Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act
Bill: S.3800 | Sponsor: Sen. Marshall, Roger (R-KS)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act
This bill revises eligibility criteria and other aspects of a program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that supports a network of centers for public health preparedness.
Specifically, the bill makes nonprofits and institutions of higher education other than schools of public health eligible to participate in the program, whereas current participation is generally limited to accredited schools of public health. Further, the bill shifts the program's focus from curricula development and training public health practitioners to other areas, such as (1) researching and disseminating evidence-based practices to inform preparedness and response activities, and (2) providing technical assistance and expertise to health departments during public health emergencies.
The bill also repeals a demonstration program for improving the detection of pathogens likely to be used in bioterrorism attacks.

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish and support a 
    network of Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response.

    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 ``Centers for Public Health 
Preparedness and Response Reauthorization Act''.

SEC. 2. CENTERS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE.

    (a) In General.--Section 319F of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 247d-6) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may 
        award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to 
        institutions of higher education, including accredited schools 
        of public health, or other nonprofit private entities to 
        establish or support a network of Centers for Public Health 
        Preparedness and Response (referred to in this subsection as 
        `Centers').
            ``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award 
        under this subsection, an entity shall submit to the Secretary 
        an application containing such information as the Secretary may 
        require, including a description of how the entity will--
                    ``(A) coordinate relevant activities with State, 
                local, and Tribal health departments and officials, 
                health care facilities, and health care coalitions to 
                improve public health preparedness and response, as 
                informed by 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 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Use of funds.--As a condition of receiving funds 
        under this subsection, Centers established or supported shall 
        carry out activities to advance public health preparedness and 
        response capabilities, which may include by--
                    ``(A) identifying, translating, and disseminating 
                promising 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 professionals, public health professionals, other 
                stakeholders, and the public, including through the 
                development, evaluation, and dissemination of trainings 
                and training materials, consistent with section 
                2802(b)(2), as applicable and appropriate, 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-private 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 
                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, 
        contracts, 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.
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