Disease X Act
Bill: S.2640 | Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Disease X Act
This bill establishes a program to develop vaccines, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures for unknown viral threats.
Specifically, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority must carry out the program in consultation with the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure Enterprise, which coordinates efforts related to medical countermeasures within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and in cooperation with interagency partners. Additionally, the program must prioritize equity and accessibility in the development of the medical countermeasures.
The bill also allows HHS to support domestic research, development, and manufacturing of medical countermeasures under the program through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.

To establish a program for developing medical countermeasures for 
                         unknown viral threats.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Disease X Act''.

SEC. 2. MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES FOR UNKNOWN VIRAL THREATS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), acting through the 
Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, 
in coordination and consultation with the relevant offices and agencies 
participating in the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures 
Enterprise, shall establish a Disease X Medical Countermeasures program 
for purposes of developing medical countermeasures, including 
therapeutics, diagnostics, and vaccines, for unknown viral threats.
    (b) Consultation.--Pursuant to the program established under 
subsection (a)--
            (1) the Secretary shall consult with the Public Health 
        Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise regarding any 
        investment strategies;
            (2) the Department of Health and Human Services shall be 
        the agency with primary responsibility concerning medical 
        countermeasures needed to protect the diverse public of the 
        United States, including children and other at-risk 
        populations; and
            (3) the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of 
        Defense concerning medical countermeasures targeted to the 
        protection of military personnel.
    (c) Accessibility and Equity.--To protect the diverse public of the 
United States, the Secretary shall prioritize equity and accessibility, 
including ease of administration and distribution, in the development 
of medical countermeasures.
    (d) Grant Program.--
            (1) In general.--To carry out the program under this 
        section, the Secretary may award grants, contracts, and 
        cooperative agreements to, and enter into other transactions 
        with, eligible entities.
            (2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant, 
        contract, or cooperative agreement under this subsection, or to 
        enter into another transaction with the Secretary under this 
        subsection, an entity shall be based in the United States and 
        shall maintain domestic research and development and 
        manufacturing operations.
            (3) Requirement.--Not fewer than 25 percent of the 
        recipients of grants under this subsection shall be eligible 
        entities with 500 or fewer employees.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated $500,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2025.
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