Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 with respect to: (1) school evacuations, safe places and parental notifications; and (2) mental health services for children.
Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act with respect to assisting children who have lost parents in a disaster.
[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1539 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1539
To protect children from terrorism.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 11, 2001
Mrs. Clinton (for herself, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Mikulski, Mr.
Schumer, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. Corzine) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To protect children from terrorism.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting America's Children
Against Terrorism Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
(a) Public Health Measures To Protect Against Terrorism.--Part B of
title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 319G, the following:
``SEC. 319H. PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES TO PROTECT AGAINST TERRORISM.
``(a) National Task Force on Children and Bioterrorism.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a
National Task Force on Children and Bioterrorism (referred to
in this subsection as the `Task Force').
``(2) Membership.--The Task Force shall be composed of--
``(A) the Secretary and other officials of the
Department determined appropriate by the Secretary;
``(B) the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency;
``(C) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
``(D) the Secretary of Education;
``(E) child health experts on infectious disease,
environmental health, and toxicology, who shall be
appointed by the Secretary;
``(F) representatives of national children's health
organizations, including the American Academy of
Pediatrics and the National Association of Children's
Hospitals, who shall be appointed by the Secretary; and
``(G) representatives of other relevant
organizations determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(3) Recommendations.--Not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Task Force shall make
recommendations to the Secretary concerning--
``(A) an assessment of the preparedness of the
health care system of the United States to respond to
bioterrorism aimed at children and youth, including the
readiness of public health institutions, providers of
health care, and other emergency service personnel to
detect, diagnose and respond to bioterrorist attacks
affecting large numbers of children and youth;
``(B) needed changes to the health care and
emergency medical services systems, including
recommendations on research, training of health
personnel, and changes to the National Pharmaceutical
Stockpile Program to include the medical needs of
children; and
``(C) national, regional, and local health care and
emergency medical services protocols for dealing with
mass casualties of children and youth resulting from
bioterrorism.
``(b) Children and Terrorism Information Network.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish a
Children and Terrorism Information Network to collect and
disseminate to health providers (including children's hospitals
and pediatric units of hospitals), community centers (including
poison control centers), and schools (including school-based
health clinics) up-to-date information on how to prepare for a
biological or chemical terrorist attack and the steps that
should be taken to ensure that children get the health care
they need in the event of such an attack.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $10,000,000
for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for
each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under the
preceding sentence shall remain available to carry out this
section until expended.
``(c) National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall provide for
the inclusion of supplies, equipment, and instructions as are
appropriate for use with respect to children in push packs and
Vendor Management Inventories under the National Pharmaceutical
Stockpile Program.
``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $50,000,000
for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for
each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under the
preceding sentence shall remain available to carry out this
section until expended.
``(d) Securing Our Social Services Infrastructure To Support
Children and Families.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to
eligible entities to enable such entities to implement,
develop, expand or increase the capacity of 2-1-1 call centers,
or other universal hotlines, in order to connect the public to
all available information hotlines, or call centers, developed
in response to disaster and recovery efforts, as well as to
connect the public to existing social services to provide
needed help and support to children and families in crisis.
``(2) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an entity shall--
``(A) be a non-profit organization working to
implement, develop, expand, or increase the capacity of
2-1-1 call centers, or other universal hotlines in
their State, region or locality; and
``(B) prepare and submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection, $10,000,000
for fiscal year 2002, and such sums as may be necessary for
each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts appropriated under the
preceding sentence shall remain available to carry out this
section until expended.''.
(b) Pediatric Studies.--Part B of title IV of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating the second section 409C (relating to
clinical research) and the second section 409D (relating to
enhancement awards) as sections 409G and 409H, respectively;
and
(2) by inserting after section 409H (as so redesignated),
the following:
``SEC. 409I. PEDIATRIC STUDIES OF DRUGS AND BIOLOGICS, INCLUDING
VACCINES, USED TO PREVENT AND TREAT ILLNESSES AND INJURY
CAUSED BY BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL AGENTS USED IN WARFARE
AND TERRORISM.
``(a) Publication of List.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
develop and maintain a secure and confidential list of drugs and
biologics, including vaccines, that may be used to prevent and treat
illnesses and injury caused by biological or chemical agents used in
acts of warfare or terrorism and which require pediatric testing.
