Modernizing Biosurveillance Capabilities and Epidemic Forecasting Act
Bill: S.3814 | Sponsor: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. (D-CO)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Modernizing Biosurveillance Capabilities and Epidemic Forecasting Act
This bill makes changes to various biosurveillance activities and infectious disease outbreak analysis capabilities.
These changes include expanding reporting requirements and otherwise modifying the scope of biosurveillance activities with a specific focus on improving the integration of other sources of data (e.g., laboratory results) into applicable surveillance systems.
The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue developing infectious disease outbreak analysis capabilities to respond to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks. In particular, the CDC must identify strategies to leverage the capabilities of public and private entities, including through collaborative partnerships. The CDC must report annually for five years on its efforts.

To modernize biosurveillance capabilities and infectious disease data 
  collection, and improve epidemic forecasting and outbreak analytics.

    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 ``Modernizing Biosurveillance 
Capabilities and Epidemic Forecasting Act''.

SEC. 2. MODERNIZING BIOSURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 
              DATA COLLECTION.

    Section 319D of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-4) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking ``, and local'' 
        and inserting ``, local, and Tribal'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``modernize,'' 
                after ``establish,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ``, and make 
                recommendations to improve the quality of data 
                collected pursuant to subparagraph (A) to ensure 
                complete, accurate, and timely sharing of such data, as 
                appropriate, across such elements as described in 
                subparagraph (A)'' after ``under subparagraph (A)'';
                    (C) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in the matter preceding clause 
                                (i), by striking ``and operating'' and 
                                inserting ``, operating, and updating, 
                                as appropriate,'';
                                    (II) in clause (iv), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end;
                                    (III) in clause (v), by striking 
                                the period and inserting ``; and''; and
                                    (IV) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                            ``(vi) in collaboration with State, local, 
                        and Tribal public health officials, integrate 
                        and update applicable existing public health 
                        data systems and networks of the Department of 
                        Health and Human Services to reflect 
                        technological advancements, consistent with 
                        section 2823, as applicable.''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by inserting 
                                ``and 180 days after the date of 
                                enactment of the Modernizing 
                                Biosurveillance Capabilities and 
                                Epidemic Forecasting Act,'' after 
                                ``Innovation Act of 2019,'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by inserting 
                                ``experts in privacy and data 
                                security;'' after ``forecasting);''; 
                                and
                                    (III) in clause (iii)--
                                            (aa) in subclause (V), by 
                                        striking ``and'' at the end;
                                            (bb) in subclause (VI), by 
                                        striking the period and 
                                        inserting a semicolon; and
                                            (cc) by adding at the end 
                                        the following:
                                    ``(VII) strategies to integrate 
                                laboratory and public health data 
                                systems and capabilities to support 
                                rapid and accurate reporting of 
                                laboratory test results and associated 
                                relevant data;
                                    ``(VIII) strategies to improve the 
                                collection and reporting of relevant, 
                                aggregated, deidentified demographic 
                                data to inform responses to public 
                                health emergencies, including 
                                identification of at-risk populations 
                                and to address potential health 
                                disparities; and
                                    ``(IX) strategies to improve the 
                                electronic exchange of health 
                                information between State and local 
                                health departments and health care 
                                providers and facilities to improve 
                                public health surveillance.''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (6)(A)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
                        inserting ``and every 5 years thereafter,'' 
                        after ``Innovation Act of 2019,''
                            (ii) in clause (iii)--
                                    (I) in subclause (III), by striking 
                                ``and'' at the end; and
                                    (II) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                                    ``(V) improve coordination and 
                                collaboration, as appropriate, with 
                                other Federal departments; and
                                    ``(VI) implement applicable lessons 
                                learned from recent public health 
                                emergencies to address gaps in 
                                situational awareness and 
                                biosurveillance capabilities;'';
                            (iii) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end;
                            (iv) in clause (v), by striking the period 
                        and inserting ``, including a description of 
                        how such steps will further the goals of the 
                        network, consistent with paragraph (1); and''; 
                        and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) identifies and demonstrates 
                        measurable steps the Secretary will take to 
                        further develop and integrate infectious 
                        disease detection, support rapid and accurate 
                        reporting of laboratory test results during a 
                        public health emergency, and improve 
                        coordination and collaboration with State, 
                        local, and Tribal public health officials, 
                        clinical laboratories, and other entities with 
                        expertise in public health surveillance.'';
            (3) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, acting 
                through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
                and Prevention and in coordination with the heads of 
                other appropriate agencies and offices within the 
                Department of Health and Human Services,'' after ``the 
                Secretary'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ``, including 
                any public-private partnerships or other partnerships 
                entered into to improve such capacity'' before the 
                semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Non-duplication of effort.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that activities carried out under an award under this 
        subsection do not unnecessarily duplicate efforts of other 
        agencies and offices within the Department of Health and Human 
        Services.'';
            (4) by amending subsection (i) to read as follows:
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated--
            ``(1) to carry out subsection (a), $25,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2022 and 2023; and
            ``(2) to carry out subsections (b), (c), and (d), 
        $136,800,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.''; and
            (5) by striking ``tribal'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``Tribal''.

SEC. 3. EPIDEMIC FORECASTING AND OUTBREAK ANALYTICS.

    Title XXVIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 2824. EPIDEMIC FORECASTING AND OUTBREAK ANALYTICS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall continue 
activities related to the development of infectious disease outbreak 
analysis capabilities to enhance the prediction, modeling, and 
forecasting of potential public health emergencies and other infectious 
disease outbreaks, which may include activities to support preparedness 
for, and response to, such emergencies and outbreaks. In carrying out 
this subsection, the Secretary shall identify strategies to include and 
leverage, as appropriate, the capabilities to public and private 
entities, which may include conducting such activities through 
collaborative partnerships with public and private entities, including 
academic institutions, and other Federal agencies, consistent with 
section 319D, as applicable.
    ``(b) Considerations.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, may consider public health data and, as 
appropriate, other data sources related to the transmission of such 
infectious diseases that affect preparedness for, or response to, 
public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks.
    ``(c) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter for each of the 
subsequent 4 years, the Secretary shall prepare and submit a report, to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives, regarding an update on progress on activities 
conducted under this section to develop infectious disease outbreak 
analysis capabilities and any additional information relevant to such 
efforts.''.
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