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• Public Trust and Law Enforcement - A Brief Discussion for Policymakers [March 22, 2016]

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  "Events over the past several years involving conflict between the police and citizens have generated interest in what role Congress could play in facilitating efforts to build trust between law enforcement and the people they serve while promoting effective crime reduction. This report provides a brief overview of police-community relations and how the federal government might be able to promote more accountability and better relationships between citizens and law enforcement. Gallup poll data show that, overall, Americans are confident in the police; but, confidence in the police varies according to race, place of residence, and other factors. In 2014, less than 50% of Americans favorably rated the honesty and ethics of police, the lowest percentage since 1998. If they conclude that low public ratings of the police are at least partially attributable to police policies, Congress may decide to address state and local law enforcement policies and practices they believe erode public trust in law enforcement. Federalism limits the amount of influence Congress can have over state and local law enforcement policy. Regardless, the federal government might choose to promote better law enforcement-community relations and accountability through (1) federal efforts to collect and disseminate data on the use of force by law enforcement, (2) statutes that allow the federal government to investigate instances of alleged police misconduct, and (3) the influence the Department of Justice (DOJ) has on state and local policing through its role as an enforcer, policy leader, convener, and funder of law enforcement."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  James, Nathan; Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Finklea, Kristin M. . . .

  2016-03-22
• Public Trust and Law Enforcement-A Brief Discussion for Policy Makers [February 9, 2015]

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  "Recent events involving conflict between the police and citizens have generated interest in what role Congress could play in facilitating efforts to build trust between law enforcement and the people they serve while promoting effective crime reduction. This report provides a brief overview of police-community relations and how the federal government might be able to promote more accountability and better relationships between citizens and law enforcement. Gallup poll data show that, overall, Americans are confident in the police; but, confidence in the police varies according to race, place of residence, and other factors. In 2014, less than 50% of Americans favorably rated the honesty and ethics of police, the lowest percentage since 1998. If they conclude that low public ratings of the police are at least partially attributable to police policies, Congress may decide to address state and local law enforcement policies and practices they believe erode public trust in law enforcement. Federalism limits the amount of influence Congress can have over state and local law enforcement policy. Regardless, the federal government might choose to promote better law enforcement-community relations and accountability through (1) federal efforts to collect and disseminate data on the use of force by law enforcement, (2) statutes that allow the federal government to investigate instances of alleged police misconduct, and (3) the influence the Department of Justice (DOJ) has on state and local policing through its role as an enforcer, policy leader, convener, and funder of law enforcement."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  James, Nathan; Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Finklea, Kristin M. . . .

  2015-02-09
• Measles Outbreaks, Vaccine Hesitancy, and Federal Policy Options [Updated June 3, 2019]

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  From the Document: "As of May 31, 2019, 981 cases of measles across 26 U.S. states have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)--the highest annual number of measles cases since 1992 (with no deaths reported)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sekar, Kavya; Lister, Sarah A.

  2019-06-03
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS): Is It a Health Emergency? [June 4, 2014]

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  "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a serious viral respiratory illness first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The global count of MERS cases increased sharply this spring. As of May 28, 2014, 636 MERS cases (including 193 deaths) have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). To date, cases have originated from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, and Lebanon. Cases have spread to additional countries--the United Kingdom, France, Tunisia, Italy, Malaysia, the Philippines, Greece, Egypt, the United States, and the Netherlands--in travelers from affected countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. Health officials are investigating the possible role of animals as the ultimate source of MERS infections. At this time, person-to-person transmission appears to require close contact; a number of health care workers have been infected after contact with infected patients. On May 17, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that two imported cases of MERS have been reported in the United States. Both individuals have recovered. […] This report describes key MERS response activities and the emergency authorities available to health officials when routine activities are insufficient to address a public health threat."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.

