Sec. 101. Statement of policy regarding international cooperation to end the COVID–19 pandemic
492 words·~2 min read·
/bill/117/s/2297/rs/section-101A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It shall be the policy of the United States to lead and implement a comprehensive and coordinated international response to end the COVID–19 pandemic in a manner that recognizes the critical role that multilateral and regional organizations can and should play in pandemic response, including by— seeking adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution that— declares pandemics, including the COVID–19 pandemic, to be a threat to international peace and security; and urges member states to address this threat by aligning their health preparedness plans with international best practices and those established by the Global Health Security Agenda to improve country capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats; advancing efforts to reform the World Health Organization so that it serves as an effective normative and capable coordinating body empowered to align member countries around a single strategic operating plan to detect, contain, treat, and deter the further spread of COVID–19; providing timely, appropriate levels of financial support to United Nations agencies responding to the COVID–19 pandemic; prioritizing United States foreign assistance for the COVID–19 response in the most vulnerable countries and regions; encouraging other donor governments to similarly increase contributions to the United Nations agencies responding to the COVID–19 pandemic in the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries; working with key stakeholders to accelerate progress toward meeting and exceeding, as practicable, the global COVID–19 vaccination goals jointly proposed by the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization, whereby— at least 40 percent of the population in all countries is vaccinated by the end of 2021; and at least 60 percent of the population in all countries is vaccinated by the first half of 2022; engaging with key stakeholders, including through multilateral facilities such as the COVID–19 Vaccines Global Access initiative (referred to in this title as COVAX ) and the Access to COVID–19 Tools
(ACT)Accelerator initiative, and expanding bilateral efforts, including through the International Development Finance Corporation, to accelerate the development, manufacturing, local production, and efficient and equitable distribution of— vaccines and related raw materials to meet or exceed the vaccination goals under paragraph (6); and global health commodities, including personal protective equipment, test kits, medicines and therapeutics, and other essential supplies to combat COVID–19; supporting global COVID–19 vaccine distribution strategies that strengthen underlying health systems and ensure that people living in vulnerable and marginalized communities, including women, do not face undue barriers to vaccination; working with key stakeholders, including through the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the International Finance Corporation, and other relevant regional and bilateral financial institutions, to address the economic and financial implications of the COVID–19 pandemic, while taking into account the differentiated needs of disproportionately affected, vulnerable, and marginalized populations; establishing clear timelines, benchmarks, and goals for COVID–19 response strategies and activities under this section; and generating commitments of resources in support of the goals referred to in paragraph (10).