I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8080 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services to establish and implement a department-wide after- 
action program and a risk communication strategy, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 18, 2024 
Mr. TORRES of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services to establish and 
implement a department-wide after-action program and 
a risk communication strategy, 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 ‘‘Coordinated Agency 
Response Enhancement Act’’ or the ‘‘CARE Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:28 May 01, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8080.IH
H8080
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. HHS AFTER-ACTION PROGRAM. 
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 399V–8. DEPARTMENT-WIDE AFTER-ACTION PRO-
GRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish, 
maintain, and implement an after-action program to— 
‘‘(1) identify and implement solutions for issues 
found following any public health emergency re-
sponse of the Department of Health and Human 
Services; and 
‘‘(2) encourage collaboration among the agen-
cies of the Department, including by integrating any 
public health emergency after-action programs of 
such agencies. 
‘‘(b) DEADLINE.—The Secretary shall establish and 
begin implementation of the after-action program under 
subsection (a) not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this section. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS.—The 
after-action program under subsection (a) shall include 
input from, and coordinate with, relevant external stake-
holders involved in each public health emergency response 
of the Department of Health and Human Services, such 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:28 May 01, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8080.IH
H8080
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
as other Federal agencies, jurisdictions, and nongovern-
mental partners. 
‘‘(d) OVERSIGHT BY INSPECTOR GENERAL.—The In-
spector General of the Department of Health and Human 
Services shall, on an annual basis— 
‘‘(1) evaluate the efficacy and compliance of the 
after-action program under subsection (a), including 
by evaluating the ability of the program to identify 
challenges, propose solutions, and prevent issues 
from reoccurring; and 
‘‘(2) submit to Congress a report summarizing 
the evaluation under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(e) COMPREHENSIVE GUIDELINES FOR AFTER-AC-
TION PROGRAM REPORTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, as the 
Secretary determines appropriate, incorporate in any 
report of the after-action program under subsection 
(a) the elements described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (M) of paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) ELEMENTS DESCRIBED.— 
‘‘(A) EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, CON-
TINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN, AND BUSINESS 
CONTINUITY PLAN REVIEWS.—A description of 
the process and outcomes of reviewing and up-
dating emergency operations plans, continuity 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:46 May 02, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8080.IH
H8080
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS