Title: Global Health Security Act of 2018
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Global Health Security Act of 2018
This bill directs the President to create the Global Health Security Agenda Interagency Review Council, which shall facilitate implementation of the Global Health Security Agenda, an initiative launched by nearly 30 nations to address global infectious disease threats. The President shall also designate a National Security Council employee as a special advisor responsible for coordinating the interagency response to global health security emergencies.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7290 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7290

  To authorize a comprehensive, strategic approach for United States 
foreign assistance to developing countries to strengthen global health 
                   security, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 13, 2018

Mr. Connolly (for himself, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Engel, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. 
    Bera, and Mrs. Wagner) introduced the following bill; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committees on Armed Services, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize a comprehensive, strategic approach for United States 
foreign assistance to developing countries to strengthen global health 
                   security, 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 ``Global Health Security Act of 
2018''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) In 2005, each of the 196 World Health Organization 
        member states signed the International Health Regulations to 
        improve the world's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to 
        public health events.
            (2) In December 2009, President Obama released the National 
        Strategy for Countering Biological Threats, which listed as one 
        of seven objectives ``Promote global health security: Increase 
        the availability of and access to knowledge and products of the 
        life sciences that can help reduce the impact from outbreaks of 
        infectious disease whether of natural, accidental, or 
        deliberate origin''.
            (3) In September 2011, the United States and the World 
        Health Organization signed a memorandum of understanding to 
        help developing countries strengthen their capabilities to meet 
        the International Health Regulations.
            (4) In February 2014, the United States and nearly 30 other 
        nations launched the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) to 
        address several high-priority, global infectious disease 
        threats.
            (5) The GHSA was funded with a $1,000,000,000, one-time, 5-
        year supplemental appropriation that expires at the end of 
        fiscal year 2019.
            (6) Approximately 67 percent of nations have not fully 
        implemented the International Health Regulations and built 
        appropriate core capacities to detect, assess, report, and 
        respond to public health emergencies.
            (7) In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable 
        Development Goals (SDGs), which include specific reference to 
        the importance of global health security as part of SDG 3 
        ``ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all 
        ages'' as follows: ``strengthen the capacity of all countries, 
        in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk 
        reduction and management of national and global health risks''.
            (8) On November 4, 2016, President Obama signed Executive 
        Order 13747, ``Advancing the Global Health Security Agenda to 
        Achieve a World Safe and Secure from Infectious Disease 
        Threats''.
            (9) In October 2017 at the GHSA Ministerial Meeting in 
        Uganda, the United States and more than 40 GHSA member 
        countries supported the ``Kampala Declaration'' to extend the 
        GHSA for an additional 5 years to 2024.
            (10) In December 2017, President Trump released the 
        National Security Strategy, which includes the priority action: 
        ``Detect and contain biothreats at their source: We will work 
        with other countries to detect and mitigate outbreaks early to 
        prevent the spread of disease. We will encourage other 
        countries to invest in basic health care systems and to 
        strengthen global health security across the intersection of 
        human and animal health to prevent infectious disease 
        outbreaks''.
            (11) In February 2018, the Director of National 
        Intelligence, Daniel R. Coats, released the Worldwide Threat 
        Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, which said ``The 
        increase in frequency and diversity of reported disease 
        outbreaks--such as dengue and Zika--probably will continue 
        through 2018, including the potential for a severe global 
        health emergency that could lead to major economic and societal 
        disruptions, strain governmental and international resources, 
        and increase calls on the United States for support''.
            (12) In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public 
        Law 115-141), Congress provided $172,600,000 for global health 
        security and required the President to submit a global health 
        security strategy to Congress not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of that Act.
            (13) In September 2018, President Trump released the 
        National Biodefense Strategy, which includes objectives to 
        ``strengthen global health security capacities to prevent local 
        bioincidents from becoming epidemics'', and ``strengthen 
        international preparedness to support international response 
        and recovery capabilities''.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States 
to--
            (1) promote global health security as a core national 
        security interest;
            (2) advance the Global Health Security Agenda, which is a 
        multi-faceted, multi-country initiative intended to accelerate 
        partner countries' measurable capabilities to achieve specific 
        targets to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease 
        threats, whether naturally occurring, deliberate, or 
        accidental;
            (3) collaborate with other countries to detect and mitigate 
        outbreaks early to prevent the spread of disease;
            (4) encourage other countries to invest in basic health 
        care systems; and
            (5) strengthen global health security across the 
        intersection of human and animal health to prevent infectious 
        disease outbreaks and combat the growing threat of 
        antimicrobial resistance.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the 
President, in providing assistance to implement the strategy required 
under section 7(a), should--
            (1) coordinate, through a whole-of-government approach, the 
        efforts of relevant Federal departments and agencies to 
        implement the strategy;
            (2) seek to fully utilize the unique capabilities of each 
        relevant Federal department and agency while collaborating with 
        and leveraging the contributions of other key stakeholders; and
            (3) utilize open and streamlined solicitations to allow for 
        the participation of a wide range of implementing partners 
        through the most appropriate procurement mechanisms, which may 
        include grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other 
        instruments as necessary and appropriate.

