H. R. 2617—1295 
the public health preparedness and response needs of the 
community, or communities, involved; 
‘‘(B) prioritize efforts to implement evidence-informed 
or evidence-based practices to improve public health 
preparedness and response, including by helping to reduce 
the transmission of emerging infectious diseases; and 
‘‘(C) use funds awarded under this subsection, 
including by carrying out any activities described in para-
graph (3). 
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—The Centers established or maintained 
under this subsection shall use funds awarded under this sub-
section to carry out activities to advance public health prepared-
ness and response capabilities, which may include— 
‘‘(A) identifying, translating, and disseminating prom-
ising research findings or strategies into evidence-informed 
or evidence-based practices to inform preparedness for, and 
responses to, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear 
threats, including emerging infectious diseases, and other 
public health emergencies, which may include conducting 
research related to public health preparedness and 
response systems; 
‘‘(B) improving awareness of such evidence-informed 
or evidence-based practices and other relevant scientific 
or public health information among health care profes-
sionals, public health professionals, other stakeholders, and 
the public, including through the development, evaluation, 
and dissemination of trainings and training materials, con-
sistent with section 2802(b)(2), as applicable and appro-
priate, and with consideration given to existing training 
materials, to support preparedness for, and responses to, 
such threats; 
‘‘(C) utilizing and expanding relevant technological and 
analytical capabilities to inform public health and medical 
preparedness and response efforts; 
‘‘(D) expanding activities, including through public-pri-
vate partnerships, related to public health preparedness 
and response, including participation in drills and exercises 
and training public health experts, as appropriate; and 
‘‘(E) providing technical assistance and expertise that 
relies on evidence-based practices, as applicable, related 
to responses to public health emergencies, as appropriate, 
to State, local, and Tribal health departments and other 
entities pursuant to paragraph (2)(A). 
‘‘(4) DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS.—In awarding grants, con-
tracts, or cooperative agreements under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall support not fewer than 10 Centers, subject 
to the availability of appropriations, and ensure that such 
awards are equitably distributed among the geographical 
regions of the United States.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (f)(1)(C), by striking ‘‘, of which $5,000,000 
shall be used to carry out paragraphs (3) through (5) of such 
subsection’’. 
(b) REPEAL.—Section 319G of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 247d–7) is repealed.
H. R. 2617—1296 
SEC. 2232. VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PLANS. 
Section 319A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d– 
1) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘, or other federally purchased vaccine 
to address another pandemic’’ before the period at the 
end of the first sentence; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or other pandemic’’ before the period 
at the end of the second sentence; and 
(2) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘or other pandemics’’ 
after ‘‘influenza pandemics’’. 
SEC. 2233. COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION REGARDING BLOOD 
SUPPLY. 
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary’s 
designee, shall— 
(1) ensure coordination and collaboration between relevant 
Federal departments and agencies related to the safety and 
availability of the blood supply, including— 
(A) the Department of Health and Human Services, 
including the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food 
and Drug Administration, the Office of the Assistant Sec-
retary for Preparedness and Response, the National 
Institutes of Health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services, and the Health Resources and Services Adminis-
tration; 
(B) the Department of Defense; and 
(C) the Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
(2) consult and communicate with private stakeholders, 
including blood collection establishments, health care providers, 
accreditation 
organizations, 
researchers, 
and 
patients, 
regarding issues related to the safety and availability of the 
blood supply. 
SEC. 2234. SUPPORTING LABORATORY CAPACITY AND INTERNATIONAL 
COLLABORATION TO ADDRESS ANTIMICROBIAL RESIST-
ANCE. 
Section 319E of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d– 
5) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (k), (l), and (m) as sub-
sections (m), (n), and (o), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (j), the following: 
‘‘(k) NETWORK OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE REGIONAL LABORA-
TORIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
shall, as appropriate, maintain a network of antibiotic resist-
ance laboratory sites to ensure the maintenance of appropriate 
capabilities, within existing laboratory capacity maintained or 
supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
to— 
‘‘(A) identify and monitor the emergence and changes 
in the patterns of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens; 
‘‘(B) detect, identify, confirm, and isolate such resistant 
pathogens, including, as appropriate, performing such
H. R. 2617—1297 
activities upon the request of another laboratory and pro-
viding related technical assistance, and, as applicable, sup-
port efforts to respond to local or regional outbreaks of 
such resistant pathogens; and 
‘‘(C) perform activities to support the diagnosis of such 
resistant pathogens and determine the susceptibility of 
relevant pathogen samples to applicable treatments. 
‘‘(2) GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that such capacity and capabilities are appropriately 
distributed among the geographical regions of the United 
States. 
‘‘(3) PARTNERSHIPS
AND
NONDUPLICATION
OF
CURRENT 
DOMESTIC
CAPACITY.—Activities supported under this sub-
section may be based in an academic center, a State health 
department, or other facility operated by a public or private 
entity that carries out relevant laboratory or public health 
surveillance activities. 
