Protecting Seniors During Disasters Act

To amend title XXVIII of the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Seniors During Disasters Act 2. National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters Subtitle B of title XXVIII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300hh 2811B. National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters (a) Establishment The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters Advisory Committee (b) Duties The Advisory Committee shall— (1) provide advice and consultation with respect to the activities carried out pursuant to section 2814, as applicable and appropriate; (2) evaluate and provide input with respect to the medical and public health needs of seniors as they relate to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all-hazards emergencies; and (3) provide advice and consultation with respect to State emergency preparedness and response activities and seniors, including related drills and exercises pursuant to the preparedness goals under section 2802(b). (c) Additional duties The Advisory Committee may provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary with respect to seniors and the medical and public health grants and cooperative agreements as applicable to preparedness and response activities authorized under this title and title III. (d) Membership (1) In general The Secretary, in consultation with such other Secretaries as may be appropriate, shall appoint not to exceed 15 members to the Advisory Committee. In appointing such members, the Secretary shall ensure that the total membership of the Advisory Committee is an odd number. (2) Required members The Secretary, in consultation with such other Secretaries as may be appropriate, may appoint to the Advisory Committee under paragraph (1) such individuals as may be appropriate to perform the duties described in subsections (b) and (c), which may include— (A) the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; (B) the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; (C) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (D) the Commissioner of Food and Drugs; (E) the Director of the National Institutes of Health; (F) the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; (G) the Administrator for Community Living; (H) the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; (I) the Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration; (J) at least two non-Federal health care professionals with expertise in medical disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery; (K) at least two representatives from State, local, territorial, or tribal agencies with expertise in disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery; and (L) representatives from such Federal agencies (such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security) as determined necessary to fulfill the duties of the Advisory Committee, as established under subsections (b) and (c). (e) Meetings The Advisory Committee shall meet not less than biannually. (f) Sunset The Advisory Committee shall terminate on September 30, 2021. .

Summary: Protecting Seniors During Disasters Act This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters. The duties of the committee are to: provide advice and consultation related to activities to assist at-risk individuals (people with access and functional needs that may interfere with their ability to access or receive medical care before, during, or after a disaster or emergency); evaluate and provide input to the medical and public health needs of seniors related to preparation for, response to, and recovery from all-hazards emergencies; and provide advice and consultation related to seniors and state emergency preparedness and response activities. The committee shall terminate on September 30, 2021.