Protect our Children from COVID–19 Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 7029 To facilitate the re-opening of schools through study of children’s role in transmitting SARS–CoV–2, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 27, 2020 Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio (for himself and Ms. FUDGE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To facilitate the re-opening of schools through study of chil- dren’s role in transmitting SARS–CoV–2, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect our Children 4 from COVID–19 Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) School closures have substantial negative ef- 8 fects on children’s education, mental health, and so- 9 cial development. 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:02 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7029.IH H7029 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 7029 IH (2) In general, school closures compound in- 1 equalities in rural and low-income communities, 2 where students often lack access to computers and 3 high-speed internet. 4 (3) Returning children to the classroom will not 5 only facilitate their development, but also free up 6 their adult caregivers as they return to work. 7 (4) To date, scientific evidence suggests chil- 8 dren have a lower probability of developing a serious 9 illness from COVID–19 than adults. It remains un- 10 clear, however, what role children play in transmit- 11 ting SARS–CoV–2. 12 (5) Pursuing research that analyzes and under- 13 stands the transmissibility of SARS–CoV–2 in chil- 14 dren will help families, educators, and elected lead- 15 ers make better decisions on re-opening schools and 16 our economy. 17 SEC. 3. STUDY ON CHILDREN’S ROLE IN TRANSMITTING 18 SARS–COV–2. 19 (a) STUDY.— 20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than August 1, 21 2020, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 22 (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), in 23 coordination with the heads of agencies of the De- 24 partment of Health and Human Services and ex- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:02 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7029.IH H7029 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 7029 IH perts from outside of the Department, as appro- 1 priate, shall complete a study on children’s role in 2 transmitting SARS–CoV–2. 3 (2) ISSUES TO BE STUDIED.—The study under 4 paragraph (1) shall address— 5 (A) the transmissibility of COVID–19 from 6 child to child, child to adult, and adult to child; 7 (B) the vulnerability of children, especially 8 those with underlying health conditions, to se- 9 vere illness as such vulnerability relates to 10 COVID–19; 11 (C) the vulnerability of adults, especially 12 those with underlying health conditions, who 13 send their children back to school; and 14 (D) the vulnerability of adults, especially 15 those with underlying health conditions, who 16 interact with children who may be asymp- 17 tomatic but infectious. 18 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out the 19 study under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 20 (A) take into consideration the best avail- 21 able science, including as provided by the Na- 22 tional Academy of Sciences; and 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:02 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7029.IH H7029 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 7029 IH (B) ensure that such study includes con- 1 sideration of children who are members of ra- 2 cial or ethnic minority groups. 3 (b) REPORTING.—Not later than August 1, 2020, 4 and quarterly thereafter through the end of the emergency 5 period, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress 6 on children’s role in transmitting SARS–CoV–2. The first 7 such report shall include the results of the study under 8 subsection (a). 9 (c) DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.—Not later 10 than August 1, 2020, and quarterly thereafter through the 11 end of the emergency period, the Secretary shall dissemi- 12 nate to stakeholders best practices for protecting children 13 and adults in educational settings. The first best practices 14 disseminated pursuant to the preceding sentence shall in- 15 clude any best practices for protecting children and adults 16 in educational settings identified through the study under 17 subsection (a). 18 (d) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘emer- 19 gency period’’ has the meaning given to such term in sec- 20 tion 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 21 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)). 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:02 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H7029.IH H7029 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS