COVID PREPARE Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.212 | Sponsor: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott (D-IL)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
COVID Preparedness, Response, and Effective Planning for Advanced Requirements by the Executive Branch Act of 2021 or the COVID PREPARE Act of 2021
This bill requires federal agencies to submit to Congress plans for responding to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
Specifically, each agency shall submit (1) an initial report detailing an action plan, informed by research and best practices learned from the onset of COVID-19, previous pandemics, and health emergencies, for addressing the needs and mitigating and eliminating the risks and challenges associated with COVID-19 and the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines; and (2) subsequent reports, on a quarterly basis until the President ends the declared emergency, that update the details submitted in the plan.
The initial report shall include

To require Federal agencies to submit plans for responding to the 
               COVID-19 pandemic, 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 ``COVID Preparedness, Response, and 
Effective Planning for Advanced Requirements by the Executive Branch 
Act of 2021'' or the ``COVID PREPARE Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the head of each agency shall submit to Congress 
an initial report detailing an action plan, informed by research and 
best practices learned from the onset of COVID-19, previous pandemics, 
and health emergencies, for addressing the needs and mitigating and 
eliminating the risks and challenges associated with the COVID-19 
pandemic and the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, that includes--
            (1) agency priorities for preparing for and responding to 
        the COVID-19 pandemic, including continuity of operations and 
        fulfilling the mission of the agency and agency priorities 
        related to the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines;
            (2) measurable goals specific to priorities and a time line 
        for addressing each priority;
            (3) anticipated challenges to addressing priorities and how 
        the agency will address such challenges;
            (4) how the agency will consult with Congress, the public, 
        State and municipal governments, and relevant stakeholders 
        while working remotely;
            (5) how the agency plans to issue relevant guidance to 
        entities under the jurisdiction of the agency; and
            (6) any resources the agency needs from Congress.
    (b) Subsequent Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter until the President 
ends the declared emergency, the head of each agency shall submit to 
Congress a report that provides an update of the details submitted in 
the plan under subsection (a), including--
            (1) the status of each priority;
            (2) an explanation for any goal that has not been met 
        within the specified time frame; and
            (3) any changes or updates to the plan.
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, territory, 
        or possession of the United States, and each federally 
        recognized Indian Tribe.

SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
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