To direct the President to appoint a Medical Supplies Response Coordinator to coordinate the efforts of the Federal Government regarding the supply and distribution of certain supplies and equipment relating to COVID-19.

Bill: 116-hr-6952
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
Introduced: 2020-05-19
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Congressional oversight

Consumer affairs

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Federal officials

Federal-Indian relations

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government information and archives

Health care costs and insurance

Health information and medical records

Health personnel

Health promotion and preventive care

Health technology, devices, supplies

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Inflation and prices

Intergovernmental relations

Manufacturing

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Military procurement, research, weapons development

Public contracts and procurement

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2020-05-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-05-19
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill requires the President to appoint a Medical Supplies Response Coordinator to oversee federal efforts concerning the supply chain of critical medical supplies and equipment related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6952 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 19, 2020 Mr. Schneider (for himself and Ms. Clark of Massachusetts ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the President to appoint a Medical Supplies Response Coordinator to coordinate the efforts of the Federal Government regarding the supply and distribution of certain supplies and equipment relating to COVID–19.

1. Medical Supplies Response Coordinator (a) In general The President shall appoint a Medical Supplies Response Coordinator to coordinate the efforts of the Federal Government regarding the supply and distribution of critical medical supplies and equipment related to detecting, diagnosing, preventing, and treating COVID–19, including personal protective equipment, medical devices, drugs, and vaccines. (b) Qualifications To qualify to be appointed as the Medical Supplies Response Coordinator, an individual shall be a senior government official with— (1) health care training, including training related to infectious diseases or hazardous exposures; and (2) a familiarity with medical supply chain logistics. (c) Activities The Medical Supplies Response Coordinator shall— (1) consult with State, local, territorial, and Tribal officials to ensure that health care facilities and health care workers have sufficient personal protective equipment and other medical supplies; (2) evaluate ongoing needs of States, localities, territories, Tribes, health care facilities, and health care workers to determine the need for critical medical supplies and equipment; (3) serve as a point of contact for industry for procurement and distribution of critical medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment, medical devices, testing supplies, drugs, and vaccines; (4) procure and distribute critical medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment, medical devices, testing supplies, drugs, and vaccines; (5) (A) establish and maintain an up-to-date national database of hospital capacity, including beds, ventilators, and supplies, including personal protective equipment, medical devices, drugs, and vaccines; and (B) provide weekly reports to the Congress on gaps in such capacity and progress made toward closing the gaps; (6) require, as necessary, industry reporting on production and distribution of personal protective equipment, medical devices, testing supplies, drugs, and vaccines and assess financial penalties as may be specified by the Medical Supplies Response Coordinator for failure to comply with such requirements for reporting on production and distribution; (7) consult with the Secretary and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as applicable, to ensure sufficient production levels under the Defense Production Act ( 50 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.); and (8) monitor the prices of critical medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment and medical devices, drugs, and vaccines related to detecting, diagnosing, preventing, and treating COVID–19 and report any suspected price gouging of such materials to the Federal Trade Commission and appropriate law enforcement officials.