U.S. Global Health Legislation Tracker

Global Health Legislation During the 117th Congress
(as of May 11, 2021) Title Date Introduced Bill # Sponsor Status Topic Summary of Global Health-Related Provisions Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2021

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services, and for other purposes.

3/9/2021 H.R. 1670 Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-9) Referred to HFAC Abortion, Helms amendment Includes statement of U.S. policy regarding safe abortion and working to end unsafe abortion; repeals the Helms Amendment (which prohibits the use of foreign assistance to pay for the performance of abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortion); states that notwithstanding any other provision of law, certain funds may be used to provide comprehensive reproductive health care services, including abortion services, training, and equipment. Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act of 2021

To establish an interagency One Health Program, and for other purposes.

3/18/2021 S. 861 Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) Read twice and referred to S. HELP One Health, global health security Requires the heads of HHS, USDA, USAID, DoD, and certain other agencies to develop, publish, and submit to Congress a national One Health Framework for coordinated federal activities under the One Health Program not later than one year after enactment; among other things, states the framework must describe existing efforts and contain recommendations for building upon and complementing the activities of the CDC, the FDA, USAID, NIH, and certain others and also establish specific federal goals and priorities and describe specific activities required to achieve these; requires the submission of an addendum to the framework not later than three years after its original submission, describing progress in advancing these activities; authorizes to be appropriated such sums as necessary to develop the framework above; requires GAO to submit a report to Congress not later than two years after the addendum is submitted, detailing existing collaborative efforts among certain agencies for this purpose and containing an evaluation of the framework and its specified activities. American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

To provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 5.

2/24/2021 H.R. 1319 Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY-3) Became law (P.L. 117-2) COVID-19, Global Fund See KFF summary. American Values Act

To permanently enact certain appropriations Act restrictions on the use of funds for abortions and involuntary sterilizations, and for other purposes.

2/4/2021 S. 239 Sen. James Risch (R-ID) Read twice and referred to SFRC Abortion, involuntary sterilization amendment, Siljander amendment, Kemp-Kasten amendment, Peace Corps provision, Helms amendment, Biden amendment Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to codify in permanent law the Siljander amendment, which prohibits  the use of funds to lobby for or against abortion, and the Kemp-Kasten amendment, which prohibits funding any organization or program, as determined by the President, that supports or participates in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization; restates the Helms amendment, the Involuntary Sterilization amendment (which prohibits the use of funds to pay for involuntary sterilizations as a method of family planning or to coerce or provide a financial incentive to anyone to undergo sterilization), and the Biden amendment (which states that funds may not be used for biomedical research related to methods of or the performance of abortion or involuntary sterilization as a means of family planning) that are already in permanent law. Also amends the Peace Corps Act to codify in permanent law the Peace Corps provision, which prohibits Peace Corps funding from paying for an abortion for a Peace Corps volunteer or trainee, except in cases where the life of the woman is endangered by pregnancy or in cases of rape or incest. In the past these have been included only in annual State-Foreign Operations appropriations language. See also the KFF fact sheet on FP/RH statutory requirements and policies and the KFF explainer on UNFPA funding and Kemp-Kasten. Binational Health Strategies Act of 2021

To amend the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act, with respect to preparedness for COVID–19 and other infectious diseases in the border region, and for other purposes.

3/03/2021 H.R. 1538

Rep.

Veronica

Escobar (D-TX-16)

Referred to H. Energy and HFAC Mexico Authorizes and directs the President to seek to begin negotiations with Mexico to amend an existing agreement addressing infectious disease preparedness in the U.S.-Mexico Border Area, with respect to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, specifically requiring the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission to submit a report on the border area’s response to COVID-19 and requiring it to also develop and publicly publish a binational strategic plan that addresses how the area should strengthen its COVID-19 response, sharing relevant health data, and how a COVID-19 vaccine should be disbursed throughout the area, among other things; requires the Commission to publish what actions federal agencies in the U.S. and Mexico will take to facilitate implementation of the strategic plan and then to submit a report on actions taken each year; requires the Commission to develop and publish a plan to prepare and respond to infectious diseases (other than COVID-19) within the border area, to update the plan at least once every three years for as long as necessary, and to publish what actions federal agencies in the U.S. and Mexico will take to facilitate implementation of this plan, with a report on actions taken each year required to be submitted.

Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act
(Global HER Act)

To prohibit the application of certain restrictive eligibility requirements to foreign nongovernmental organizations with respect to the provision of assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

1/28/2021 H.R. 556 Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) Referred to HFAC Abortion, Mexico City policy Codifies prohibition of the expanded Mexico City policy (rescinded by President Biden in Jan. 2021, see KFF explainer): states that notwithstanding any provision of law, regulation, or policy, foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) shall not be ineligible for certain foreign aid under the Foreign Assistance Act solely on the basis of health or medical services provided with non-U.S. funds (insofar as legal in country where provided and under U.S. law) and shall not be subject to requirements relating to their use of non-U.S. funds for advocacy and lobbying activities.*

Global Health, Empowerment and Rights Act
(Global HER Act)

To prohibit the application of certain restrictive eligibility requirements to foreign nongovernmental organizations with respect to the provision of assistance under part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

1/28/2021 S. 142 Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Read twice and referred to SFRC Abortion, Mexico City policy Codifies prohibition of the expanded Mexico City policy (rescinded by President Biden in Jan. 2021, see KFF explainer): states that notwithstanding any provision of law, regulation, or policy, foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) shall not be ineligible for certain foreign aid under the Foreign Assistance Act solely on the basis of health or medical services provided with non-U.S. funds (insofar as legal in country where provided and under U.S. law) and shall not be subject to requirements relating to their use of non-U.S. funds for advocacy and lobbying activities.* Global Health Security Act of 2021

To authorize a comprehensive, strategic approach for United States foreign assistance to developing countries to strengthen global health security, and for other purposes.

1/21/2021 H.R. 391 Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA-11) Passed HFAC (Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote) Global health security, global health emergencies States it is U.S. policy to promote global health security as a core national security interest; establishes a Global Health Security Agenda Interagency Review Council, designates members, responsibilities, and frequency of meetings; designates a U.S. Coordinator for Global Health Security responsible for coordination of the interagency process for responding to global health security emergencies; express Sense of Congress that the President should consider appointing an individual with significant background and expertise in public health or emergency response management to such position; requires a U.S. global health security strategy, its implementation (including agency-specific plans), and an annual report on status of implementation. International Human Rights Defense Act of 2021

To establish in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the Department of State a Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Peoples, and for other purposes.

2/22/2021 H.R. 1201 Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-47) Referred to HFAC LGBTI health, HIV Includes statement of U.S. policy regarding LGBTI issues globally, including employing a multisectoral approach to preventing and responding to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTI people internationally, including activities in the health sector; authorizes the provision of U.S. assistance to prevent and respond to these issues internationally, including enhancement of health sector capacity related to violence against LGBTI people and communities and to combat HIV. International Human Rights Defense Act of 2021

To establish in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the Department of State a Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBTI Peoples, and for other purposes.

2/24/2021 S. 424 Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) Read twice and referred to SFRC LGBTI health, HIV Includes statement of U.S. policy regarding LGBTI issues globally, including employing a multisectoral approach to preventing and responding to criminalization, discrimination, and violence against LGBTI people internationally, including activities in the health sector; authorizes the provision of U.S. assistance to prevent and respond to these issues internationally, including enhancement of health sector capacity related to violence against LGBTI people and communities and to combat HIV. Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2021

To address the public health risks posed by wildlife markets, and for other purposes.

