I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7496 

To require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to any resurgence 

of COVID–19, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 6, 2020 

Mr. SCHNEIDER (for himself, Mr. KATKO, Mrs. FLETCHER, Ms. CRAIG, Ms. 

SHERRILL, Mr. ROSE of New York, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. 

KIM, Mr. BRINDISI, Mr. CROW, Ms. SPANBERGER, and Ms. DAVIDS of 

Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

A BILL 

To require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding 

to any resurgence of COVID–19, 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 ‘‘COVID Preparedness, 

5 Response, and Effective Planning for Advanced Require6 ments by the Executive Branch Act’’ or the ‘‘COVID 

7 PREPARE Act’’. 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 7496 IH

1 SEC. 2. COVID–19 RESURGENCE PLAN. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 

3 date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency 

4 shall submit to Congress an initial report detailing an ac5 tion plan, informed by research and best practices learned 

6 from the onset of COVID–19 and previous presidentially 

7 declared emergencies, for addressing the needs and miti8 gating and eliminating the risks and challenges associated 

9 with any resurgence in COVID–19 cases, that includes— 

10 (1) agency priorities for preparing for and re11 sponding to any resurgence of COVID–19, including 

12 continuity of operations and fulfilling the mission of 

13 the agency; 

14 (2) measurable goals specific to priorities and a 

15 time line for addressing each priority; 

16 (3) anticipated challenges to addressing prior17 ities and how the agency will address such chal18 lenges; 

19 (4) how the agency will consult with Congress, 

20 the public, State and municipal governments, and 

21 relevant stakeholders while working remotely; and 

22 (5) how the agency plans to issue relevant guid23 ance to entities under the jurisdiction of the agency. 

24 (b) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—Not later than 60 days 

25 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and quarterly 

26 thereafter until the President ends the declared emerVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Jul 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7496.IH H7496

pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 7496 IH

1 gency, the head of each agency shall submit to Congress 

2 a report that provides an update of the details submitted 

3 in the plan under subsection (a), including— 

4 (1) the status of each priority; 

5 (2) an explanation for any goal that has not 

6 been met within the specified time frame; and 

7 (3) any changes or updates to the plan. 

8 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

9 (1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the 

10 meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, 

11 United States Code. 

12 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of 

13 the several States, the District of Columbia, each 

14 commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United 

15 States, and each federally recognized Indian Tribe. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS