I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6878 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and imple-
ment improved, transparent processes for the use and distribution of 
supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 14, 2020 
Ms. SLOTKIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 
develop and implement improved, transparent processes 
for the use and distribution of supplies in the Strategic 
National Stockpile, 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. IMPROVED, TRANSPARENT PROCESSES FOR 
THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2021, 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in collabora-
tion with the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and 
Response and the Director of the Centers for Disease Con-
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trol and Prevention, shall develop and implement im-
proved, transparent processes for the use and distribution 
of drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical 
devices, and other supplies (including personal protective 
equipment, ancillary medical supplies, and other applicable 
supplies required for the administration of drugs, vaccines 
and other biological products, medical devices, and diag-
nostic tests) in the Strategic National Stockpile under sec-
tion 319F–2 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
247d–6b) (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Stockpile’’). 
(b) PROCESSES.—The processes developed under 
subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) the form and manner in which States, local-
ities, Tribes, and territories are required to submit 
requests for supplies from the Stockpile; 
(2) the criteria used by the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services in responding to such requests, 
including the reasons for fulfilling or denying such 
requests; 
(3) what circumstances result in prioritization 
of distribution of supplies from the Stockpile to 
States, localities, Tribes, or territories; 
(4) clear plans for future, urgent communica-
tion between the Secretary and States, localities, 
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Tribes, and territories regarding the outcome of 
such requests; and 
(5) any differences in the processes developed 
under subsection (a) for geographically related emer-
gencies, such as weather events, and national emer-
gencies, such as pandemics. 
(c) CLASSIFICATION.—The processes developed under 
subsection (a) shall be unclassified to the greatest extent 
possible consistent with national security. The Secretary 
of Health and Human Services may classify portions of 
such processes as necessary to protect national security. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than January 
1, 2021, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall— 
(1) submit a report to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate regarding the improved, 
transparent processes developed under this section; 
(2) include in such report recommendations for 
opportunities for communication (by telebriefing, 
phone calls, or in-person meetings) between the Sec-
retary and States, localities, Tribes, and territories 
regarding such improved, transparent processes; and 
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(3) submit such report in unclassified form to 
the greatest extent possible, except that the Sec-
retary may include a classified appendix if necessary 
to protect national security. 
Æ 
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