Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-7574
Sponsor: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8]
Introduced: 2020-07-13 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Federal-Indian relations
Government studies and investigations
Health programs administration and funding
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Intergovernmental relations
Manufacturing
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations
Strategic materials and reserves
User charges and fees
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: 

Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020

 
This bill makes changes to the administration and management of the Strategic National Stockpile.
 
Among these changes, the bill authorizes through September 30, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transfer supplies from the stockpile to any federal departments or agencies under certain conditions. HHS must also ensure the contents of the stockpile remain in working order and may enter into maintenance service contracts to carry out this requirement.
 
Furthermore, as part of its management of the stockpile, HHS must establish and maintain domestic reserves of certain supplies, including through purchases, leases, or joint ventures to access facilities and equipment to produce these supplies. The authority for such purchases, leases, or joint ventures terminates on September 30, 2023.
 
Additionally, the bill temporarily authorizes HHS to award grants to states for maintaining stockpiles of certain equipment and supplies for use during public health emergencies.
 
HHS must also develop transparent processes for the use and distribution of supplies from the stockpile that address, for example, the prioritization of requests. Additionally, during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response must report monthly on requests for supplies from states, tribes, and other jurisdictions. These reports must include the rationale for any partially fulfilled or denied requests.
 
Lastly, the Government Accountability Office must study the feasibility of establishing user fees to offset costs for procuring single-source materials for, and distributing such materials from, the stockpile.

action_date: 2020-09-18
text: 

Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020

 
This bill makes changes to the administration and management of the Strategic National Stockpile.
 
Among these changes, the bill authorizes through September 30, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transfer supplies from the stockpile to any federal departments or agencies under certain conditions. HHS must also ensure the contents of the stockpile remain in working order and may enter into maintenance service contracts to carry out this requirement.
 
Furthermore, as part of its management of the stockpile, HHS must establish and maintain domestic reserves of certain supplies, including by entering into cooperative agreements or partnerships to access facilities and equipment to produce these supplies. The authority for such agreements and partnerships terminates on September 30, 2023.
 
Additionally, the bill temporarily authorizes HHS to award grants to states for maintaining stockpiles of certain equipment and supplies for use during public health emergencies.
 
HHS must also develop transparent processes for the use and distribution of supplies from the stockpile that address, for example, the prioritization of requests. Additionally, during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response must report monthly on requests for supplies from states, tribes, and other jurisdictions. These reports must include the rationale for any partially fulfilled or denied requests.
 
Lastly, the Government Accountability Office must study the feasibility of establishing user fees to offset costs for procuring single-source materials for, and distributing such materials from, the stockpile.

action_date: 2020-09-21
text: 

Strengthening America's Strategic National Stockpile Act of 2020

 
This bill makes changes to the administration and management of the Strategic National Stockpile.
 
Among these changes, the bill authorizes through September 30, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to transfer supplies from the stockpile to any federal departments or agencies under certain conditions. HHS must also ensure the contents of the stockpile remain in working order and may enter into maintenance service contracts to carry out this requirement.
 
Furthermore, as part of its management of the stockpile, HHS must establish and maintain domestic reserves of certain supplies, including by entering into cooperative agreements or partnerships to access facilities and equipment to produce these supplies. The authority for such agreements and partnerships terminates on September 30, 2023.
 
Additionally, the bill temporarily authorizes HHS to award grants to states for maintaining stockpiles of certain equipment and supplies for use during public health emergencies.
 
HHS must also develop transparent processes for the use and distribution of supplies from the stockpile that address, for example, the prioritization of requests. Additionally, during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response must report monthly on requests for supplies from states, tribes, and other jurisdictions. These reports must include the rationale for any partially fulfilled or denied requests.
 
Lastly, the Government Accountability Office must study the feasibility of establishing user fees to offset costs for procuring single-source materials for, and distributing such materials from, the stockpile.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-09-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2020-09-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2020-09-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4618-4620)
action_date: 2020-09-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2020-09-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 7574.
action_date: 2020-09-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4618-4620)
action_date: 2020-09-21
text: Mrs. Dingell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2020-09-18
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 418.
action_date: 2020-09-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-518.
action_date: 2020-09-18
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-518.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2020-07-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Introduced in House