A bill to amend the National Security Act of 1947 to require the President to designate an employee of the National Security Council to be responsible for pandemic prevention and response, and for other purposes.
Bill: S.290 | Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. (D-MA)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
This bill directs the President to designate an employee of the National Security Council to be the permanent coordinator for pandemic prevention and response for the federal government.
The coordinator shall (1) serve as the principal advisor to the President regarding pandemic prevention and response, and (2) lead interagency coordination for such prevention and response.
The coordinator may represent the United States in bilateral and multilateral discussions and agreements on matters relevant to such prevention and response.

To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to require the President to 
     designate an employee of the National Security Council to be 
    responsible for pandemic prevention and response, 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. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL COORDINATOR FOR PANDEMIC 
              PREVENTION AND RESPONSE.

    Section 101 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021) 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following new 
        subsection (h):
    ``(h) Coordinator for Pandemic Prevention and Response.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall designate an 
        employee of the National Security Council to be the permanent 
        coordinator for pandemic prevention and response for the 
        Federal Government (in this subsection referred to as the 
        `Coordinator').
            ``(2) Purpose.--The Coordinator shall direct all efforts of 
        the Federal Government relating to United States policy 
        regarding pandemic prevention and response, including by 
        carrying out the duties under paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Duties.--The Coordinator shall--
                    ``(A) serve as the principal advisor to the 
                President regarding pandemic prevention and response;
                    ``(B) notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
                coordinate and direct all activities, policies, 
                programs, and funding relating to pandemic prevention 
                and response, for all Federal agencies;
                    ``(C) direct, as appropriate, Federal Government 
                resources to respond to needs for pandemic prevention 
                and response; and
                    ``(D) lead interagency coordination for pandemic 
                prevention and response, including regular consultation 
                with nongovernmental organizations and public health 
                officials working to prevent and respond to pandemics.
            ``(4) Authority to represent the united states.--The 
        Coordinator may represent the United States in bilateral and 
        multilateral discussions and agreements on matters relevant to 
        pandemic prevention and response.''.
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