Promoting Public Health Information Act
Bill: S.3737 | Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher (D-CT)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Promoting Public Health Information Act
This bill sets out programs and activities to support the communication and dissemination of evidence-based public health information, with a particular focus on communication during public health emergencies.
Specifically, it temporarily establishes an advisory committee to report on and make recommendations about, for example, the role and impact of misinformation on responses to public health emergencies and strategies to improve communication during such emergencies. The committee terminates four years after the bill's enactment.
Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services must support the development of initiatives that promote fact-based public health and medical information to the public and educate the public on identifying misinformation.

To establish the Public Health Information and Communications Advisory 
Committee for purposes of providing recommendations and reports, and to 
 support educational initiatives on communication and dissemination of 
             information during public health emergencies.

    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 ``Promoting Public Health Information 
Act''.

SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICATION.

    Section 319F of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), to read as follows:
    ``(b) Public Health Information and Communications Advisory 
Committee.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory committee to be known as the Public Health Information 
        and Communications Advisory Committee (referred to in this 
        subsection as the `Advisory Committee').
            ``(2) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall make 
        recommendations to the Secretary and report on--
                    ``(A) critical aspects of communication and 
                dissemination of scientific and evidence-based public 
                health information during public health emergencies, 
                including--
                            ``(i) the role and impact of misinformation 
                        on the response to such public health 
                        emergencies;
                            ``(ii) the role of risk communication 
                        before and during such public health 
                        emergencies; and
                            ``(iii) other relevant factors, as the 
                        Secretary determines appropriate;
                    ``(B) information from academic institutions, 
                community-based organizations, and other 
                nongovernmental organizations related to evidence-based 
                or evidence-informed strategies and best practices to 
                effectively communicate and disseminate such 
                information; and
                    ``(C) strategies to improve communication and 
                dissemination of scientific and evidence-based public 
                health information to the public, and, as appropriate, 
                to address misinformation during public health 
                emergencies, including strategies to--
                            ``(i) identify the most effective methods 
                        for the dissemination of information during a 
                        public health emergency;
                            ``(ii) determine best practices and 
                        communicate information to populations that may 
                        be impacted by such misinformation; and
                            ``(iii) adapt approaches for the 
                        dissemination of information, as appropriate, 
                        to address emerging trends related to 
                        misinformation.
            ``(3) Composition.--The Advisory Committee shall be 
        composed of--
                    ``(A) appropriate Federal officials, appointed by 
                the Secretary, who shall serve as nonvoting members; 
                and
                    ``(B) individuals, appointed by the Secretary, with 
                expertise in public health, medicine, communications, 
                related technology, psychology, national security, and 
                other areas, as the Secretary determines appropriate, 
                who shall serve as voting members.
            ``(4) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall review the 
        recommendations of the Advisory Committee and, not later than 
        180 days after receipt of the report under paragraph (2), shall 
        submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
        Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
        of the House of Representatives a report describing any actions 
        planned by the Secretary related to the communication and 
        dissemination of scientific and evidence-based public health 
        information, including addressing misinformation, as 
        appropriate.
            ``(5) Termination.--The Advisory Committee shall terminate 
        4 years after the date of enactment of the Promoting Public 
        Health Information Act.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
            (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
    ``(f) Educational Initiatives.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award assistance for 
        the development of evidence-based initiatives to promote fact-
        based public health and medical science information to the 
        public and educate the public on how to identify 
        misinformation, disinformation, and credible information.
            ``(2) Consultation.--In developing the initiatives under 
        this subsection, the Secretary shall consult with--
                    ``(A) the Public Health Information and 
                Communications Advisory Committee established under 
                subsection (b);
                    ``(B) experts in the fields of public health and 
                medicine, communication, technology, behavioral 
                science, and other relevant disciplines as appropriate; 
                and
                    ``(C) relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate.
            ``(3) Requirements.--The initiatives established under this 
        subsection shall--
                    ``(A) be an evidence-based or evidence-informed 
                media and public engagement initiative that includes 
                partnerships with national and local organizations;
                    ``(B) ensure that official scientific and public 
                health guidance is accessible and communicated 
                effectively to the public with specific focus on 
                populations that are underserved or with low health 
                literacy; and
                    ``(C) ensure that activities are tailored towards 
                subgroups that are being targeted for health 
                misinformation and disinformation, or are especially 
                susceptible to health misinformation and 
                disinformation, in a culturally and linguistically 
                appropriate manner.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end of subsection (g), as so 
        redesignated, the following:
            ``(3) Funding for advisory committee and educational 
        initiatives.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 for 
        purposes of carrying out subsections (b) and (f).''.
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