Protect our Children from COVID–19 Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 4377 To facilitate the safe re-opening of schools by conducting or supporting research on children’s infection with, and role in transmitting, SARS– CoV–2, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JULY 30, 2020 Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. CASEY, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. BROWN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To facilitate the safe re-opening of schools by conducting or supporting research on children’s infection with, and role in transmitting, SARS–CoV–2, and for other pur- poses. 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:12 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4377.IS S4377 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 4377 IS (1) The pandemic caused by the virus SARS– 1 CoV–2 has required a whole-of-society response 2 through mitigation efforts such as stay-at-home or- 3 ders and the physical closing of schools. 4 (2) Physical school closures can have substan- 5 tial negative effects on children’s education, mental 6 health, and social and emotional development. 7 (3) In general, physical school closures com- 8 pound inequities for many students, including stu- 9 dents in rural and low-income communities, where 10 students often lack access to computers and high- 11 speed internet, as well as exacerbate achievement 12 gaps for students from low-income families, students 13 with disabilities, English learners, students of color, 14 and students experiencing homelessness. 15 (4) To date, scientific evidence suggests chil- 16 dren have a lower probability of developing a serious 17 illness from COVID–19, the illness caused by 18 SARS–CoV–2, than adults. It remains unclear, how- 19 ever, what role children play in transmitting SARS– 20 CoV–2 to other children or adults. 21 (5) Pursuing research that analyzes and in- 22 creases understanding of the transmissibility of 23 SARS–CoV–2 in children will help families, edu- 24 cators, and elected leaders make evidence-based deci- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:12 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4377.IS S4377 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 4377 IS sions on safely physically re-opening schools and our 1 economy. 2 SEC. 3. STUDY ON CHILDREN’S CONTRACTING AND TRANS- 3 MITTING OF SARS–COV–2. 4 (a) STUDY.— 5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the date that 6 is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 7 the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this 8 section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), acting 9 through the Director of the National Institutes of 10 Health and in coordination with the Director of the 11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and ex- 12 perts from outside of the Department of Health and 13 Human Services, such as the Department of Edu- 14 cation, health, occupational safety, and education 15 professional associations, and academia, as appro- 16 priate, shall conduct or support research on chil- 17 dren’s role in transmitting SARS–CoV–2. 18 (2) ISSUES TO BE STUDIED.—The research 19 under paragraph (1)— 20 (A) shall include research on— 21 (i) the transmissibility of SARS–CoV– 22 2 from child to child, child to adult, and 23 adult to child; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:12 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4377.IS S4377 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 4377 IS (ii) the vulnerability of children to se- 1 vere illness with COVID–19, including chil- 2 dren with underlying health conditions, de- 3 tailing any differences by age or grade 4 level; and 5 (iii) the vulnerability of children to 6 COVID–19 while being transported to and 7 from school, while playing sports (includ- 8 ing contact sports), and while engaging in 9 other extramural activities, detailing any 10 differences by age or grade level; and 11 (B) may include research on— 12 (i) the vulnerability of adults to 13 COVID–19, including adults with under- 14 lying health conditions, extended family 15 members living with children, (such as 16 grandparents), and vulnerabilities associ- 17 ated with certain activities, including— 18 (I) adults sending children from 19 the household back to school; and 20 (II) adults interacting with chil- 21 dren who may be asymptomatic but 22 infected with COVID–19, including 23 working in schools; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:12 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4377.IS S4377 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •S 4377 IS (ii) the types of personal protective 1 equipment that should be provided to stu- 2 dents, educators, classified school employ- 3 ees, and other school staff employed in 4 school buildings. 5 (3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting or sup- 6 porting the research under paragraph (1), the Sec- 7 retary shall— 8 (A) take into consideration the best avail- 9 able science, including as provided by the Na- 10 tional Academy of Sciences, the National Acad- 11 emy of Medicine, and other evidence-based or 12 peer-reviewed sources; and 13 (B) ensure that such research includes 14 consideration of children and adults who are 15 members of racial and ethnic minority groups, 16 as well as children and adults who are 17 immunocompromised or who may be at a great- 18 er risk from COVID–19, children and adults 19 with disabilities, children and families experi- 20 encing homelessness, and children who are eligi- 21 ble for a free or reduced price lunch under the 22 Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act 23 (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.). 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:12 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4377.IS S4377 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •S 4377 IS (b) REPORTING.—Not later than 6 months after the 1 date of enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter 2 through the end of the public health emergency declared 3 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 4 section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 5 247d) on January 31, 2020, with respect to COVID–19, 6 the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on chil- 7 dren’s role in transmitting SARS–CoV–2. Each report 8 shall include an overview of the research conducted or sup- 9 ported under subsection (a) and any relevant findings, and 10 the best practices disseminated to stakeholders under sub- 11 section (c). 12 (c) DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES.—Not later 13 than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 14 and quarterly thereafter through the end of the public 15 health emergency described in subsection (b), the Sec- 16 retary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Dis- 17 ease Control and Prevention, shall disseminate to stake- 18 holders best practices for protecting children and adults 19 in educational settings, including the types of personal 20 protective equipment that should be provided to students, 21 educators, classified school employees, and other school 22 staff employed in school buildings. The first set of best 23 practices disseminated pursuant to the preceding sentence 24 shall include any best practices for protecting children and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:12 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4377.IS S4377 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •S 4377 IS adults in educational settings identified through the re- 1 search conducted or supported under subsection (a), and 2 subsequent quarterly updates shall continue to reflect the 3 best available science. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:12 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S4377.IS S4377 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS