Strengthening Our Health Security Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.7760 | Sponsor: Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. (R-OH)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Strengthening Our Health Security Act of 2022
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to meet conditions related to notification and planning before terminating certain restrictions on imports and individuals entering the United States.
Current law authorizes HHS to restrict entries and imports from foreign countries to prevent the introduction of communicable diseases. HHS exercised this authority as part of its COVID-19 response, including to allow for the expulsion of undocumented migrants at the border without any asylum processing.
Under this bill, HHS may not terminate the restrictions for (1) at least 60 days after it notifies Congress of the end of the COVID-19 emergency, and (2) at least 30 days after it submits to Congress a plan for addressing the possible influx of migrants or imports resulting from lifting the restrictions.

To establish a procedure for terminating a determination by the 
 Secretary of Health and Human Services to suspend the introduction of 
 persons into the United States from designated places, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Strengthening Our Health Security 
Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF SUSPENSION OF PERSONS FROM DESIGNATED PLACES 
              RELATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

    (a) In General.--An order of suspension issued under section 362 of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 265) as a result of the public 
health emergency declaration under section 319 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
247d) with respect to COVID-19 (including any renewal of such 
declaration) shall not be lifted earlier than 60 days after the date on 
which the Secretary of Health and Human Services provides written 
notification to the appropriate committees of Congress that such public 
health emergency declaration has been terminated.
    (b) Procedures During 60-Day Termination Window.--
            (1) Plan.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which a 
        written notification is provided under subsection (a), the 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services shall develop and submit 
        to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan to address any 
        possible influx of persons related to the termination of such 
        order.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services shall develop the plan required by paragraph (1) in 
        consultation with--
                    (A) the Secretary of Homeland Security; and
                    (B) any Federal agency, State, local, or Tribal 
                government, and nongovernmental organization that, as 
                determined by the Secretary, has a role in managing 
                outcomes associated with the termination of such order.
            (3) Contents.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) The process for screening persons referred to 
                in paragraph (1) for COVID-19 and other communicable 
                diseases.
                    (B) A description of the Federal Government's 
                capacity for testing such persons for COVID-19 and 
                other communicable diseases.
                    (C) A description of the protocols to prevent the 
                spread of, and to treat, communicable diseases (other 
                than COVID-19) in connection with an influx of persons 
                described in paragraph (1).
                    (D) A description of the protocols to be 
                implemented to protect Federal employees working with 
                or near such persons from potential exposure to COVID-
                19 and other communicable diseases.
                    (E) The process for screening such persons for 
                controlled substances, including fentanyl, being 
                imported illicitly.
                    (F) A specification of how long, and with respect 
                to how many such persons, the Federal Government has 
                the capacity to carry out the activities referred to in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (E).
                    (G) A specification of the circumstances under 
                which a request will be submitted for additional such 
                capacity.
            (4) Failure to submit.--If a plan under paragraph (1) is 
        not submitted to the appropriate committees of Congress within 
        the 30-day period described in such paragraph--
                    (A) not later than 7 days after the expiration of 
                such 30-day period, the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services shall notify the appropriate committees of 
                Congress, in writing, of the status of preparing such a 
                plan and the timing for submission as required under 
                paragraph (1); and
                    (B) the termination of an order of suspension 
                pursuant to such plan shall be delayed until a date 
                that is at least 30 days after the date on which such 
                plan is submitted to such committees.
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