State Stockpile Readiness Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.2006 | Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" (R-GA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
State Stockpile Readiness Act of 2021
This bill temporarily authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to award matching grants to states for expanding or maintaining stockpiles of commercially available medical equipment and supplies for use during public health emergencies.

To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants 
   to States to expand or maintain a strategic stockpile of products 
 deemed to be essential in the event of a public health emergency, 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 ``State Stockpile Readiness Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR STATE STRATEGIC STOCKPILES.

    Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting 
after section 319F-4 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6e) the following new 
section:

``SEC. 319F-5. GRANTS FOR STATE STRATEGIC STOCKPILES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may establish a pilot program 
consisting of awarding grants to States to expand or maintain a 
strategic stockpile of commercially available drugs, medical equipment, 
personal protective equipment, and other products deemed by the State 
to be essential in the event of a public health emergency.
    ``(b) Allowable Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) Uses.--A State receiving a grant under this section 
        may use the grant funds to--
                    ``(A) acquire commercially available products 
                listed pursuant to paragraph (2) for inclusion in the 
                State's strategic stockpile;
                    ``(B) store, maintain, and distribute products in 
                such stockpile; and
                    ``(C) conduct planning in connection with such 
                activities.
            ``(2) List.--The Secretary shall develop and publish a list 
        of the products that are eligible, as described in subsection 
        (a), for inclusion in a State's strategic stockpile using funds 
        received under this section.
            ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the list under paragraph 
        (2) and otherwise determining the allowable uses of grant funds 
        under this section, the Secretary shall consult with States and 
        relevant stakeholders, including public health organizations.
    ``(c) Funding Requirement.--The Secretary may not obligate or 
expend any funds to award grants or fund any previously awarded grants 
under this section for a fiscal year unless the total amount made 
available to carry out section 319F-2 for such fiscal year is equal to 
or greater than the total amount of funds made available to carry out 
section 319F-2 for fiscal year 2021.
    ``(d) Matching Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to the costs of expanding 
        and maintaining a strategic stockpile through a grant under 
        this section, as a condition on receipt of the grant, a State 
        shall make available (directly) non-Federal contributions in 
        cash toward such costs in an amount that is equal to not less 
        than the amount of Federal funds provided through the grant.
            ``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement of 
        paragraph (1) with respect to a State for the first two years 
        of the State receiving a grant under this section if the 
        Secretary determines that such waiver is needed for the State 
        to establish a strategic stockpile described in subsection (a).
    ``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to States in establishing, expanding, and maintaining a 
stockpile described in subsection (a).
    ``(f) Definition.--In this section, the term `drug' has the meaning 
given to that term in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $3,500,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2021 through 2024, to remain available until expended.
    ``(h) Sunset.--The authority vested by this section terminates at 
the end of fiscal year 2024.''.
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