Global Pandemic Prevention and Biosecurity Act

Bill: 117-hr-3424
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2021-05-20 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Agricultural education
Agricultural marketing and promotion
Agricultural practices and innovations
Agricultural trade
Animal and plant health
Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Ecology
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Food industry and services
Food supply, safety, and labeling
Foreign aid and international relief
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Grain
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Land use and conservation
Law enforcement administration and funding
Livestock
Meat
Multilateral development programs
National and community service
Nutrition and diet
Racial and ethnic relations
Smuggling and trafficking
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Trade restrictions
Urban and suburban affairs and development
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: 

Global Pandemic Prevention and Biosecurity Act

 
This bill establishes a task force and requires the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to take specified measures to respond to and prevent zoonotic (animal-to-human) disease outbreaks. 
 
Specifically, the bill establishes the Global Zoonotic Disease Task Force to ensure an integrated approach to preventing, detecting, preparing for, and responding to zoonotic spillover and zoonotic disease outbreaks that may pose a threat to global health security.
 
The bill directs the State Department and the USAID to work with international stakeholders on measures that include (1) preventing zoonotic spillover events, (2) preventing degradation and fragmentation of forests and other ecosystems to minimize interactions between wildlife and human populations, and (3) strengthening global capacity for detection of zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential.
 
Further, the USAID must develop and publish a strategy for food security, global health, and biodiversity protection, including information about zoonotic disease surveillance. To help implement and finance the strategy, the USAID must establish a Conservation Corps to provide Americans eligible for service abroad to deliver technical and strategic assistance.
 
The bill also authorizes a program within the USAID to prevent spillover events, epidemics, and pandemics through specified activities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights.
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E562)
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Introduced in House