‘‘(l) INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordination with 
heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, 
shall support activities related to addressing antimicrobial 
resistance internationally, including by— 
‘‘(A) supporting basic, translational, epidemiological, 
and clinical research related to antimicrobial-resistant 
pathogens, including such pathogens that have not yet 
been detected in the United States, and improving related 
public health surveillance systems, and laboratory and 
other response capacity; and 
‘‘(B) providing technical assistance related to anti-
microbial resistant infection and control activities. 
‘‘(2) AWARDS.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary 
may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to 
public 
and 
private 
entities, 
including 
nongovernmental 
organizations, with applicable expertise, for purposes of sup-
porting new and innovative approaches to the prevention, detec-
tion, and mitigation of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.’’. 
SEC. 2235. ONE HEALTH FRAMEWORK. 
(a) ONE HEALTH FRAMEWORK.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), 
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, shall develop, or update as appropriate, in coordina-
tion with other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, 
a One Health framework to address zoonotic diseases and advance 
public health preparedness. 
(b) ONE HEALTH COORDINATION.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
shall coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 
of the Interior to develop a One Health coordination mechanism 
at the Federal level to strengthen One Health collaboration related 
to prevention, detection, control, and response for zoonotic diseases 
and related One Health work across the Federal Government. 
(c) REPORTING.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
H. R. 2617—1298 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representa-
tives a report providing an update on the activities under sub-
sections (a) and (b). 
SEC. 2236. SUPPORTING CHILDREN DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMER-
GENCIES. 
Section 2811A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
300hh–10b) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and behavioral’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
behavioral, developmental’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘; and’’ and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) provide advice and consultation with respect to con-
tinuity of care and education for all children and supporting 
parents and caregivers during all-hazards emergencies.’’; 
(2) in subsection (d)(2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘care; and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘care;’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subpara-
graph (E); 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: 
‘‘(D) at least 4 non-Federal members representing child 
care settings, State or local educational agencies, individ-
uals with expertise in children with disabilities, and par-
ents; and’’; and 
(D) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated— 
(i) by striking clause (ii); and 
(ii) by redesignating clauses (iii) and (iv) as clauses 
(ii) and (iii), respectively. 
Subtitle C—Accelerating Research and 
Countermeasure Discovery 
CHAPTER 1—FOSTERING RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVING COORDINATION 
SEC. 2301. RESEARCH CENTERS FOR PATHOGENS OF PANDEMIC CON-
CERN. 
Subpart 6 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service 
Act is amended by inserting after section 447C (42 U.S.C. 285f– 
4) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 447D. RESEARCH CENTERS FOR PATHOGENS OF PANDEMIC CON-
CERN. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Institute, in collabora-
tion, as appropriate, with the directors of applicable institutes, 
centers, and divisions of the National Institutes of Health, the 
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the 
Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development 
Authority, shall establish or continue a multidisciplinary research 
program to advance the discovery and preclinical development of
H. R. 2617—1299 
medical products for priority virus families and other viral patho-
gens with a significant potential to cause a pandemic, through 
support for research centers. 
‘‘(b) USES OF FUNDS.—The Director of the Institute shall award 
funding through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to 
public or private entities to provide support for research centers 
described in subsection (a) for the purpose of— 
‘‘(1) conducting basic research through preclinical develop-
ment of new medical products or technologies, including plat-
form technologies, to address pathogens of pandemic concern; 
‘‘(2) identifying potential targets for therapeutic candidates, 
including antivirals, to treat such pathogens; 
‘‘(3) identifying existing medical products with the potential 
to address such pathogens, including candidates that could 
be used in outpatient settings; and 
‘‘(4) carrying out or supporting other research related to 
medical products to address such pathogens, as determined 
appropriate by the Director. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—The Director of the Institute shall, as 
appropriate, provide for the coordination of activities among the 
centers described in subsection (a), including through— 
‘‘(1) facilitating the exchange of information and regular 
communication among the centers, as appropriate; and 
‘‘(2) requiring the periodic preparation and submission to 
the Director of reports on the activities of each center. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding funding through grants, contracts, 
or cooperative agreements under subsection (a), the Director of 
the Institute shall, as appropriate, give priority to applicants with 
existing frameworks and partnerships, as applicable, to support 
the advancement of such research. 
‘‘(e) COLLABORATION.—The Director of the Institute shall— 
‘‘(1) collaborate with the heads of other appropriate Federal 
departments, agencies, and offices with respect to the identifica-
tion of additional priority virus families and other viral patho-
gens with a significant potential to cause a pandemic; and 
‘‘(2) collaborate with the Director of the Biomedical 
Advanced Research and Development Authority with respect 
to the research conducted by centers described in subsection 
(a), including, as appropriate, providing any updates on the 
research advancements made by such centers, identifying any 
advanced research and development needs for such counter-
measures, consistent with section 319L(a)(6), and taking into 
consideration existing manufacturing capacity and future 
capacity needs for such medical products or technologies, 
including platform technologies, supported by the centers 
described in subsection (a). 
