1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Health Emergencies Are Literally Tenets of HHS Act of 2020” or the “HEALTH Act of 2020”.
Health Emergencies Are Literally Tenets of HHS Act of 2020
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to clarify that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall lead all Federal public health and medical response to emergencies and disasters declared by the President pursuant to the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and for other purposes.
2. Lead agency for Federal public health and medical response to public health emergencies
Section 2801 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh) is amended—
in subsection (a), by inserting after “shall lead all Federal public health and medical response to public health emergencies and incidents” the following: “(including emergencies and disasters declared by the President pursuant to the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act)”; and
in subsection (b), by inserting after “shall assume operational control of emergency public health and medical response assets, as necessary, in the event of a public health emergency” the following: “or in the event of an emergency or disaster declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act or the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act”.
3. Deployment by the Secretary of Health and Human Services of National Strategic Stockpile
Section 319F–2(a)(3)(F) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d–6b(a)(3)(F)) is amended by striking “as required by” and inserting “in consultation with”.
4. Authority and responsibilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the Strategic National Stockpile
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended—
in subparagraph (A) of section 503(b)(2) (6 U.S.C. 313(b)(2)), by inserting “, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies,” after “lead”; and
in subparagraph (D) of section 504(a)(3) (6 U.S.C. 314(a)(3)), by striking “requiring” and inserting “, at the direction of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, assisting in”.