Bill > HR1961

This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish two key initiatives within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): an after-action program and a risk communication strategy. The after-action program requires HHS to create a comprehensive review process following public health emergencies, aimed at identifying challenges and implementing solutions. This program must collaborate with external stakeholders like federal agencies, state and local health departments, and non-governmental partners, and will be overseen by the HHS Inspector General. The program must produce detailed reports covering various aspects of emergency response, including incident management, communications, logistics, supply chain management, infection prevention, treatment protocols, medical countermeasures, and recovery strategies. The bill allocates $3.5 million for initial implementation of this program. Additionally, the bill mandates the development of a risk communication strategy designed to ensure clear, accurate communications about public health risks that specifically identify and target at-risk populations during emergencies. The goal is to make critical health information more understandable and accessible, with the initial strategy to be established within one year of the bill's enactment.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1961/all-info