Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act of 2020”.
Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act of 2020
A BILL
To advance the global health security and diplomacy objectives of the United States, improve coordination among the relevant Federal departments and agencies implementing United States foreign assistance for global health security, and more effectively enable partner countries to strengthen and sustain resilient health systems and supply chains with the resources, capacity, and personnel required to prevent, detect, mitigate, and respond to infectious disease threats before they become pandemics, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Appropriate congressional committees— The term appropriate congressional committees means—
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Global Health Security Agenda— The term Global Health Security Agenda means the multi-sectoral initiative launched in 2014 and renewed in 2017 that brings together countries, regions, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to elevate global health security as a national-level priority, share best practices, and facilitate national capacity to comply with and adhere to the World Health Organization International Health Regulations, the World Organization for Animal Health international standards and guidelines, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004), the Biological Weapons Convention, and other relevant frameworks that contribute to global health security.
Global Health Security Agenda Joint External Evaluation— The term Global Health Security Agenda Joint External Evaluation means the voluntary, collaborative, multi-sectoral process to assess country capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to public health risks occurring naturally or due to deliberate or accidental events, assess progress in achieving the targets under the World Health Organization International Health Regulations, and recommend priority actions.
Global Health Security Index— The term Global Health Security Index means the comprehensive assessment and benchmarking of health security and related capabilities across the 195 countries that make up the States Parties to the World Health Organization International Health Regulations.
Key stakeholders— The term key stakeholders means actors engaged in efforts to advance global health security programs and objectives, including—
national and local governments in partner countries;
other bilateral donors;
international and regional organizations;
international, regional, and local financial institutions;
international, regional, and local private voluntary, nongovernmental, faith-based, and civil society organizations;
representatives of historically marginalized groups, including women and youth;
the private sector, including medical device, technology, and pharmaceutical companies; and
public and private research and academic institutions.
One Health approach— The term One Health approach means the collaborative, multi-sectoral, and transdisciplinary approach toward achieving optimal health outcomes in a manner that recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
Relevant Federal departments and agencies— The term relevant Federal departments and agencies means any Federal department or agency operating under Chief of Mission authority and implementing United States foreign assistance relevant to the advancement of United States global health security and diplomacy overseas, which may include—
the Department of State;
the United States Agency for International Development;
the Department of Health and Human Services;
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
the National Institutes of Health;
the Department of the Treasury;
the Department of Defense;
the Defense Threat Reduction Agency;
the Millennium Challenge Corporation;
the Development Finance Corporation;
the Peace Corps; and
any other department or agency that the President determines to be relevant for these purposes.
Sec. 3 Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to advance the global health security and diplomacy objectives of the United States, improve coordination among the relevant Federal departments and agencies implementing United States foreign assistance for global health security, and more effectively enable partner countries to strengthen and sustain resilient health systems and supply chains with the resources, capacity, and personnel required to prevent, detect, mitigate, and respond to infectious disease threats before they become pandemics by—
establishing a comprehensive United States Global Health Security Strategy with a One Health approach and clear goals, objectives, and benchmarks, as well as instruments to monitor and evaluate outputs and outcomes, measure impact, and share data and learning;
establishing a mechanism to coordinate United States global health security policies, activities, and assistance, including efforts to advance the United States Global Health Security Strategy and the Global Health Security Agenda, while fully utilizing the unique capabilities of the relevant Federal departments and agencies;
coordinating with key stakeholders and supporting partner country efforts to strengthen and sustain more resilient health systems and supply chains;
accelerating progress under the United States Global Health Security Strategy, the Global Health Security Agenda, the World Health Organization International Health Regulations, and other relevant frameworks that contribute to global health security;
enhancing support for innovation and public-private partnerships for research, development, and deployment of effective and affordable disease tracking tools, diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines;
authorizing appropriations to advance the United States Global Health Security Strategy and provide for a global health security emergency reserve; and
authorizing the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, to enter into negotiations for the establishment of the Trust Fund for Global Health Security.