COVID–19 Accountability Act

Bill: 116-s-3683
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2020-05-11 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agricultural marketing and promotion
Animal and plant health
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Appropriations
Asia
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
China
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Detention of persons
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Foreign and international corporations
Foreign loans and debt
Foreign property
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health personnel
Health technology, devices, supplies
Higher education
Hong Kong
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Income tax credits
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International exchange and broadcasting
International organizations and cooperation
Manufacturing
Multilateral development programs
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Protest and dissent
Public contracts and procurement
Research and development
Sanctions
Securities
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Strategic materials and reserves
Taiwan
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations
Visas and passports
War and emergency powers
Worker safety and health
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-05-11
text: 

COVID-19 Accountability Act

 
This bill authorizes sanctions in relation to the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak. It also increases the research tax credit and imposes requirements related to the acquisition of items for the Strategic National Stockpile. 
 
The President shall periodically certify to Congress that the Chinese government (1) is cooperating with efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreak, (2) has prohibited wet markets, and (3) has released and dropped all charges for anyone involved in protests in Hong Kong related to COVID-19. If the President cannot make such a certification, the President may (1) impose sanctions on Chinese government officials, entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government, and individuals affiliated with such entities; or (2) prohibit Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas (i.e., F and M visas) or exchange visitor visas (i.e., J visas).
 
With respect to the research tax credit, the bill increases the alternative simplified credit from 14% to 20% of qualified research expenses above a certain threshold. 
 
The Department of Health and Human Services generally may not purchase personal protective equipment, critical medical supplies, or certain fabric products not produced in the United States for the Strategic National Stockpile. However, this restriction shall not apply if (1) there is not a sufficient amount of U.S.-produced items available at U.S. market prices when needed, or (2) the purchase is worth less than $150,000. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-05-11
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2020-05-11
text: Introduced in Senate