‘‘(f) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Any support received by 
a center described in subsection (a) under this section shall be 
used to supplement, and not supplant, other public or private 
support for activities authorized to be supported.’’. 
SEC. 2302. IMPROVING MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURE RESEARCH 
COORDINATION. 
Section 402(b) in the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
282(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (24), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
H. R. 2617—1300 
(2) in paragraph (25), by striking the period and inserting 
a semicolon; and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (25) the following: 
‘‘(26) shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for 
Preparedness and Response, the Director of the Biomedical 
Advanced Research and Development Authority, the Director 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the 
heads of other Federal agencies and offices, as appropriate, 
regarding research needs to advance medical countermeasures 
to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm from any biological 
agent or toxin, including emerging infectious diseases, chemical, 
radiological, or nuclear agent that may cause a public health 
emergency or other research needs related to emerging public 
health threats;’’. 
SEC. 2303. ACCESSING SPECIMEN SAMPLES AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. 
(a) IMPROVING
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
OF
MEDICAL 
COUNTERMEASURES FOR NOVEL PATHOGENS.— 
(1) SAMPLE ACCESS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall 
make publicly available policies and procedures related to 
public and private entities accessing specimens of, or specimens 
containing, pathogens or suitable surrogates for, or alternatives 
to, such pathogens as the Secretary determines appropriate 
to support public health preparedness and response activities 
or biomedical research for purposes of the development and 
validation, as applicable, of medical products to address 
emerging infectious diseases and for use to otherwise respond 
to emerging infectious diseases. Such policies and procedures 
shall take into account, as appropriate, any applicable existing 
Federal resources. 
(2) 
GUIDANCE.—The 
Secretary 
shall 
issue 
guidance 
regarding the procedures for carrying out paragraph (1), 
including— 
(A) the method for requesting such samples; 
(B) considerations for sample availability and use of 
suitable surrogates or alternatives to such pathogens, as 
appropriate, including applicable safeguard and security 
measures; and 
(C) information required to be provided in order to 
receive such samples or suitable surrogates or alternatives. 
(b) EARLIER DEVELOPMENT
OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.—Title III 
of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after 
section 319A (42 U.S.C. 247d–1) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 319B. EARLIER DEVELOPMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. 
‘‘The Secretary may contract with public and private entities, 
as appropriate, to increase capacity in the rapid development, 
validation, manufacture, and dissemination of diagnostic tests, as 
appropriate, to State, local, and Tribal health departments and 
other appropriate entities for immediate public health response 
activities to address an emerging infectious disease with respect 
to which a public health emergency is declared under section 319, 
or that has significant potential to cause such a public health 
emergency.’’.
H. R. 2617—1301 
SEC. 2304. NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND 
MEDICINE STUDY ON NATURAL IMMUNITY IN RELATION 
TO THE COVID–19 PANDEMIC. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall seek to enter into a contract with the National Academies 
of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (referred to in this section 
as the ‘‘National Academies’’) to conduct a study related to the 
current scientific evidence on the durability of immunity to COVID– 
19. 
(b) INCLUSIONS.—The study pursuant to the contract under 
subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) an assessment of scientific evidence related to the dura-
bility of immunity resulting from SARS–CoV–2 infection, 
COVID–19 vaccination, or both, including any differences 
between population groups; 
(2) an assessment of the extent to which the Federal 
Government makes publicly available the scientific evidence 
used by relevant Federal departments and agencies to inform 
public health recommendations related to immunity resulting 
from SARS–CoV–2 infection and COVID–19 vaccination; and 
(3) a summary of scientific studies and evidence related 
to SARS–CoV–2 infection-acquired immunity from a sample 
of other countries or multilateral organizations. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the National Academies shall submit to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives a report on the study pursuant to subsection (a). 
CHAPTER 2—IMPROVING BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY 
SEC. 2311. IMPROVING CONTROL AND OVERSIGHT OF SELECT 
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND TOXINS. 