SEC. 4. GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA INTERAGENCY REVIEW COUNCIL.

    (a) Establishment.--The President shall direct the staff of the 
National Security Council to establish a Global Health Security Agenda 
Interagency Review Council (in this section referred to as the 
``Council'') to perform the general responsibilities described in 
subsection (d) and the specific roles and responsibilities described in 
subsection (f).
    (b) Chair.--The Special Advisor to the President for Global Health 
Security (designated under subsection (i) of section 101 of the 
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021), as added by section 6 
of this Act) shall serve as Chair for the Council.
    (c) Meetings.--The Council shall meet not less than four times per 
year to advance its mission and fulfill its responsibilities.
    (d) General Responsibilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall be responsible for the 
        following activities:
                    (A) Provide, by consensus, policy-level guidance to 
                participating agencies on Global Health Security Agenda 
                (GHSA) goals, objectives, and implementation.
                    (B) Facilitate interagency, multi-sectoral 
                engagement to carry out GHSA implementation.
                    (C) Provide a forum for raising and working to 
                resolve interagency disagreements concerning the GHSA.
                    (D)(i) Review the progress toward and work to 
                resolve challenges in achieving United States 
                commitments under the GHSA, including commitments to 
                assist other countries in achieving the GHSA targets.
                    (ii) The Council shall consider, among other 
                issues, the following:
                            (I) The status of United States financial 
                        commitments to the GHSA in the context of 
                        commitments by other donors, and the 
                        contributions of partner countries to achieve 
                        the GHSA targets.
                            (II) The progress toward the milestones 
                        outlined in GHSA national plans for those 
                        countries where the United States Government 
                        has committed to assist in implementing the 
                        GHSA and in annual work-plans outlining agency 
                        priorities for implementing the GHSA.
                            (III) The external evaluations of United 
                        States and partner country capabilities to 
                        address infectious disease threats, including 
                        the ability to achieve the targets outlined 
                        within the WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) 
                        tool, as well as gaps identified by such 
                        external evaluations.
                    (E) Provide, by consensus, policy-level guidance on 
                GHSA implementation.
                    (F) Develop a report on an annual basis regarding 
                the progress achieved and challenges concerning the 
                United States Government's ability to advance the GHSA 
                across priority countries. The report shall include 
                recommendations to resolve, mitigate, or otherwise 
                address the challenges identified therein. The report 
                shall be transmitted to the President and the 
                appropriate congressional committees and, to the extent 
                possible, made publicly available.
                    (G) Conduct an overall review of the GHSA for 
                submission to the President and the appropriate 
                congressional committees by not later than September 1, 
                2019. The review should include an evaluation of the 
                progress achieved during the 5 years of this 
                initiative, as well as any challenges faced. The report 
                should also provide recommendations on the future 
                direction of the initiative.
            (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1)(F) and 
        the review required under paragraph (1)(G) shall be submitted 
        in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
            (3) Non-interference in foreign affairs responsibilities.--
        The Council shall not perform any activities or functions that 