  2014-06-04
• Safe at Home? Letting Ebola-Stricken Americans Return [August 5, 2014]

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  "In early August 2014 two American healthcare workers who contracted Ebola virus infections while working to stem an outbreak in West Africa returned to the United States to continue receiving medical care here. Ebola infection is highly deadly and there is no approved specific treatment. Although the patients were to be transported and cared for under strict isolation protocols, some have voiced concern about Ebola infection being brought to the United States for the first time intentionally. Ebola infection is one of several communicable diseases for which aliens are generally barred from entry into the United States. Although U.S. citizens are entitled to certain constitutional protections related to the right to travel and reenter the United States, these rights may be balanced against the government's interest in preventing the spread of a dangerous communicable disease. In any event, U.S. practice has been to isolate and/or quarantine arriving U.S. citizens who have been infected with or exposed to a dangerous communicable disease, rather than barring their entry into the country outright (though circumstances could conceivably arise where this practice would be altered). Diseases like Ebola could enter the United States through an infected traveler at any time. In response to the outbreak in West Africa, CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has taken two actions that it has used before in similar situations. First, it has advised healthcare providers in the United States to be vigilant for possible symptoms of Ebola infection in recent travelers to affected countries. Second, it has issued a Level 3 Travel Warning to travelers from the United States, urging against nonessential travel to Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.

  2014-08-05
• Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding [October 8, 2014]

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  "Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), eight agencies are designated components of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). The PHS agencies are funded primarily with annual discretionary appropriations. They also receive significant amounts of funding from other sources including mandatory funds from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), user fees, and third-party reimbursements (collections)." The report includes analysis of funding, spending and appropriations for the following eight agencies: (1) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ]; (2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]; (3) Food and Drug Administration [FDA]; (4) Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA]; (5) Indian Health Service [IHS]; (6) National Institute of Health [NIH]; (7) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]; and (8) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR].

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Thaul, Susan; Sarata, Amanda K.; Lister, Sarah A. . . .

  2014-10-08
• Ebola: Basics About the Disease [October 3, 2014]

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  "In March 2014, global health officials recognized an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea, West Africa. In retrospect, officials determined that the outbreak began in December 2013, and spread to the adjacent countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. In September 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first EVD case diagnosed in the United States, heightening concerns among some who fear the disease could spread in American communities. This report discusses EVD in general, including symptoms, modes of transmission, incubation period, and treatments; presents projections of the future course of the outbreak; and lists additional CRS [Congressional Research Service] products, including products focused on the situation in West Africa. Unless otherwise cited, information in this report is drawn from Ebola information pages of CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.

  2014-10-03
• FY2015 Funding to Counter Ebola and the Islamic State (IS) [Updated March 18, 2015]

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  From the Summary: "In 2014, two major global threats--the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East--caused serious concern within the Obama Administration and among Members of Congress. In November 2014, the President requested a total of $11.7 billion for responding to the Ebola crisis and combatting the Islamic State. [...] Both the Ebola and IS requests designated budget authority as either an emergency requirement or Overseas Contingency Operations/Global War on Terrorism (OCO/GWOT). Funds designated in this manner would effectively not be subject to the discretionary spending limits established by the Budget Control Act, 2011, as amended (P.L. 112-25), and could, therefore, increase the deficit."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Belasco, Amy; Lister, Sarah A. . . .

  2015-03-18
• Public Health and Medical Emergency Management: Issues in the 112th Congress [February 18, 2011]

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  "Key recent events--the 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the H1N1 influenza ('flu') pandemic, among others--sharpened congressional interest in the nation's ability to respond to health threats. For the response to health emergencies, most authority resides with state and local governments, and most capacity resides in the private sector. The federal government plays a key role, however, providing numerous forms of assistance for planning and preparedness, as well as for response and recovery. Previous Congresses passed a number of laws intended to establish clear federal leadership roles and responsibilities and effective organizational structures, in the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) in particular. Nonetheless, challenges persist in coordinating federal preparedness and response efforts. From FY2002 through FY2010, Congress provided about $11.4 billion in grants to states and territories to strengthen public health and medical system capacity in preparedness for health threats. However, depending on the incident, dedicated funding for the actual response to these threats may or may not be available. For example, it is not clear that infectious disease incidents (such as bioterrorism or a flu pandemic) would qualify for major disaster assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act). Also, although the HHS Secretary has authority for a Public Health Emergency Fund, Congress has not appropriated monies to the fund for many years. Finally, there is no federal assistance program designed purposefully to cover uncompensated or uninsured health care costs for disaster victims."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.

