Binational Health Strategies Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1538 | Sponsor: Rep. Escobar, Veronica (D-TX)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Binational Health Strategies Act of 2021
This bill requires the President and the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission to take certain actions related to COVID-19.
Specifically, the bill directs the President to seek to begin negotiations with Mexico to address infectious disease preparedness in the U.S.-Mexico border area with respect to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
The bill further requires the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission to (1) report on the border area's response to COVID-19 in both the United States and Mexico, (2) submit a binational strategic plan with respect to COVID-19, and (3) submit a plan to prepare and respond to future infectious diseases within the border area.

To amend the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act, with 
 respect to preparedness for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in 
               the border region, 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 ``Binational Health Strategies Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION INFECTIOUS 
              DISEASE PREPAREDNESS.

    The United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act (22 U.S.C. 
290n et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 4 (22 U.S.C. 290n-
2) the following:

``SEC. 4A. INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREPAREDNESS.

    ``(a) Presidential Negotiations.--The President is authorized and 
directed to, not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of 
this section, seek to begin negotiations with Mexico to amend the 
agreement entered into pursuant to section 2, addressing infectious 
disease preparedness in the United States-Mexico Border Area, with 
respect to--
            ``(1) COVID-19, including the development of the report 
        specified in subsection (b) and the plan specified in 
        subsection (c); and
            ``(2) other infectious diseases, including the development 
        and implementation of the plan specified in subsection (d).
    ``(b) COVID-19 Response.--Not later than 120 days after the date on 
which negotiations referred to in subsection (a) begin, and annually 
thereafter (for as long as the Commission, acting with the 
participation of members representing both the United States and 
Mexican sections, determines is necessary), the Commission shall submit 
to Congress a report on the United States-Mexico Border Area's response 
(beginning on February 1, 2020) to COVID-19, including with respect to 
testing, contact tracing, and other infection prevention and control 
measures carried out in the United States-Mexico Border Area, in both 
the United States and Mexico.
    ``(c) COVID-19 Binational Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date on 
        which negotiations referred to in subsection (a) begin, the 
        Commission (acting with the participation of members 
        representing both the United States and Mexican sections) shall 
        develop, and publish on a public website of the Commission, a 
        binational strategic plan that addresses, with respect to 
        COVID-19, how--
                    ``(A) the United States-Mexico Border Area should 
                strengthen its response to COVID-19, with a focus on 
                testing, contact tracing, and other infection 
                prevention and control measures;
                    ``(B) the effect of COVID-19 on the economic 
                conditions in the United States-Mexico Border Area may 
                be mitigated;
                    ``(C) the sharing of relevant health data, with 
                respect to COVID-19, including testing and positivity 
                rates, between health agencies within the United 
                States-Mexico Border Area can be strengthened; and
                    ``(D) a COVID-19 vaccine should be disbursed 
                throughout the United States-Mexico Border Area, taking 
                into account the various vulnerable populations in the 
                region.
            ``(2) Implementation.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date on which negotiations referred to in subsection (a) begin, 
        the Commission (acting with the participation of members 
        representing both the United States and Mexican sections) shall 
        develop, and publish on a public website of the Commission, 
        what actions Federal agencies will take within the United 
        States section and agencies of the Government of Mexico will 
        take within the Mexican section of the United States-Mexico 
        Border Area to facilitate implementation of the plan under 
        paragraph (1). At least once each year after the publication of 
        such information, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 
        report on actions taken by Federal agencies and agencies of the 
        Government of Mexico to facilitate that implementation during 
        the year covered by the report.
    ``(d) Future Infectious Disease Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        on which negotiations referred to in subsection (a) begin, the 
        Commission shall develop and publish a plan to prepare and 
        respond to infectious diseases (other than COVID-19) within the 
        United States-Mexico Border Area. Such plan shall address how--
                    ``(A) the United States-Mexico Border Area should 
                strengthen its response to such infectious diseases, 
                with a focus on testing, contact tracing, and other 
                infection prevention and control measures;
                    ``(B) the effect of such infectious diseases on the 
                economic conditions in the United States-Mexico Border 
                Area may be mitigated;
                    ``(C) the sharing of relevant health data, with 
                respect to such infectious diseases, including testing 
                and positivity rates, between health agencies within 
                the United States-Mexico Border Area can be 
                strengthened; and
                    ``(D) a vaccine for such infectious diseases should 
                be disbursed throughout the United States-Mexico Border 
                Area, taking into account the various vulnerable 
                populations in the region.
            ``(2) Updates.--The Commission shall update the plan 
        published under paragraph (1) at least once every 3 years for 
        as long as the Commission, acting with the participation of 
        members representing both the United States and Mexican 
        sections, determines is necessary.
            ``(3) Implementation.--Not later than 210 days after the 
        date on which negotiations referred to in subsection (a) begin, 
        the Commission (acting with the participation of members 
        representing both the United States and Mexican sections) shall 
        develop, and publish on a public website of the Commission, 
        what actions Federal agencies will take within the United 
        States section and agencies of the Government of Mexico will 
        take within the Mexican section of the United States-Mexico 
        Border Area to facilitate implementation of the plan under 
        paragraph (1). At least once a year after the publication of 
        such information, the Commission shall submit to Congress a 
        report on actions taken by Federal agencies and agencies of the 
        Government of Mexico to facilitate that implementation during 
        the year covered by the report.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) COVID-19.--The term `COVID-19' refers to the 2019 
        coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.
            ``(2) SARS-CoV-2.--The term `SARS-CoV-2' refers to the 
        severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus 
        responsible for COVID-19 and includes any viral variant 
        mutating therefrom with pandemic potential.''.
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