        interfere with the foreign affairs responsibilities of the 
        Secretary of State, including the responsibility to oversee the 
        implementation of programs and policies that advance the GHSA 
        within foreign countries.
    (e) Participation.--The Council shall consist of representatives, 
serving at the Assistant Secretary level or higher, from the following 
agencies:
            (1) The Department of State.
            (2) The Department of Defense.
            (3) The Department of Justice.
            (4) The Department of Agriculture.
            (5) The Department of Health and Human Services.
            (6) The Department of Homeland Security.
            (7) The Office of Management and Budget.
            (8) The United States Agency for International Development.
            (9) The Environmental Protection Agency.
            (10) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
            (11) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
            (12) Such other agencies as the representatives from the 
        agencies described in paragraph (1) through (11), by consensus, 
        determine to be appropriate.
    (f) Specific Roles and Responsibilities.--
            (1) In general.--The heads of agencies described in 
        subsection (e) shall--
                    (A) make the GHSA and its implementation a high 
                priority within their respective agencies, and include 
                GHSA-related activities within their respective 
                agencies' strategic planning and budget processes;
                    (B) designate a senior-level official to be 
                responsible for the implementation of this Act;
                    (C) designate, in accordance with subsection (e), 
                an appropriate representative at the Assistant 
                Secretary level or higher to participate on the 
                Council;
                    (D) keep the Council apprised of GHSA-related 
                activities undertaken within their respective agencies;
                    (E) maintain responsibility for agency-related 
                programmatic functions in coordination with host 
                governments, country teams, and GHSA in-country teams, 
                and in conjunction with other relevant agencies;
                    (F) coordinate with other agencies that are 
                identified in this section to satisfy programmatic 
                goals, and further facilitate coordination of country 
                teams, implementers, and donors in host countries; and
                    (G) coordinate across GHSA national plans and with 
                GHSA partners to which the United States is providing 
                assistance.
            (2) Additional roles and responsibilities.--In addition to 
        the roles and responsibilities described in paragraph (1), the 
        heads of agencies described in subsection (e) shall carry out 
        their respective roles and responsibilities described in 
        subsections (b) through (i) of section 3 of Executive Order 
        13747 (81 Fed. Reg. 78701; relating to Advancing the Global 
        Health Security Agenda to Achieve a World Safe and Secure from 
        Infectious Disease Threats), as in effect on the day before the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT FOR GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY.

    Section 101 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(5) coordinate, without assuming operational authority, 
        the United States Government response to global health security 
        emergencies.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(i) Special Advisor to the President for Global Health 
Security.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall designate an 
        employee of the National Security Council to be responsible for 
        the coordination of the interagency process for responding to 
        global health security emergencies.
            ``(2) Congressional briefing.--Not less frequently than 
        twice each year, the employee designated under this subsection 
        shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a 
        briefing on the responsibilities and activities of the 
        individual under this subsection.
            ``(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In 
        this subsection, the term `appropriate congressional 
        committees' has the meaning given such term in section 9 of the 
        Global Health Security Act of 2018.''.

SEC. 6. STRATEGY AND REPORTS.

