COUNT Victims Act

Bill: 115-s-3033
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2018-06-07
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Disaster relief and insurance

Emergency planning and evacuation

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Health information and medical records

Natural disasters
Latest action: action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-06-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Counting Our Unexpected Natural Tragedies' Victims Act of 2018 or the COUNT Victims Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to contract with the National Academy of Medicine to conduct a study of matters concerning best practices in mortality counts as a result of a major disaster. A report on the study must be completed and transmitted to FEMA within two years after the contract date of September 30, 2018. </p> <p>The study shall address approaches to quantifying mortality and significant morbidity among populations affected by major disasters and shall include best practices and policy recommendations.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3033 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 7, 2018 Ms. Harris (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Nelson , Mrs. Gillibrand , Ms. Warren , Mr. Markey , Mr. Menendez , and Mr. Carper ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To require a study and report on matters concerning best practices in mortality counts as a result of a major disaster.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Counting Our Unexpected Natural Tragedies' Victims Act of 2018 or the COUNT Victims Act . 2. Study and report (a) In general Not later than September 30, 2018, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Medicine to conduct a study and prepare a report as described in subsection (b). (b) Study and report (1) Study (A) In general The study described in this subsection shall be a study of matters concerning best practices in mortality counts as a result of a major disaster (as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5122 )). (B) Contents The study described in this subsection shall address approaches to quantifying mortality and significant morbidity among populations affected by major disasters, which shall include best practices and policy recommendations for— (i) equitable and timely attribution, in order to facilitate access to available benefits, among other things; (ii) timely prospective tracking of population levels of mortality and significant morbidity, and their causes, in order to continuously inform response efforts; and (iii) retrospective study of disaster-related mortality and significant morbidity to inform after-action analysis and improve subsequent preparedness efforts. (2) Report Not later than 2 years after the date on which the contract described in subsection (a) is entered into, the National Academy of Medicine shall complete and transmit to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency a report on the study described in paragraph (1). (c) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for fiscal years 2018 through 2020.