Coronavirus Vaccine and Therapeutic Development Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.349 | Sponsor: Rep. Kuster, Ann M. (D-NH)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Coronavirus Vaccine and Therapeutic Development Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase the supply of vaccines and medical products that prevent or control COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). To increase supplies, HHS must, as appropriate, award grants and enter other transactions to expand relevant research, procurement, and production activities.
HHS must report to Congress on these actions. The report must assess and detail plans to enhance the supply chain and manufacturing capacity for the vaccines and products. It must also include plans to support domestic and international vaccination programs.

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award 
  contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements to expand and enhance 
capacity for manufacturing covered products to prevent and control the 
                   spread of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.

    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 ``Coronavirus Vaccine and Therapeutic 
Development Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. COVERED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT AND PROCUREMENT.

    (a) Enhancing Development, Procurement, and Manufacturing 
Capacity.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        shall, as appropriate, award contracts, grants, and cooperative 
        agreements, and enter into other transactions--
                    (A) expanding and enhancing covered product 
                research and development;
                    (B) procuring covered products; and
                    (C) expanding and enhancing capacity for 
                manufacturing covered products.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated 
        $20,000,000,000 for fiscal years 2021 through 2025, to remain 
        available until expended.
    (b) Report on Vaccine and Therapeutic Manufacturing and 
Administration Capacity.--Not later than December 31, 2021, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor 
and Pensions of the Senate a report detailing--
            (1) an assessment of the estimated supply of covered 
        products necessary to prevent and control the spread of SARS-
        CoV-2 and COVID-19, domestically and internationally;
            (2) an assessment of current and future domestic 
        manufacturing capacity for covered products, including 
        identification of any gaps in manufacturing capacity, 
        including--
                    (A) identification of any gaps in capacity for 
                manufacturing; and
                    (B) an analysis of the effects of shifting 
                manufacturing resources to address COVID-19;
            (3) activities conducted to expand and enhance 
        manufacturing capacity for covered products to levels 
        sufficient to prevent and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and 
        COVID-19, domestically and internationally, including a list 
        and explanation of all contracts, grants, and cooperative 
        agreements awarded, and other transactions entered into, for 
        purposes of such expansion and enhancement and how such 
        activities will help to meet future domestic manufacturing 
        capacity needs;
            (4) a plan for the ongoing support of enhanced 
        manufacturing capacity for covered products, domestically and 
        internationally; and
            (5) a plan--
                    (A) to ensure that manufacturing capacity meets the 
                distribution targets and goals of covered products, 
                domestically and internationally; and
                    (B) to support the administration of covered 
                products approved or authorized by the Food and Drug 
                Administration to prevent and control the spread of 
                SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, domestically and 
                internationally, including Federal workforce 
                enhancements necessary to administer such products.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``ancillary medical supply'' includes--
                    (A) vials;
                    (B) bandages;
                    (C) alcohol swabs;
                    (D) syringes;
                    (E) needles;
                    (F) gloves and other personal protective equipment; 
                and
                    (G) other medical products the Secretary determines 
                necessary for the administration of covered products.
            (2) The term ``covered product'' means a vaccine, 
        therapeutic, or ancillary medical supply to prevent and control 
        the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.
            (3) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health 
        and Human Services.
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