1/4/2021 H.R. 151 Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) Referred to HFAC, H. Energy and Commerce, H. Judiciary, H. Ways and Means, H. Financial Services, H. Natural Resources Global health security, One Health, zoonotic diseases Requires the HHS Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for it to conduct a study on the risk of wildlife markets on the emergency of novel viral pathogens, to be submitted not later than one year after the date of agreement; expresses Sense of Congress that global institutions, including WHO, and others including USAID should promote the paradigm of One Health; states U.S. policy is to facilitate international cooperation to close high risk wildlife markets around that world and to work to develop agreements and protocols to close these markets; allows the President to impose sanctions on any country (or nationals of a country) continuing to license or enable commercial wildlife markets or engaged in certain activities; authorizes FY 2021 – FY 2030 funding for USAID activities related to sustainable food systems; requires the USAID administrator to increase activities related to biodiversity, global health, and resilience, among other things, in order to address the threats and causes of zoonotic disease outbreaks.; requires reporting from the Department of State and USAID describing these efforts. Preventing Future Pandemics Act of 2021

To address the public health risks posed by wildlife markets, and for other purposes.

1/25/2021 S. 37 Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) Read twice and referred to SFRC Global health security, One Health, zoonotic diseases Requires the HHS Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for it to conduct a study on the risk of wildlife markets on the emergency of novel viral pathogens, to be submitted not later than one year after the date of agreement; expresses Sense of Congress that global institutions, including WHO, and others including USAID should promote the paradigm of One Health; states U.S. policy is to facilitate international cooperation to close high risk wildlife markets around that world and to work to develop agreements and protocols to close these markets; allows the President to impose sanctions on any country (or nationals of a country) continuing to license or enable commercial wildlife markets or engaged in certain activities; authorizes FY 2021 – FY 2030 funding for USAID activities related to sustainable food systems; requires the USAID administrator to increase activities related to biodiversity, global health, and resilience, among other things, in order to address the threats and causes of zoonotic disease outbreaks.; requires reporting from the Department of State and USAID describing these efforts. Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act

To restrict the availability of Federal funds to organizations associated with the abortion industry. 1/28/2021 H.R. 534 Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5) Referred to HFAC Abortion, Mexico City policy Codifies the expanded Mexico City policy (rescinded by President Biden in Jan. 2021; see KFF explainer) and expands it to apply more broadly to federal funding made available for purposes outside of the U.S. to 1) any foreign nonprofit organization, foreign nongovernmental organization, foreign multilateral organization, or foreign quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organization that carries out certain activities, and 2) any domestic nonprofit organization or domestic nongovernmental organization that carries out certain activities. Protecting Life in Foreign Assistance Act

To restrict the availability of Federal funds to organizations associated with the abortion industry. 1/28/2021 S. 137 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) Read twice and referred to SFRC Abortion, Mexico City policy Codifies the expanded Mexico City policy (rescinded by President Biden in Jan. 2021; see KFF explainer) and expands it to apply more broadly to federal funding made available for purposes outside of the U.S. to 1) any foreign nonprofit organization, foreign nongovernmental organization, foreign multilateral organization, or foreign quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organization that carries out certain activities, and 2) any domestic nonprofit organization or domestic nongovernmental organization that carries out certain activities. Reach Every Mother and Child Act

To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to implement policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally.

4/29/2021 S. 1451 Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) Read twice and referred to SFRC Maternal health, child health Includes statement of  U.S. policy to establish and implement a coordinated, integrated, and comprehensive strategy to end preventable child and maternal deaths and ensure healthy and productive lives; requires the establishment and implementation of a five-year comprehensive strategy to contribute toward the global goal of ending preventable child and maternal deaths by 2030; states the President should designate a Child and Maternal Survival Coordinator and describes their duties; requires an annual report on progress. Robust International Response to Pandemic Act

To provide support for a robust global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2/11/2021 H.R. 986 Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL-4) Referred to H. Financial Services COVID-19 Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct U.S. Executive Directors at international financial institutions to ensure international financial institution support for a robust international response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, including to oppose the approval or endorsement of any loan, grant, document, or strategy that would lead to a decrease in health care spending or in any other spending that would impede the ability of any country to prevent or contain the spread of, or treat persons who are or may be infected with, the COVID-19 virus.