Section 351A of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262a) 
is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by amending subparagraph (A) 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(A) proper training, including with respect to notifica-
tion requirements under this section, of— 
‘‘(i) individuals who are involved in the handling 
and use of such agents and toxins, including appro-
priate skills to handle such agents and toxins; 
‘‘(ii) individuals whose responsibilities routinely 
place them in close proximity to laboratory facilities 
in which such agents and toxins are being transferred, 
possessed, or used; and 
‘‘(iii) individuals who perform administrative or 
oversight functions of the facility related to the 
transfer, possession, or use of such agents and toxins 
on behalf of registered persons;’’; 
(2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ‘‘(including the risk 
of use in domestic or international terrorism)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(including risks posed by the release, theft, or loss of such 
agent or toxin, or use in domestic or international terrorism)’’; 
(3) in subsection (k)—
H. R. 2617—1302 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as para-
graphs (2) and (3), respectively; 
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION WITH RESPECT TO FEDERAL FACILITIES.— 
In the event of the release, loss, or theft of an agent or toxin 
listed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a)(1), or by 
the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to section 212(a)(1) of 
the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002, from or 
within a laboratory facility owned or operated by the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, or other Federal labora-
tory facility subject to the requirements of this section, the 
Secretary, in a manner that does not compromise national 
security, shall— 
‘‘(A) not later than 72 hours after such event is reported 
to the Secretary, notify the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Represent-
atives of such event, including— 
‘‘(i) the Federal laboratory facility in which such 
release, loss, or theft occurred; and 
‘‘(ii) the circumstances of such release, loss, or 
theft; and 
‘‘(B) not later than 14 days after such notification, 
update such Committees on— 
‘‘(i) any actions taken or planned by the Secretary 
to mitigate any potential threat such release, loss, 
or theft may pose to public health and safety; and 
‘‘(ii) any actions taken or planned by the Secretary 
to review the circumstances of such release, loss, or 
theft, and prevent similar events.’’; and 
(C) by amending paragraph (2), as so redesignated, 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives on an annual basis a report— 
‘‘(A) summarizing the number and nature of notifica-
tions received under subsection (e)(8) (relating to theft 
or loss) and subsection (j) (relating to releases), during 
the preceding fiscal year; 
‘‘(B) describing actions taken by the Secretary to 
address such incidents, such as any corrective action plans 
required and steps taken to promote adherence to, and 
compliance with, safety and security best practices, stand-
ards, and regulations; and 
‘‘(C) describing any gaps, challenges, or limitations 
with respect to ensuring that such safety and security 
practices are consistently applied and adhered to, and 
actions taken to address such gaps, challenges, or limita-
tions.’’; and 
(4) in subsection (m), by striking ‘‘fiscal years 2002 through 
2007’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 2023 through 2027’’.
H. R. 2617—1303 
SEC. 2312. STRATEGY FOR FEDERAL HIGH-CONTAINMENT LABORA-
TORIES. 
(a) STRATEGY
FOR
FEDERAL
HIGH-CONTAINMENT
LABORA-
TORIES.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, 
in consultation with relevant Federal departments and agencies, 
shall establish a strategy for the management, maintenance, and 
oversight of federally-owned laboratory facilities operating at Bio-
safety Level 3 or 4, including equivalent classification levels and 
facilities with Biosafety Level 4 capabilities. Such strategy shall 
include— 
(1) a description of the roles and responsibilities of relevant 
Federal departments and agencies with respect to the manage-
ment, maintenance, and oversight of Biosafety Level 3 or 4 
laboratory facilities; 
(2) an assessment of the needs of the Federal Government 
with respect to Biosafety Level 3 or 4 laboratory facilities; 
(3) a summary of existing federally-owned Biosafety Level 
3 or 4 laboratory facility capacity; 
(4) a summary of other Biosafety Level 3 or 4 laboratory 
facility capacity established through Federal funds; 
(5) a description of how the capacity described in para-
graphs (3) and (4) addresses the needs of the Federal Govern-
ment, including— 
(A) how relevant Federal departments and agencies 
coordinate to provide access to appropriate laboratory facili-
ties to reduce unnecessary duplication; and 
(B) any gaps in such capacity related to such needs; 
(6) a summary of plans that are in place for the mainte-
nance of such capacity within each relevant Federal department 
or agency, as applicable and appropriate, including processes 
for determining whether to maintain or expand such capacity, 
and a description of how the Federal Government will address 
rapid changes in the need for such capacity within each relevant 
Federal department or agency during a public health emer-
gency; and 
(7) a description of how the heads of relevant Federal 
departments and agencies will coordinate to ensure appropriate 
oversight of federally-owned laboratory facility capacity and 
leverage such capacity within each relevant Federal depart-
ment, as appropriate, to fulfill the needs of each Federal depart-
ment and agency in order to reduce unnecessary duplication 
and improve collaboration within the Federal Government. 
(b) CLARIFICATION.—The strategy under subsection (a) shall 
not be construed to supersede the authorities of each relevant 
Federal department or agency with respect to the management, 
maintenance, and oversight of the Federally-owned laboratory facili-
ties operated by any such Federal department or agency. 
SEC. 2313. NATIONAL SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD FOR BIOSECURITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 404O. NATIONAL SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD FOR BIOSECURITY. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Director of NIH, shall establish an advisory committee, to be known