PPE Innovation Act of 2020

To establish programs to support research and development with respect to personal protective equipment for health care workers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the PPE Innovation Act of 2020 2. Improving the supply of personal protective equipment Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 243 319N. Programs to improve the supply of personal protective equipment (a) National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall continue to carry out the activities of the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, including by— (1) conducting research and development related to personal protective equipment, which shall include developing new methods to test effectiveness of such equipment; (2) developing and implementing science-based national guidance for respiratory equipment and other personal protective equipment; (3) establishing guidance and tools to help employers and workers use personal protective equipment as effectively and efficiently as possible; and (4) developing and evaluating innovative designs and test methods to improve acceptability, comfort, fit, and usability of personal protective equipment. (b) Research and development program for personal protective equipment for health care workers (1) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish, within the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory described in subsection (a), a program to ensure innovation with respect to personal protective equipment for health care workers, by conducting and applying scientific research on essential safety, design considerations, and usage qualities and standards of personal protective equipment used in health care settings. (2) Requirements The program established under paragraph (1) shall— (A) integrate consultation with heath care personnel who use personal protective equipment in their work to inform factors such as comfort over short- and long-durations, fit, durability, and feasibility in real-world health care settings; (B) conduct pilot testing for periods of 6 months to evaluate workforce experience with, and preliminary efficacy of, newly developed equipment; and (C) coordinate with manufacturers to— (i) ensure capability for large scale-production of personal protective equipment, even in the potential circumstance of low-profitability, and (ii) guarantee the ability to increase supply of such equipment rapidly in response to sudden medical need, through manufacturing at facilities within the United States and at reliable manufacturing facilities abroad. (3) Consultation In carrying out the program under this subsection, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall consult with— (A) the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health to align and integrate the objectives of the 2 agencies with respect to innovative development of personal protective equipment for health care workers; and (B) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to ensure appropriate communication related to relevant certification of personal protective equipment. (4) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $180,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. (c) Reporting (1) In general The Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (referred to in this subsection as the Academies PPE Innovation Act of 2020 (A) present a workshop to update the public on progress of the program under subsection (b) and the progress and remaining knowledge gaps with respect to implementation of such program and innovative product deployment of personal protective equipment in health care settings in the United States; and (B) submit a written summary of such workshop to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. (2) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be required to carry out this subsection. (d) Definition In this section, the term personal protective equipment .

Summary: PPE Innovation Act of 2020 This bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to carry out and expand programs for research and development of personal protective equipment, particularly with respect to equipment used by health care personnel. Generally, the bill requires the CDC to continue the activities of the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory. This laboratory operates within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and conducts scientific research, develops guidance, and disseminates information concerning workplace health hazards. The bill also specifically directs the CDC, in consultation with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Food and Drug Administration, to establish a program in the laboratory to research personal protective equipment used in health care settings. In carrying out this program, the CDC must consult with health care personnel to inform research, conduct pilot tests of new equipment, and coordinate with manufacturers concerning the production of, and supply chain for, such equipment. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to periodically conduct public workshops focused on research, development, and other issues concerning personal protective equipment.