Securing America From Epidemics Act
(SAFE Act)

To authorize United States participation in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and for other purposes.

3/23/2021 H.R. 2118 Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA-7) Passed HFAC (Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote) Research & development (R&D), global health security, pandemic, epidemic Authorizes U.S. participation in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI); reports to Congress required to be submitted by the President not later than 180 days after enactment of the Act and to outline planned U.S. contributions to CEPI, the manner and extent to which the U.S. will participate in the governance of CEPI, and how participation in CEPI supports relevant U.S. strategies and programs in health security and biodefense, among other things; authorizes certain appropriated funding to be made available for U.S. contributions to CEPI. Strategic Competition Act of 2021

To address issues involving the People’s Republic of China.

 

4/15/2021 S. 1169 Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders COVID-19, health cooperation, WHO, global health security, abortion, forced sterilization, debt relief Expresses sense of Congress that the U.S. government should encourage other foreign governments to use the official and scientific names for the COVID-19 pandemic; states U.S. policy is to deepen cooperation between and among the U.S., Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, and Australia, including through scientific and health partnerships; expresses sense of Congress that  recent pledge from the first-ever Quad (Australia, India, Japan, U.S.) leaders meeting on March 12, 2021, to respond to the economic and health impacts of COVID-19, including expanding vaccine production and equitable access, further advances cooperation among Quad nations; states it is U.S. policy to stand with the nations of ASEAN as they respond to COVID-19 and support greater cooperation in building capacity to prepare for and respond to pandemics and other public health challenges; states it is U.S. policy to advocate and actively advance Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly, among other bodies; requires report on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic to be submitted by the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Secretary of State, HHS Secretary, and others, not later than 180 days after enactment; requires strategies that describe how the U.S. will enhance cooperation with Canada, the European Union, NATO, and European partner countries in managing relations with China, including detailing diplomatic efforts to work with them to track and counter Chinese attempts to exert influence across the multilateral system, including at WHO; requires a strategy for countering and limiting Chinese influence in, and access to, the Middle East and North Africa, including efforts to encourage U.S. private sector and public-private partnerships in healthcare technology, among other things; states it is U.S. policy to work with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan to advance shared alliance goals of the Oceania region concerning health, among other things, and to improve the local capacity of the countries of Oceania to address public health challenges and improve global health security; address the imposition of sanctions with respect to systematic rape, coercive abortion, forced sterilization, or involuntary contraceptive implantation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; addresses reporting related to debt relief via the International Development Association (IDA) for certain countries to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Support for Global Financial Institution Pandemic Response Act of 2021

To support efforts by international financial institutions to provide a robust global response to the COVID–19 pandemic. 1/27/2021 S. 67 Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) Read twice and referred to SFRC COVID-19 Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct U.S. Executive Directors at international financial institutions to ensure international financial institution support for a robust international response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, including to oppose the approval or endorsement of any loan, grant, document, or strategy that would lead to a decrease in health care spending or in any other spending that would impede the ability of any country to prevent or contain the spread of, or treat persons who are or may be infected with, the COVID-19 virus. To amend the National Security Act of 1947 to require the President to designate an employee of the National Security Council to be responsible for pandemic prevention and response, and for other purposes. 2/8/2021 S. 290 Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) Read twice and referred to HSGAC Pandemic Requires the President to designate an employee of the National Security Council to be the permanent coordinator for pandemic prevention and response for the federal government, outlines duties, and grants them authority to represent the U.S. in bilateral and multilateral discussions and agreements on relevant matters. To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes. 2/18/2021 H.R. 1145 Rep. Young Kim (R-CA-39) Passed HFAC (Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote) WHO, Taiwan Directs the Department of State to include additional information in its annual reports concerning Taiwan’s participation at WHO’s World Health Assembly as an observer. To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes. 3/17/2021 S. 812 Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Read twice and referred to SFRC WHO, Taiwan Directs the Department of State to include additional information in its annual reports concerning Taiwan’s participation at WHO’s World Health Assembly as an observer. To prohibit the use of funds to seek membership in the World Health Organization or to provide assessed or voluntary contributions to the World Health Organization. 1/28/2021 H.R. 497 Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19) Referred to HFAC WHO Prohibits the use of federal funds to seek membership by the U.S. in WHO or to provide assessed or voluntary U.S. contributions to WHO until such time as the President certifies that WHO meets certain conditions, including: WHO has adopted meaningful reforms to ensure that humanitarian assistance is not politicized and is to be provided to those with the most need, WHO is not under the control or significant malign influence of the Chinese Communist party, WHO is not involved in a coverup of the Chinese Communist Party’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO grants observer status to Taiwan, WHO does not divert humanitarian or medical supplies to Iran, North Korea, or Syria, and WHO has put in place mechanisms to increase transparency and accountability in its operations and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

