Global Pathogen Surveillance Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-1687
Sponsor: Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2007-06-25 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Aliens
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological warfare
Communicable diseases
Communication in medicine
Developing countries
Economic assistance
Embassies
Employee training
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Geographic information systems
Government Operations and Politics
Health
Health information systems
Health surveys
Higher education
Information technology
International agencies
Labor and Employment
Medical education
Medical laboratories
Medical research
Medical supplies
Medical technology
Preventive medicine
Public health personnel
Scholarships
Science, Technology, Communications
Syndromes
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: 
Global Pathogen Surveillance Act of 2007 - Prohibits assistance under this Act to an eligible developing country that does not: (1) permit World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) personnel to investigate infectious disease outbreaks within its borders; and (2) provide pathogen surveillance data to appropriate U.S. and international agencies and organizations. 

Prohibits any participating foreign national from having unsupervised access to agents that may be used in a biological weapon. 

Establishes a public health education and training fellowship program for eligible nationals to pursue: (1) a master of public health degree with a concentration in epidemiology; or (2) advanced public health training in epidemiology. 

Directs the Secretary to support short training courses in-country (not in the United States) for laboratory technicians and other public health personnel in: (1) laboratory techniques relating to the identification, diagnosis, and tracking of pathogens responsible for possible infectious disease outbreaks; and (2) syndrome surveillance reporting and rapid analysis of syndrome information using Geographic Information System (GIS). 

Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to eligible developing countries to purchase and maintain: (1) public health laboratory equipment necessary to collect, analyze, and identify pathogens which may cause disease outbreaks or may be used as a biological weapon; and (2) related communications equipment and information technology. 

Authorizes a federal agency head, upon the request of a U.S. chief of diplomatic mission or an international health organization, and with the Secretary's concurrence, to assign to the respective U.S. mission or organization any public health officer or employee of the agency for the purpose of enhancing disease and pathogen surveillance efforts in developing countries. 

Directs CDC and the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1) increase the number of personnel assigned to their respective laboratories located in eligible developing countries that conduct infectious disease research; and (2) expand the operations of those laboratories, especially in the implementation of on-site training of foreign nationals and regional outreach efforts. 

Authorizes: (1) the President to provide assistance to enhance the surveillance and reporting capabilities for WHO and existing regional and international health networks, and develop new health networks; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish new country or regional foreign epidemiology training programs in eligible developing countries.

action_date: 2007-09-11
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Global Pathogen Surveillance Act of 2007 - (Sec. 4) Prohibits assistance under this Act to an eligible developing country that does not: (1) permit World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) personnel to investigate infectious disease outbreaks within its borders; and (2) provide pathogen surveillance data to appropriate U.S. and international agencies and organizations. 

Authorizes the Secretary of State (Secretary) to waive such prohibition if in the U.S. national interest.

(Sec. 5) Prohibits any participating foreign national from having unsupervised access to specified agents or toxins that may be used in a biological weapon. 

 States that such restriction may not be construed to limit the Secretary of Health and Human Services' ability to prescribe standards for the handling of such agents or toxins.

(Sec. 6) Establishes a public health education and training fellowship program for eligible nationals to pursue: (1) a master of public health degree with a concentration in epidemiology; or (2) advanced public health training in epidemiology. 

Authorizes each fellowship recipient to take courses of study at the CDC or at an equivalent facility on diagnosis and containment of likely bioterrorism agents. 

Authorizes the Secretary to permit the participation of a U.S. citizen in the fellowship program if: (1) in the U.S. national interest to do so; and (2) the U.S. citizen agrees to complete at least five years of public health employment in an eligible developing country or at an international health organization. 

(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to support short training courses in-country (not in the United States) for laboratory technicians and other public health personnel in: (1) laboratory techniques relating to the identification, diagnosis, and tracking of pathogens responsible for possible infectious disease outbreaks; and (2) syndrome surveillance reporting and rapid analysis of syndrome information using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. 

(Sec. 8) Authorizes the President to furnish assistance to eligible developing countries to purchase and maintain: (1) public health laboratory equipment necessary to collect, analyze, and identify pathogens which may cause disease outbreaks or may be used as a biological weapon; and (2) related communications equipment and information technology. 

(Sec. 10) Authorizes a federal agency head, upon the request of a U.S. chief of diplomatic mission or an international health organization, and with the Secretary's and the employee's concurrence, to assign to the respective U.S. mission or organization any public health officer or employee of the agency for the purpose of enhancing disease and pathogen surveillance efforts in developing countries. 

(Sec. 11) Directs CDC and the Department of Defense (DOD) to: (1) increase the number of personnel assigned to their respective laboratories located in eligible developing countries that conduct infectious disease research; and (2) expand the operations of those laboratories, especially in the implementation of on-site training of foreign nationals and regional outreach efforts. 

(Sec. 12) Authorizes: (1) the President to provide assistance to enhance the surveillance and reporting capabilities for WHO and existing regional and international health networks, and develop new health networks; and (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish new country or regional foreign epidemiology training programs in eligible developing countries.

(Sec. 13) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees respecting program implementation under this Act.

(Sec. 14) Authorizes FY2008-FY2009 appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-09-11
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 350.
action_date: 2007-09-11
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 110-152.
action_date: 2007-09-11
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 110-152.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8359-8361)
action_date: 2007-06-25
text: Introduced in Senate