING.—Not later than August 1, 2020, 

5 and quarterly thereafter through the end of the emergency 

6 period, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress 

7 on children’s role in transmitting SARS–CoV–2. The first 

8 such report shall include the results of the study under 

9 subsection (a). 

10 (c) DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.—Not later 

11 than August 1, 2020, and quarterly thereafter through the 

12 end of the emergency period, the Secretary shall dissemi13 nate to stakeholders best practices for protecting children 

14 and adults in educational settings. The first best practices 

15 disseminated pursuant to the preceding sentence shall in16 clude any best practices for protecting children and adults 

17 in educational settings identified through the study under 

18 subsection (a). 

19 (d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘emer20 gency period’’ has the meaning given to such term in sec21 tion 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

22 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)). 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS