[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5222 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5222
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a
pandemic preparedness and response program using artificial
intelligence.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 25, 2024
Mr. Rounds (for himself and Mr. Heinrich) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement a
pandemic preparedness and response program using artificial
intelligence.
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 ``MedShield Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
(1) The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need to better
organize pathogen defense of the people of the United States.
(2) The National Security Commission on Artificial
Intelligence concluded that COVID-19 scientific advancements,
notably accelerated by the application of artificial
intelligence, in addition to many other existing science and
technology initiatives in the United States, should be used to
build a comprehensive, operational, and integrated biodefense
program that functions like a ``shield'' against manmade and
non-manmade pathogens.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) an initiative such as Operation Warp Speed should not
be required for the next pandemic;
(2) there is a requirement for a pandemic preparedness and
response program that would negate the need for a future
Operation Warp Speed-like program or a declaration of a public
health emergency under section 319 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); and
(3) the program established under section 3 would
operationalize artificial intelligence and a system-of-systems
integration across the interagency and private sector, under
the direction of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDSHIELD PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall implement a
pandemic preparedness and response program utilizing artificial
intelligence and other relevant technologies, to be known as the
``MedShield program'' (referred to in this Act as the ``Program''), in
accordance with recommendations of the National Security Commission on
Artificial Intelligence. The Program shall operationalize a national
medical shield that gathers innovations across the public-private
ecosystem in the United States, as well as from allies and partners, to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of delivering medical
solutions to individuals, functioning as a shield against biological
threats. The Program shall continuously operate and monitor threats,
for the purpose of safeguarding the public health of the United States.
(b) Plan and Integration.--Pursuant to the Program, the Secretary
shall--
(1) develop a plan to integrate the recommendations of the
National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence for
pandemic preparedness and response, in accordance with the
responsibilities of the Department of Health and Human Services
as the primary agency and coordinator for the emergency support
function relating to public health and medical services under
the National Response Framework of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency; and
(2) consult with heads of appropriate Federal agencies and
select allies and partners to ensure the integration of the
Program between relevant departments and agencies and
international partners to achieve a coordinated international
effort to address a pandemic.
(c) Utilization of Artificial Intelligence.--In carrying out the
Program, the Secretary shall leverage artificial intelligence and other
relevant technologies and capabilities, including as follows:
(1) Development and deployment of a global pathogen
surveillance system for the real-time detection and tracking of
pathogens.
(2) Employment of artificial intelligence enabled systems
to accelerate the identification and development of effective
vaccines.
(3) Development and deployment of therapeutic treatments
for individuals affected by biological threats.
(4) Advanced artificial intelligence-enabled modeling to
optimize strategies for pathogen tracking, vaccine
distribution, and therapeutic interventions.
(5) Streamlining and enhancing rapid manufacturing of
vaccines and therapeutics.
SEC. 4. REPORTING.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate
and the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report detailing the
plan required under section 3(b). Such report shall be submitted in
unclassified form, and may include a classified annex.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``artificial intelligence'' has the meaning
given such term in section 1051(f) of the John S. McCain
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public
Law 115-232; 132 Stat. 1962);
(2) the term ``MedShield'' has the meaning given the term
``BioShield'' in the final report of the Commission submitted
under section 1051(c)(2) of the John S. McCain National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (132 Stat. 1965; Public
Law 115-232); and
(3) the term ``National Security Commission on Artificial
Intelligence'' means such commission established under section
1051 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2019 (132 Stat. 1962; Public Law 115-232).
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For purposes of carrying out the MedShield program, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary--
(1) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
(2) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
(3) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
(4) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2028; and
(5) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2029,
to remain available until expended.
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