  2011-02-18
• Comparison of the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program and the World Trade Center Health Program Created by Title I of P.L. 111-347, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 [January 25, 2011]

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  "In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress passed appropriations to provide limited health screening and treatment services to persons involved in rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations around the former site of the World Trade Center. This program, now known as the World Trade Center (WTC) Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program (MMTP), is not authorized in statute but rather relies on discretionary appropriations to provide services to eligible individuals. Since its inception in FY2002, the MMTP has received approximately $475 million in federal funds, and over 57,000 responders and community members have met initial eligibility requirements for the program. On January 2, 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law P.L. 111-347, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. Title I of P.L. 111-347 replaces the MMTP with a program authorized in statute and financed through mandatory federal spending, partially matched by New York City. This program, called the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), will provide full medical screening and treatment benefits to eligible WTC responders and community members beginning in July 2011. In addition, Title I of P.L. 111-347 establishes formal eligibility requirements based on a person's activities after September 11, 2001, and his or her current health conditions. [...] The WTCHP will sunset at the end of FY2016 or FY2015 if a federal spending cap is met. Total federal spending on the program is capped at $1.556 billion over the life of the program."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.; Szymendera, Scott

  2011-01-25
• Department of Homeland Security: FY2013 Appropriations [Updated June 21, 2013]

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  From the Document: "This report presents an analysis of the discretionary appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2013 (FY2013). It compares the President's request for FY2013 funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the enacted FY2012 appropriations for DHS, the House-passed and Senate-reported DHS appropriations legislation for FY2013, and the final DHS appropriations legislation included in Division D of P.L. 113-6. It tracks legislative action and congressional issues related to these bills with particular attention paid to discretionary funding amounts. The report does not provide indepth analysis of specific issues related to mandatory funding--such as retirement pay--nor does the report systematically follow any other legislation related to the authorization or amendment of DHS programs, activities, or fee revenues."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Painter, William L.; Schwemle, Barbara L.; Bjelopera, Jerome P. . . .

  2013-06-21
• Department of Homeland Security: FY2015 Appropriations [Updated June 2, 2015]

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  From the Document: "This report describes and analyzes the discretionary appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2015 (FY2015). It compares the President's request for FY2015 funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the enacted FY2014 appropriations for DHS, the House- and Senate-reported homeland security appropriations measures for FY2015, and the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2015 (P.L. 114-4)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Painter, William L.; Schwemle, Barbara L.; Bjelopera, Jerome P. . . .

  2015-06-02
• Food Safety in the 111th Congress: H.R. 2749 and S. 510 [December 1, 2010]

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  The combined efforts of the food industry and government regulatory agencies often are credited with making the U.S. food supply among the safest in the world. Nonetheless, public health officials have estimated that each year in the United States, many millions of people become sick and thousands die from foodborne illnesses caused by any of a number of microbial pathogens and other contaminants. At issue is whether the current food safety system has the resources, authority, and structural organization to safeguard the health of American consumers, who spend more than $1 trillion on food each year. Also at issue is whether federal food safety laws, first enacted in the early 1900s, have kept pace with the significant changes that have occurred in the food production, processing, and marketing sectors since then. [...] This CRS [Congressional Research Service] report discusses several recent food safety incidents and the systemic food safety problems that they illustrate. It also describes the existing food safety legal and regulatory landscape and presents an overview of efforts by the 111th Congress to revise federal food safety authorities and activities, principally at FDA [Food and Drug Administration]. The two bills discussed are those that have passed in the House--H.R. 2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009--and in the Senate--S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. This report also presents a number of selected food safety issues, describing how they are addressed in current law and regulation, and comparing their treatment in each of the bills. Finally, appendixes provide a crosswalk of all provisions in H.R. 2749 and S. 510, followed by a side-by-side comparison of all of these provisions with each other and with current law.

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.; Williams, Erin D.; Johnson, Renée

  2010-12-01
• Comparison of the Current World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program and the World Trade Center Health Program Proposed by Title I of H.R. 847 [December 14, 2010]

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  "In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on New York City, Congress passed appropriations to provide limited health screening and treatment services to persons involved in rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations around the former site of the World Trade Center. This program, now known as the World Trade Center (WTC) Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program (MMTP), is not authorized in statute but rather relies on discretionary appropriations to provide services to eligible individuals. [...] Title I of H.R. 847, as amended and passed by the House of Representatives, would eliminate the current MMTP and replace it with a program authorized in statute and financed through mandatory federal spending, partially matched by New York City. This program, proposed to be called the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), would provide full medical screening and treatment benefits to eligible WTC responders and community members. [...] The proposed WTCHP would sunset at the end of FY2020, or in FY2019 if a federal spending cap is met. Total federal spending on the program would be capped at $3.348 billion over the life of the program. New York City would contribute 10% of the program's costs until FY2019, after which its contribution would become equal to one-ninth of federal spending in the remaining fiscal years. In addition to persons already receiving services under the MMTP, the WTCHP would serve up to 25,000 new responders and 25,000 new community members. The House of Representatives passed an amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 847 on September 29, 2010. The Senate version of the bill, S. 1334, was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where it was the subject of a hearing on June 29, 2010. The Senate bill has not otherwise advanced. However, on December 9, 2010, cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 847 was voted on but not invoked in the Senate."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.; Szymendera, Scott

  2010-12-14
• Potential Policy Implications of the House Reconciliation Bill (H.R. 3762) [November 13, 2015]

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  "The FY2016 budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 11) established the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2016 and set forth budgetary levels for FY2017-FY2025. It also included reconciliation instructions for House and Senate committees to submit changes in laws to reduce the federal deficit to their respective budget committees. On October 23, 2015, the House Budget Committee marked up a reconciliation bill containing provisions submitted by three committees--Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce--pursuant to the reconciliation instructions included in the FY2016 budget resolution. The House reconciliation bill--H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015--would repeal several provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended). These provisions are as follows: [1] the individual mandate; [2] the employer mandate; [3] the excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored coverage (the Cadillac tax); [4] the medical device tax; [5] the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB); [6] the auto-enrollment requirement for large employers; and [7] the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). […] The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate that the House reconciliation bill would reduce federal deficits by $78.1 billion over the 2016-2025 period. This report provides background on the reconciliation process and summarizes the provisions in H.R. 3762, including their projected budgetary impact. It then briefly examines some of the bill's policy implications. The report will be updated as necessary to reflect key legislative developments."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mach, Annie L.; Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-; Lister, Sarah A. . . .

  2015-11-13
• Potential Policy Implications of the House Reconciliation Bill (H.R. 3762) [November 10, 2015]

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  From the Introduction: "On October 23, 2015, the House passed a reconciliation bill containing provisions submitted by three committees--Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Workforce--pursuant to reconciliation instructions included in the FY2016 budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 11). The bill, the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 (H.R. 3762), would repeal several provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended). It would also restrict federal funding for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates and clinics for a period of one year. This report provides background on the reconciliation process and summarizes the provisions in H.R. 3762, including their projected budgetary impact. It then briefly examines the bill's policy implications. The report will be updated as necessary to reflect key legislative developments."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Mach, Annie L.; Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-; Lister, Sarah A. . . .

  2015-11-10
• Zika Response Funding: Request and Congressional Action [June 2, 2016]

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  "In its second session, the 114th Congress is considering whether and how to provide funds to control the spread of the Zika virus throughout the Americas. Zika infection, primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has been linked to severe birth defects and other health concerns. Local transmission of the Zika virus has occurred in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and transmission is expected on the U.S. mainland this summer, in areas where Aedes mosquitoes are present. Federal efforts to address the outbreak include research on the infection and its effects, mosquito control measures, and efforts to develop a vaccine. The public health focus, both domestically and elsewhere in the Americas, is to protect pregnant women from infection and prevent birth defects. Administration officials and some in Congress are concerned about the resources needed to prevent widespread Zika infections as the Northern Hemisphere summer approaches. This report presents the Administration's request for supplemental appropriations for the Zika response, supplemental appropriations measures that have received congressional action, and information about unobligated Ebola supplemental funds as of January 1, 2016 (the most recent publicly available). Updates will be forthcoming as details become available."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-06-02
• Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding (FY2015-FY2017) [May 19, 2016]

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  From the Congressional Research Service (CRS), this report describes the source of funding within eight agencies. "Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), eight agencies are designated components of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). The PHS agencies are funded primarily with annual discretionary appropriations. They also receive significant amounts of funding from other sources including mandatory funds from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), user fees, and third-party reimbursements (collections)." The eight agencies are as follows: the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Indian Health Service (IHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). [...] "This report is a new edition of an earlier product, which remains available: CRS Report R43304, Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding (FY2010-FY2016) [Fiscal Year]. It will be updated with information on PHS agency funding for FY2017 once legislative action on appropriations for the new fiscal year is completed."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Dabrowska, Agata; Bagalman, Erin . . .

  2016-05-19
• Zika Response Funding: In Brief [April 14, 2016]

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  "In its second session, the 114th Congress is considering whether and how to provide funds to control the spread of the Zika virus throughout South and Central America. Zika infection, primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has been linked to severe birth defects and other health concerns. Local transmission of the Zika virus has occurred in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and transmission is expected on the U.S. mainland this summer, in areas where Aedes mosquitoes are present. Federal efforts to address the outbreak include research on the infection and its effects, mosquito control measures, and efforts to develop a vaccine. The public health focus, both domestically and elsewhere in the Americas, is to protect pregnant women from infection and prevent birth defects. Administration officials and some in Congress are concerned about the resources needed to prevent widespread Zika infections as the Northern Hemisphere summer approaches."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-04-14
• Zika Response Funding: In Brief [ April 28, 2016]

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  "In its second session, the 114th Congress is considering whether and how to provide funds to control the spread of the Zika virus throughout South and Central America. Zika infection, primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes, has been linked to severe birth defects and other health concerns. Local transmission of the Zika virus has occurred in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and transmission is expected on the U.S. mainland this summer, in areas where Aedes mosquitoes are present.1 Federal efforts to address the outbreak include research on the infection and its effects, mosquito control measures, and efforts to develop a vaccine. The public health focus, both domestically and elsewhere in the Americas, is to protect pregnant women from infection and prevent birth defects. Administration officials and some in Congress are concerned about the resources needed to prevent widespread Zika infections as the Northern Hemisphere summer approaches. On February 8, 2016, the Obama Administration submitted a request for more than $1.89 billion in supplemental funding to respond to the Zika epidemic, all of which is requested as emergency FY2016 discretionary appropriations, and therefore effectively exempt from spending limits in the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA, P.L. 112-25).2 The Administration's request includes $1.509 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), $335 million for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and $41 million for the Department of State."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-04-28
• Zika Response Funding: Request and Congressional Action [May 20, 2016]

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  From this CRS report, "The second session of the 114th Congress is considering whether and how to provide funds to control the spread of the Zika virus throughout the Americas. Zika infection, primarily spread by 'Aedes' mosquitoes, has been linked to severe birth defects and other health concerns. Local transmission of the Zika virus has occurred in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and is expected on the U.S. mainland this summer, in areas where 'Aedes' mosquitoes are present. […]This report will identify the various Zika response funding options and track legislation in the 114th Congress."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-05-20
• Public Health and Other Related Provisions in P.L 115-271, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act [December 3, 2018]

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  "On October 24, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271; SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, or the SUPPORT Act). The final agreement on the bill was approved by the House 393-8 on September 28, 2018, and cleared by the Senate by a vote of 98-1 on October 3, 2018. Over the past several years, there has been growing concern among the public and lawmakers in the United States about rising drug overdose deaths. Opioid overdose deaths, in particular, have increased significantly in the past 15 years. In 2015, an estimated 33,091 Americans died of opioid-related overdoses. Provisional data for 2017 estimate 49,068 deaths involving opioids, representing a fourfold increase over 2002 during the beginning of the epidemic. In October of 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-; Duff, Johnathan H.; Bradley, David H. . . .