United States Climate Leadership in International Mitigation, Adaptation, and Technology Enhancement Act of 2021
(U.S. CLIMATE Act) 

To restore the United States international leadership on climate change and clean energy, and for other purposes. 

4/19/2021 S. 1201 Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Read twice and referred to SFRC Climate change, global health Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with other relevant agencies, to conduct biennial comprehensive evaluations of present and ongoing disruptions to the global climate system, including the scarcity of global natural resources including fresh water, global food, health, and energy insecurities and conditions that contribute to gender-based violence, among other things; requires these evaluations to be used by the Secretary of State to inform the development and implementation of a climate security strategy, and to develop and implement plans to account for the impacts of climate change on global human health, fresh water, and marginalized groups; states U.S. policy is to ensure that the International Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Security Program (required to be established under the act by the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Administrator of USAID) provide resources to developing countries to support efforts that reduce the vulnerability and increase the resilience capacities of communities to the effects of climate change, including effects on water availability and health and diseases; directs the Secretary of the Treasury to use the influence of the U.S. to ensure that the Green Climate Fund requires country recipients to submit investment plan that describes how adaptation projects will advance public health outcomes, among other things; incorporates the Women and Climate Change Act. Women and Climate Change Act of 2021

To address the disparate impact of climate change on women and support the efforts of women globally to address climate change, and for other purposes.

1/11/2021 H.R. 260 Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) Referred to HFAC, H. Energy & Commerce Climate change, global health, reproductive health Addresses climate change and its effects on women and girls: Establishes the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and Climate Change within the Department of State and outlines its functions, such as identifying best practices for collecting data on the disparate impact of climate change on women – including in access to comprehensive health care, including reproductive health and rights; requires the Department of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (GWI) to submit a strategy (and shortly thereafter an implementation plan and budget) to prevent and respond to the effects of climate change on women, including effective action to promote public health; requires the Ambassador-at-Large of GWI to designate a Senior Coordinator for Women and Climate Change; requires the GWI Ambassador and the Senior Coordinator to submit to the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of the human and financial resources necessary to carry out the Act. World Health Organization Accountability Act

To prohibit the availability of United States contributions to the World Health Organization until Congress receives a full report on China and the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

1/21/2021 H.R. 374 Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO-3) Referred to HFAC WHO, COVID-19 Prohibits the use of federal funds for U.S. contributions to WHO or U.S. participation in any of the activities of WHO until the Secretary of State and HHS Secretary jointly submit a report to Congress describing the manner and extent to which the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak prior to March 11, 2020, by WHO and China contributed to the emergency of the pandemic. NOTES: SFRC means Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. HFAC means the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. means House. S. means Senate. SFOPS means Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs. LGBTI means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex. WHO is the World Health Organization. ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. * Other than those that apply to U.S. NGOs receiving certain foreign aid under the Foreign Assistance Act.