Tracking Pathogens Act
This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take specified actions related to the genomic sequencing of pathogens.
Specifically, the CDC must issue guidance on sharing specimens and other activities to support collaboration in the genomic sequencing of pathogens.
The CDC must also strengthen and expand activities related to the use of genomic sequencing of pathogens in public health surveillance, including by providing technical assistance to health departments. The CDC may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to academic and other laboratories related to these activities.
In addition, the CDC must establish through public health agencies (or partnerships of such agencies) centers of excellence to promote innovation in pathogen genomics and molecular epidemiology.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7152 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7152
To strengthen and expand activities related to genomic sequencing of
pathogens, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 18, 2022
Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Grijalva) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To strengthen and expand activities related to genomic sequencing of
pathogens, and for other purposes.
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 ``Tracking Pathogens Act''.
SEC. 2. GENOMIC SEQUENCING.
(a) Guidance Supporting Genomic Sequencing of Pathogens
Collaboration.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to
in this section as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with
the heads of other agencies and departments, as appropriate, shall
issue guidance to support collaboration relating to genomic sequencing
of pathogens, including the use of new and innovative approaches and
technology for the detection, characterization, and sequencing of
pathogens, to improve public health surveillance and preparedness and
response activities, consistent with section 2824 of the Public Health
Service Act, as added by subsection (b). Such guidance shall address
the sharing, for public health surveillance purposes, of specimens of
such pathogens, between appropriate entities and public health
authorities pursuant to the regulations promulgated under section
264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 note), in a manner that protects personal
privacy to the extent required by applicable Federal and State privacy
law, at a minimum, and the appropriate use of sequence data derived
from such specimens.
(b) Genomic Sequencing Program.--Title XXVIII of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``SEC. 2824. GENOMIC SEQUENCING, ANALYTICS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH
SURVEILLANCE OF PATHOGENS PROGRAM.
``(a) Genomic Sequencing, Analytics, and Public Health Surveillance
of Pathogens Program.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with
the Director of the National Institutes of Health and heads of other
departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall strengthen and expand
activities related to genomic sequencing of pathogens, including new
and innovative approaches and technology for the detection,
characterization, and sequencing of pathogens, analytics, and public
health surveillance, including--
``(1) continuing and expanding activities, which may
include existing genomic sequencing activities related to
advanced molecular detection, to--
``(A) identify and respond to emerging infectious
disease threats; and
``(B) identify the potential use of genomic
sequencing technologies, advanced computing, and other
advanced technology, including strategies for
environmental sampling, to inform surveillance
activities and incorporate the use of such
technologies, as appropriate, into related activities;
``(2) providing technical assistance and guidance to State,
Tribal, local, and territorial public health departments to
increase the capacity of such departments to perform genomic
sequencing of pathogens, including recipients of funding under
section 2821;
``(3) carrying out activities to enhance the capabilities
of the public health workforce with respect to pathogen
genomics, epidemiology, and bioinformatics, including through
training; and
``(4) continuing and expanding activities, as applicable,
with public and private entities, including relevant
departments and agencies, laboratories, academic institutions,
and industry.
``(b) Partnerships.--For the purposes of carrying out the
activities described in subsection (a), the Secretary, acting through
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may
award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to academic and
other laboratories with expertise in genomic sequencing for public
health purposes, including new and innovative approaches to, and
related technology for, the detection, characterization, and sequencing
of pathogens.
``(c) Centers of Excellence.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
shall, as appropriate, award grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements to public health agencies or public health agency
partnerships for the establishment or operation of centers of
excellence to promote innovation in pathogen genomics and
molecular epidemiology to improve the control of and response
to pathogens that may cause a public health emergency. Such
centers shall, as appropriate--
``(A) identify and evaluate the use of genomics, or
other related technologies that may advance public
health preparedness and response;
``(B) improve the identification, development, and
use of tools for integrating and analyzing genomic and
epidemiologic data;
``(C) assist with genomic surveillance of, and
response to, infectious diseases, including analysis of
pathogen genomic data;
``(D) conduct applied research to improve public
health surveillance of, and response to, infectious
diseases through innovation in pathogen genomics and
molecular epidemiology;
``(E) develop and provide training materials for
experts in the fields of genomics, microbiology,
bioinformatics, epidemiology, and other fields, as
appropriate; and
``(F) conduct workforce development through
advanced training in academic laboratories.
``(2) Requirements.--To be eligible for an award under
paragraph (1), an entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including a description of how the entity will
partner, as applicable, with academic institutions or a
consortium of academic partners that have relevant expertise,
such as microbial genomics, molecular epidemiology, or the
application of bioinformatics or statistics.
``(d) Authorization.--For purposes of carrying out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated $175,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2023 through 2027.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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