  2018-12-03
• Zika Outbreak Is Declared a Public Health Emergency in Puerto Rico [August 17, 2016]

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  "The Zika virus (ZIKV), first recognized in Uganda in 1947, emerged in South America early in 2015. Although most cases of infection are mild, prenatal infection can cause severe birth defects, including microcephaly. ZIKV is transmitted among humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, by sexual contact, from mother to fetus, and through contaminated blood transfusions. Protecting pregnant women from infection is a public health priority. ZIKV has spread from South America to Central America and the Caribbean. About 2,000 infections have been reported on the U.S. mainland, mostly among travelers from countries with widespread mosquito-borne ZIKV transmission. To date, only one neighborhood in Florida has experienced local (i.e., mosquito-borne) transmission. In contrast, Puerto Rico has been hard hit. Local transmission on the island was first recognized in November 2015. Since then, more than 10,000 cases have been reported, more than 1,000 of them in pregnant women. Mosquito control measures have faltered, and Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that data from July showed an 'explosion' of ZIKV cases. In February 2016 the Administration requested supplemental funding of $1.9 billion for the Zika response, including primary care, maternal and child health, and Medicaid assistance for Puerto Rico. Congress has considered but not passed a supplemental appropriation to date, and HHS has reprogrammed $670 million in funds from other sources for its domestic and international response efforts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-08-17
• Zika Response Funding: Request and Congressional Action [September 1, 2016]

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  "The second session of the 114th Congress is considering whether and how to provide funds to control the spread of the Zika virus throughout the Americas. Zika infection, which is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes and sexual contact, has been linked to birth defects and other health concerns. Local transmission of the virus has occurred in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida. […] A conference agreement to provide $1.1 billion in Zika response funding (H.Rept. 114-640, to accompany H.R. 2577) was filed on June 22 and agreed to by the House on June 23. Amounts to HHS and Department of State/USAID are generally similar to those in the Senate proposal. However, other aspects of the agreement have been the subject of some controversy. […] On August 11, 2016, the Administration reprogrammed $81 million within HHS to continue funding for Zika vaccine efforts. Congress could continue to consider the issue of funding for Zika response during the remainder of the 114th Congress in the context of H.R. 2577, or through the consideration of appropriations associated with other legislative vehicles. This report tracks administrative and congressional action on FY2016 supplemental funding to address the Zika virus. It will be updated as changes occur. This report incorporates all information from CRS Report R44549, Supplemental Appropriations for Zika Response: The FY2016 Conference Agreement in Brief, with no substantive changes. That CRS report is no longer available. Updates of this CRS report will be forthcoming as details become available."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-09-01
• Zika Poses New Challenges for Blood Centers [August 12, 2016]

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  "On July 27, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised blood centers in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida to stop collecting blood until they could test each donated unit for Zika virus (ZIKV) using an investigational test that FDA cleared for use earlier this year. OneBlood, which collects blood throughout most of the state, had already decided, after consulting with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), to suspend collections in south Florida. Two days later, FDOH announced the first cases of local (i.e., mosquito-borne) ZIKV transmission in the continental United States, originating in Miami-Dade county, and OneBlood began testing all blood units collected throughout its service area. These are the latest in a series of steps to prevent the spread of ZIKV in the blood supply. In February, FDA released a set of donor screening and deferral recommendations, which U.S. blood banks implemented. FDA also advised suspending blood collections in areas where ZIKV was being spread by mosquitoes until testing could be implemented."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-08-12
• Zika Response Funding: Request and Congressional Action [September 30, 2016]

