I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5592 
To establish grant programs to improve the health of border area residents 
and for bioterrorism preparedness in the border area, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 11, 2008 
Mr. REYES (for himself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. 
ORTIZ, and Mr. HINOJOSA) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish grant programs to improve the health of border 
area residents and for bioterrorism preparedness in the 
border area, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Border Health Secu-
rity Act of 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) BORDER AREA.—The term ‘‘border area’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘United States- 
Mexico Border Area’’ in section 8 of the United 
States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act (22 
U.S.C. 290n–6). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
SEC. 3. BORDER HEALTH GRANTS. 
(a) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means a State, public institution 
of higher education, local government, tribal government, 
nonprofit health organization, or community health center 
receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b), that is located in 
the border area. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—From funds appropriated 
under subsection (f), the Secretary, acting through the 
United States members of the United States-Mexico Bor-
der Health Commission, shall award grants to eligible en-
tities to address priorities and recommendations to im-
prove the health of border area residents that are estab-
lished by— 
(1) the United States members of the United 
States-Mexico Border Health Commission; 
(2) the State border health offices; and 
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(3) the Secretary. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity that desires a 
grant under subsection (b) shall submit an application to 
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under subsection (b) shall use the grant funds 
for— 
(1) programs relating to— 
(A) maternal and child health; 
(B) primary care and preventative health; 
(C) public health and public health infra-
structure; 
(D) health promotion; 
(E) oral health; 
(F) behavioral and mental health; 
(G) substance abuse; 
(H) health conditions that have a high 
prevalence in the border area; 
(I) medical and health services research; 
(J) workforce training and development; 
(K) 
community 
health 
workers 
or 
promotoras; 
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(L) health care infrastructure problems in 
the border area (including planning and con-
struction grants); 
(M) health disparities in the border area; 
(N) environmental health; 
(O) health education; and 
(P) outreach and enrollment services with 
respect to Federal programs (including pro-
grams authorized under titles XIX and XXI of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq. 
and 1397aa et seq.)); and 
(2) other programs determined appropriate by 
the Secretary. 
(e) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Amounts pro-
vided to an eligible entity awarded a grant under sub-
section (b) shall be used to supplement and not supplant 
other funds available to the eligible entity to carry out the 
activities described in subsection (d). 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009 and 
each succeeding fiscal year. 
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SEC. 4. BORDER BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS GRANTS. 
(a) ELIGIBLE ENTITY DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means a State, local govern-
ment, tribal government, or public health entity. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—From funds appropriated 
under subsection (e), the Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible entities for bioterrorism preparedness in the bor-
der area. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity that desires a 
grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Secretary may require. 
(d) USES OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under subsection (b) shall use the grant funds to, 
in coordination with State and local bioterrorism pro-
grams— 
(1) develop and implement bioterror prepared-
ness plans and readiness assessments and purchase 
items necessary for such plans; 
(2) coordinate bioterrorism and emergency pre-
paredness planning in the region; 
(3) improve infrastructure, including syndrome 
surveillance and laboratory capacity; 
(4) create a health alert network, including risk 
communication and information dissemination; 
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(5) educate and train clinicians, epidemiolo-
gists, laboratories, and emergency personnel; and 
(6) carry out other such activities identified by 
the Secretary, the United States-Mexico Border 
Health Commission, State and local public health of-
fices, and border health offices. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may 
be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year. 
SEC. 5. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMIS-
SION ACT AMENDMENTS. 
The United States-Mexico Border Health Commis-
sion Act (22 U.S.C. 290n et seq.) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums 
as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.’’. 
SEC. 6. COORDINATION OF HEALTH SERVICES AND SUR-
VEILLANCE. 
The Secretary may coordinate with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security in establishing a health alert system 
that— 
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(1) alerts clinicians and public health officials 
of emerging disease clusters and syndromes along 
the border area; and 
(2) is alerted to signs of health threats or bio-
terrorism along the border area. 
SEC. 7. BINATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE 
AND HEALTH INSURANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into a 
contract with the Institute of Medicine for the conduct of 
a study concerning binational public health infrastructure 
and health insurance efforts. In conducting such study, 
the Institute shall solicit input from border health experts 
and health insurance issuers. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
on which the Secretary enters into the contract under sub-
section (a), the Institute of Medicine shall submit to the 
Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a 
report concerning the study conducted under such con-
tract. Such report shall include the recommendations of 
the Institute on ways to expand or improve binational pub-
lic health infrastructure and health insurance efforts. 
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SEC. 8. PROVISION OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE 
TO CONGRESS. 
Section 5 of the United States-Mexico Border Health 
Commission Act (22 U.S.C. 290n–3) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PROVIDING ADVICE AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
TO CONGRESS.—A member of the Commission, or an indi-
vidual who is on the staff of the Commission, may at any 
time provide advice or recommendations to Congress con-
cerning issues that are considered by the Commission. 
Such advice or recommendations may be provided whether 
or not a request for such advice or recommendations is 
made by a member of Congress and regardless of whether 
the member or individual is authorized to provide such ad-
vice or recommendations by the Commission or any other 
Federal official.’’. 
Æ 
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