I 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6463 

To provide for equal protection of the law and to prohibit discrimination 

and preferential treatment on the basis of race, color, or national origin 

in the administration of programs of the Department of Health and 

Human Services, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 20, 2022 

Mr. TIFFANY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on 

Ways and Means, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, for a 

period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To provide for equal protection of the law and to prohibit 

discrimination and preferential treatment on the basis 

of race, color, or national origin in the administration 

of programs of the Department of Health and Human 

Services, 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 ‘‘Medical Equality and 

5 Discrimination Stoppage Act’’ or the ‘‘MEDS Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi3 sion of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

4 (or any officer, employee, or other designee of the Sec5 retary) (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 

6 shall not— 

7 (1) intentionally discriminate against, or grant 

8 a preference to, any person or group based in whole 

9 or in part on race, color, ethnicity or national origin, 

10 in connection with the distribution of, or access to, 

11 any monoclonal antibodies, vaccines or any other 

12 medical treatment, any contract or subcontract en13 tered into by the Secretary, award made by the Sec14 retary, or any other program or activity carried out 

15 by the Secretary; or 

16 (2) require, direct, recommend or encourage 

17 any entity under a contract or subcontract with the 

18 Secretary, or the recipient of a license issued by the 

19 Secretary or financial assistance provided under a 

20 program administered by the Secretary, to discrimi21 nate intentionally against, or grant a preference to, 

22 any person or group based in whole or in part on 

23 race, color, ethnicity or national origin, in connection 

24 with such a contract, subcontract, license, or finan25 cial assistance. 


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1 (b) STATES, TERRITORIES, AND PRIVATE ENTI2 TIES.—A State, territory, or private entity that receives 

3 financial assistance through any program administered by 

4 the Secretary shall not, as a condition of receiving such 

5 assistance, discriminate against, or grant a preference to, 

6 any person or group based in whole or in part on race, 

7 color, ethnicity or national origin in connection with any 

8 grant, activity, project, contract (or subcontract) carried 

9 out using such funds, including the salaries and expenses 

10 of any employees paid using such funds. 

11 (c) CIVIL ACTION.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who is aggrieved 

13 by conduct prohibited by subsection (a) or (b), may 

14 commence a civil action in the appropriate district 

15 court of the United States to obtain appropriate re16 lief, against Secretary or a State, territory, or pri17 vate entity referred to in subsection (a) or (b). 

18 (2) DAMAGES.—A prevailing plaintiff in a civil 

19 action under paragraph (1) may recover reasonable 

20 attorney’s fees. 

21 (3) EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.—The remedies 

22 available to a plaintiff pursuant to a civil action 

23 under paragraph (1) shall not affect any remedy 


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1 available to such a plaintiff under any other State 

2 or Federal law. 

Æ 


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