``(b) Testing Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall
develop a plan to--
``(1) provide for the timely pediatric testing and labeling
of the agents on the list developed under subsection (a) for
the year involved; and
``(2) coordinate such testing and labeling program with
activities conducted under existing laws and regulations
concerning pediatric testing of drugs and biologics.
``(c) Contracts.--The Secretary may award contracts to entities
that have the expertise to conduct pediatric clinical trials (including
qualified universities, hospitals, laboratories, contract research
organizations, federally funded programs such as pediatric pharmacology
research units, other public or private institutions or, individuals)
to enable such entities to conduct pediatric studies concerning drugs
and biologics, including vaccines, that are used to prevent and treat
illnesses and injuries caused by biological or chemical agents used in
acts of warfare or terrorism.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $20,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal
year. Amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence shall remain
available to carry out this section until expended.''.
(c) Training.--Subpart 2 of part E of title VII of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 770(a), by inserting ``other than section
770A,'' after ``subpart,''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 770A. TRAINING FOR PEDIATRIC ISSUES SURROUNDING BIOLOGICAL AND
CHEMICAL AGENTS USED IN WARFARE AND TERRORISM.
``(a) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of Health
Resources and Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible
entities to enable such entities to--
``(1) provide for the education and training of clinicians
(including nurses) in the pediatric consequences, systems, and
treatment of biological and chemical agents; and
``(2) assist in the development and distribution of
accurate educational materials on the pediatric consequences,
symptoms and treatment of biological or chemical agents.
``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an entity shall--
``(1) be a children hospital, a pediatric unit of a
hospital, a professional organization, or any other entity that
the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and
``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may require.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $50,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal
year. Amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence shall remain
available to carry out this section until expended.''.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF
1965.
Subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7131 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 4124. SCHOOL EVACUATIONS, SAFE PLACES AND PARENTAL
NOTIFICATIONS.
``(a) Recommendations and Models.--Not later than 60 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall develop
recommendations and models to assist communities in developing--
``(1) school evacuation plans;
``(2) safe places for children to go in case of an attack
on a school or individuals in the school;
``(3) partnerships with the medical community to ensure
that children get the immediate care they need in the event of
such an attack; and
``(4) procedures for notifying parents of evacuation plans
and providing information on how and where to find their child
or children in the event of such an attack.
``(b) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
recommendations and models developed under subsection (a) are
disseminated to local school districts throughout the United States,
and, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
to the health provider and public health communities.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $1,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal
year. Amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence shall remain
available to carry out this section until expended.
``SEC. 4125. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.
``(a) Grants.--The Secretary, jointly with the Secretary of Health
and Human Services, shall award grants to eligible entities to enable
such entities to develop and implement a plan for the provision of
comprehensive mental health services for children, school faculty, and
child care providers who are affected by terrorist attacks, times of
war, or other major crisis.
``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subsection (a), an entity shall--
``(1) be a local educational agency, a community-based
organization, a community mental health organization, a
professional organization, or a partnership of such entities;
and
``(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may require.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $20,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal
year. Amounts appropriated under the preceding sentence shall remain
available to carry out this section until expended.''.
SEC. 5. AMENDMENTS TO THE ROBERT T. STAFFORD DISASTER RELIEF AND
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT.
Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by inserting after
section 410, the following:
``SEC. 411. CHILDREN'S ASSISTANCE.
``(a) Children's Coordinating Officer.--Upon a determination by the
President that children have lost their custodial parent or parents in
an area declared a disaster area by the President under this Act, the
President shall appoint an individual to serve as a Children's
Coordinating Officer for the area. Such Officer shall provide necessary
support and assistance for such children to ensure their immediate care
and transition to a permanent and loving family.
``(b) Functions.--A Children's Coordinating Officer appointed under
subsection (a) shall partner with relevant Federal, State and local
governmental agencies, and coordinate all efforts by community-based
organizations, foundations, funds, or other organizations, to direct
and coordinate the provision of assistance to children described in
subsection (a).
``(c) Services.--A Children's Coordinating Officer appointed under
subsection (a) shall ensure that children and their caregivers are
provided with--
``(1) immediate temporary care services;
``(2) counseling on long-term permanency planning;
``(3) legal services for guardianships and adoptions;
``(4) information on available services and assistance for
the victims of the disaster; and
``(5) mental health services.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10649-10650)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10650-10652)
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