I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8599 
To amend the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act, with 
respect to preparedness for COVID–19 and other infectious diseases 
in the border region, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 16, 2020 
Ms. ESCOBAR (for herself, Mr. VELA, Mr. CORREA, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. 
CUELLAR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the United States-Mexico Border Health Commis-
sion Act, with respect to preparedness for COVID–19 
and other infectious diseases in the border region, 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 ‘‘Binational Health 
Strategies Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMIS-
SION INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREPAREDNESS. 
The United States-Mexico Border Health Commis-
sion Act (22 U.S.C. 290n et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 5 (22 U.S.C. 290n–5) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 5A. INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREPAREDNESS. 
‘‘(a) COVID–19 RESPONSE.—Not later than 120 
days after the date of the enactment of this section, and 
annually thereafter (for as long as the Commission, acting 
with the participation of members representing both the 
United States and Mexican sections, determines is nec-
essary), the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
on the United States-Mexico Border Area’s response (be-
ginning on February 1, 2020) to COVID–19, including 
with respect to testing, contact tracing, and other infection 
prevention and control measures carried out in the United 
States-Mexico Border Area, in both the United States and 
Mexico. 
‘‘(b) COVID–19 BINATIONAL PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the 
Commission (acting with the participation of mem-
bers representing both the United States and Mexi-
can sections) shall develop, and publish on a public 
website of the Commission, a binational strategic 
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plan that addresses, with respect to COVID–19, 
how— 
‘‘(A) the United States-Mexico Border 
Area should strengthen its response to COVID– 
19, with a focus on testing, contact tracing, and 
other infection prevention and control measures; 
‘‘(B) the effect of COVID–19 on the eco-
nomic conditions in the United States-Mexico 
Border Area may be mitigated; 
‘‘(C) the sharing of relevant health data, 
with respect to COVID–19, including testing 
and positivity rates, between health agencies 
within the United States-Mexico Border Area 
can be strengthened; and 
‘‘(D) a vaccine should be disbursed 
throughout the United States-Mexico Border 
Area, taking into account the various vulnerable 
populations in the region. 
‘‘(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Commission (acting with the participation of 
members representing both the United States and 
Mexican sections) shall develop, and publish on a 
public website of the Commission, what actions Fed-
eral agencies will take within the United States sec-
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tion and agencies of the Government of Mexico will 
take within the Mexican section of the United 
States-Mexico Border Area to facilitate implementa-
tion of the plan under paragraph (1). At least once 
each year after the publication of such information, 
the Commission shall submit to Congress a report 
on actions taken by Federal agencies and agencies of 
the Government of Mexico to facilitate that imple-
mentation during the year covered by the report. 
‘‘(c) FUTURE INFECTIOUS DISEASE PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section, the 
Commission shall develop and publish a plan to pre-
pare and respond to infectious diseases (other than 
COVID–19) within the United States-Mexico Border 
Area. Such plan shall address how— 
‘‘(A) the United States-Mexico Border 
Area should strengthen its response to such in-
fectious diseases, with a focus on testing, con-
tact tracing, and other infection prevention and 
control measures; 
‘‘(B) the effect of such infectious diseases 
on the economic conditions in the United 
States-Mexico Border Area may be mitigated; 
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‘‘(C) the sharing of relevant health data, 
with respect to such infectious diseases, includ-
ing testing and positivity rates, between health 
agencies within the United States-Mexico Bor-
der Area can be strengthened; and 
‘‘(D) a vaccine should be disbursed 
throughout the United States-Mexico Border 
Area, taking into account the various vulnerable 
populations in the region. 
‘‘(2) UPDATES.—The Commission shall update 
the plan published under paragraph (1) at least once 
every 3 years for as long as the Commission, acting 
with the participation of members representing both 
the United States and Mexican sections, determines 
is necessary. 
‘‘(3) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this section, 
the Commission (acting with the participation of 
members representing both the United States and 
Mexican sections) shall develop, and publish on a 
public website of the Commission, what actions Fed-
eral agencies will take within the United States sec-
tion and agencies of the Government of Mexico will 
take within the Mexican section of the United 
States-Mexico Border Area to facilitate implementa-
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tion of the plan under paragraph (1). At least once 
a year after the publication of such information, the 
Commission shall submit to Congress a report on ac-
tions taken by Federal agencies and agencies of the 
Government of Mexico to facilitate that implementa-
tion during the year covered by the report.’’. 
Æ 
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