Sec. 3. Purposes
526 words·~2 min read·
/bill/116/s/4666/is/section-3A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The purposes of the Commission are to— examine and report upon the facts and the causes relating to the emergence and spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (referred to in this Act as COVID–19 ) pandemic in the United States; make a full and complete accounting of the United States preparedness for, and response to, the COVID–19 pandemic, to include investigating and reporting on the preparedness and response of the United States in terms of— medical intelligence and information gathering; communication and information sharing by the Federal Government with foreign governments and private sector, nongovernmental, and international public health organizations regarding public health threats, including early warning, detection, and prevention and response measures; interagency communication and information sharing regarding health threats and pandemic response, including among the national security agencies, public health agencies, and State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; public health monitoring and testing capabilities; availability of medical equipment and supplies, including supply chain vulnerabilities, the prioritization and distribution of medical equipment and supplies by government and private actors, and the operation of government-maintained stockpiles; hospital preparedness; emergency management; military engagement, including the National Guard Bureau; contributions and adherence to scientific research, including supporting and coordinating global research on diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments; coordination and distribution of resources between the Federal Government and State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; prison, jail, and immigration detention center preparedness; health and economic impacts on underserved communities, rural populations, racial and ethnic minority populations, older adults, and all other populations with known health disparities, which may include— immigrant populations; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals; people with disabilities;
American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations; and residents of territories of the United States; economic relief, including— loan, grant, and other financial assistance; unemployment insurance compensation; tax deferment; direct payments; and eviction and foreclosure relief; impacts on elementary and secondary education and higher education and evaluation of mitigation strategies to support student engagement and achievement; impacts on nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other congregate care settings;
Federal guidance, assistance, and mandates for State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; State, local, Tribal, and territorial government preparedness and response, which may include— State, local, Tribal, and territorial government preparedness and response in relation to Federal guidance, assistance, and mandates; imposition, implementation, and efficacy of stay-at-home orders and other orders or recommendations to contain the spread of COVID–19; emergency management; interagency coordination and communication; regional coordination; public health monitoring and testing; and all other preparedness and response policies and actions affecting hospitals, congregate care settings, schools, prisons, jails, and the State, local, Tribal, and territorial populations in general; and other areas as determined relevant and appropriate by the Commission (by agreement of the chair and vice chair of the Commission); and investigate and report to the President and Congress on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to improve the ability of the Federal Government, State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, and the private sector to— prevent, respond to, and prepare for future epidemics and pandemics, whether naturally occurring or caused by State or non-State actors; and if needed, mitigate the human, economic, and security costs of future epidemics and pandemics.