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  "The second session of the 114th Congress has considered whether and how to provide funds to control the spread of the Zika virus throughout the Americas. Zika infection, which is primarily spread by Aedes mosquitoes and sexual contact, has been linked to birth defects and other health concerns. Local transmission of the virus has occurred in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida. [...] This report tracks administrative and congressional action on FY2016 supplemental funding to address the Zika virus. This report incorporates all information from CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R44549, Supplemental Appropriations for Zika Response: The FY2016 Conference Agreement in Brief with no substantive changes."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-09-30
• Supplemental Appropriations for Zika Response: The FY2016 Conference Agreement in Brief [July 14, 2016]

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  "The second session of the 114th Congress is considering whether and how to provide funds to control the spread of the Zika virus throughout the Americas. Zika infection, which is spread by 'Aedes' mosquitoes, has been linked to birth defects and other health concerns. Local transmission of the virus has occurred in Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and is expected on the U.S. mainland this summer, in areas where 'Aedes' mosquitoes are present. […] On June 22, 2016, Harold Rogers, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, filed a conference agreement. The conference agreement (Division B) would provide $1.1 billion in Zika response funding. Amounts to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and State/USAID [Department of State/ U.S. Agency for International Development] accounts are somewhat similar to those in the Senate proposal. However, a provision that specifies the uses of funds provided to the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) has proven controversial. […] The conference agreement was approved by the House on June 23, 2016. On June 28, the Senate voted (52-48) not to invoke cloture on the conference agreement. Subsequent discussions among Members of Congress and the Administration did not yield an alternative agreement."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Epstein, Susan B.; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-07-14
• Zika Testing Poses Challenges for Blood Centers [September 2, 2016]

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  "On August 26, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an updated guidance recommending that all U.S. blood centers begin testing donations for Zika virus (ZIKV) using an investigational test cleared by FDA. While the recommendation is nonbinding, all blood centers are expected to comply. Blood donations in Puerto Rico and Florida, the only areas within the United States where local mosquito-borne ZIKV transmission has been confirmed, are already being tested. Testing is also being conducted on donations in high-risk areas of Texas. The guidance is the latest in a series of steps to prevent the spread of ZIKV in the blood supply. In February, FDA released a set of donor screening and deferral recommendations, which U.S. blood banks implemented. The agency also recommended suspending blood collections in areas where ZIKV was found to be spreading locally by mosquitoes until testing could be implemented. Zika-related donor deferrals have exacerbated an already tight U.S. blood supply this summer. In July, the nation's blood bankers issued a joint appeal for blood donors to sustain inventories across the country. Blood centers also face the challenge of recovering the costs of ZIKV testing."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Lister, Sarah A.

  2016-09-02
• Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding (FY2016-FY2018) [August 16, 2017]

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  "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has designated 8 of its 11 operating divisions (agencies) as components of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). The PHS agencies are (1) the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), (2) the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (3) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (4) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), (5) the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), (6) the Indian Health Service (IHS), (7) the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and (8) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The PHS agencies all provide and support essential public health services; however, their specific missions vary. With the exception of FDA, the agencies have limited regulatory responsibilities. Two of them--NIH and AHRQ--are primarily research agencies. NIH conducts and supports basic, clinical, and translational medical research. AHRQ conducts and supports research on the quality and effectiveness of health care services and systems."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Dabrowska, Agata; Bagalman, Erin . . .

  2017-08-16
• Congressional Considerations Related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma [September 08, 2017]

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  "This Insight provides a short overview of issues Congress may consider in relation to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. It is not intended to provide up-to-date information on unfolding events. For storm-related updates and the current status of response efforts, see official government sources (e.g., Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Weather Service), congressional advisories from government sources, and/or news media [...] As of noon on September 8, in response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, President Trump has issued major disaster declarations for Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and emergency declarations for Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act). Depending on future consequences, major disaster declarations could yet be made for those areas that have already received emergency declarations. These declarations can also be further amended, as has happened for the Texas declaration, to add counties and types of assistance as warranted. The President has also amended the Texas declaration to decrease the state cost share requirements for some of FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) grants being provided through the Stafford Act."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Brown, Jared T.; Carter, Nicole T.; Horn, Diane P. . . .

  2017-09-08