To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to assess and make recommendations related to disaster medical assistance teams, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hr-6357
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Introduced: 2018-07-12
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Disaster relief and insurance

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Emergency planning and evacuation

First responders and emergency personnel

Government studies and investigations
Latest action: action_date: 2018-07-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-07-12
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to assess the readiness of disaster medical assistance teams to respond to current and emerging natural and manmade threats.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6357 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 12, 2018 Mr. Bilirakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to assess and make recommendations related to disaster medical assistance teams, and for other purposes.

1. GAO study and report on disaster medical assistance teams (a) Study and report (1) Study The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the mission readiness of disaster medical assistance teams with respect to current and emerging natural and manmade threats. (2) Components The study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include an assessment, in relation to disaster medical assistance teams, of— (A) whether the mission readiness of such teams, and the needs relating to such readiness, have changed over time; (B) the standards the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services uses to determine— (i) the training needs of such teams; and (ii) whether such teams are mission ready; (C) how to improve the determinations described in subparagraph (B); (D) the extent to which the provision of additional resources (including personnel, training, and equipment) has addressed mission readiness concerns; and (E) the extent to which the Assistant Secretary has developed plans to address mission readiness issues. (3) Report Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report containing— (A) the findings of the study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1); and (B) related recommendations. (b) Disaster medical assistance team defined In this section, the term disaster medical assistance team means a disaster medical assistance team operating pursuant to the National Disaster Medical System established under section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300hh–11 ).