    (a) Strategy.--The Special Advisor to the President for Global 
Health Security (designated under subsection (i) of section 101 of the 
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3021), as added by section 6 
of this Act) shall coordinate the development and implementation of a 
strategy to implement the policy described in section 3(a), which 
shall--
            (1) set specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, 
        timetables, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation 
        plans that reflect international best practices relating to 
        transparency, accountability, and global health security;
            (2) support and be aligned with country-owned global health 
        security policy and investment plans developed with input from 
        key stakeholders, as appropriate;
            (3) facilitate communication and collaboration, as 
        appropriate, among local stakeholders in support of a multi-
        sectoral approach to global health security;
            (4) support the long-term success of programs by building 
        the capacity of local organizations and institutions in target 
        countries and communities;
            (5) develop community resilience to infectious disease 
        threats and emergencies;
            (6) leverage resources and expertise through partnerships 
        with the private sector, health organizations, civil society, 
        nongovernmental organizations, and health research and academic 
        institutions; and
            (7) support collaboration, as appropriate, between United 
        States universities, and public and private institutions in 
        target countries and communities to promote health security and 
        innovation.
    (b) Coordination.--The President, acting through the Special 
Advisor for Global Health Security, shall coordinate, through a whole-
of-government approach, the efforts of relevant Federal departments and 
agencies in the implementation of the strategy required under 
subsection (a) by--
            (1) establishing monitoring and evaluation systems, 
        coherence, and coordination across relevant Federal departments 
        and agencies; and
            (2) establishing platforms for regular consultation and 
        collaboration with key stakeholders and the appropriate 
        congressional committees.
    (c) Strategy Submission.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than October 1, 2019, the 
        President, in consultation with the head of each relevant 
        Federal department and agency, shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees the strategy required under subsection 
        (a) that provides a detailed description of how the United 
        States intends to advance the policy set forth in section 3(a) 
        and the agency-specific plans described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Agency-specific plans.--The strategy required under 
        subsection (a) shall include specific implementation plans from 
        each relevant Federal department and agency that describes--
                    (A) the anticipated contributions of the department 
                or agency, including technical, financial, and in-kind 
                contributions, to implement the strategy; and
                    (B) the efforts of the department or agency to 
                ensure that the activities and programs carried out 
                pursuant to the strategy are designed to achieve 
                maximum impact and long-term sustainability.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
        which the strategy required under subsection (a) is submitted 
        to the appropriate congressional committees under subsection 
        (c), and not later than October 1 of each year thereafter, the 
        President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report that describes the status of the 
        implementation of the strategy.
            (2) Content.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) contain a summary of the strategy as an 
                appendix;
                    (B) identify any substantial changes made in the 
                strategy during the preceding calendar year;
                    (C) describe the progress made in implementing the 
                strategy;
                    (D) identify the indicators used to establish 
                benchmarks and measure results over time, as well as 
                the mechanisms for reporting such results in an open 
                and transparent manner;
                    (E) contain a transparent, open, and detailed 
                accounting of expenditures by relevant Federal 
                departments and agencies to implement the strategy, 
                including, for each Federal department and agency, the 
                statutory source of expenditures, amounts expended, 
                implementing partners, targeted beneficiaries, and 
                activities supported;
                    (F) describe how the strategy leverages other 
                United States global health and development assistance 
                programs;
                    (G) assess efforts to coordinate United States 
                global health security programs, activities, and 
                initiatives with key stakeholders; and
                    (H) incorporate a plan for regularly reviewing and 
                updating strategies, partnerships, and programs and 
                sharing lessons learned with a wide range of 
                stakeholders, including key stakeholders, in an open, 
                transparent manner.
    (e) Form.--The strategy required under subsection (a) and the 
report required under subsection (d) shall be submitted in unclassified 
form but may contain a classified annex.

SEC. 7. COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOREIGN AID TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY 
              ACT OF 2016.

    Section 2(3) of the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act 
of 2016 (Public Law 114-191; 22 U.S.C. 2394c note) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) the Global Health Security Act of 2018.''.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
            (2) Global health security.--The term ``global health 
        security'' means activities supporting epidemic and pandemic 
        preparedness and capabilities at the country and global levels 
        in order to minimize vulnerability to acute public health 
        events that can endanger the health of populations across 
        geographical regions and international boundaries.

SEC. 9. SUNSET.

    This Act, and the amendments made by this Act (other than section 
5), shall cease to be effective on December 31, 2024.
                                 <all>