H.R.6666 Coronavirus Bill (Overview & Opinions)

H.R. 6666 bill introduces funds for the employment of contract tracers, monitoring, and removal of individuals from housing to "other quarters" should a person test positive for the coronavirus/COVID-19. In this video, I unpack the bulk of the bill and give my opinions.

Sources:

H.R.6666 - COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act

This bill authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to award grants for testing, contact tracing, monitoring, and other activities to address COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Entities such as federally qualified health centers, nonprofit organizations, and certain hospitals and schools are eligible to receive such grants. In awarding the grants, the CDC shall prioritize applicants that (1) operate in hot spots and medically underserved communities, and (2) agree to hire individuals from the communities where grant activities occur.

H.R.6666 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act. (2020). Congress.gov. Retrieved 14 May 2020, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666

SEC. 2. COVID–19 TESTING AND CONTACT TRACING USING MOBILE HEALTH UNITS.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to eligible entities to conduct diagnostic testing for COVID–19, to trace and monitor the contacts of infected individuals, and to support the quarantine of such contacts, through—

(1) mobile health units; and

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666/text#H14C6C16178EF4B4D9815A5254D3C3F72

(2) as necessary, testing individuals and providing individuals with services related to testing and quarantine at their residences.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666/text#HECAD31A5D3774CC8BE30951975A6FDAF

(2) applicants that agree, in hiring individuals to carry out activities funded under this section, to hire residents of the area or community where the activities will primarily occur, with higher priority among applicants described in this paragraph given based on the percentage of individuals to be hired from such area or community.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666/text#H3392B56A46974714A6E304566C980F63

(C) a disproportionate share hospital (as defined under the applicable State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) pursuant to section 1923(a)(1)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–4));

Share hospitals include academic centers, high school & elementary schools, faith based organizations, which includes churches, & "(H) any other type of entity that is determined by the Secretary to be an eligible entity for purposes of this section."...(this is the "broad stroked" one)

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666/text#HB29FD475F2B84A07A70B232B9A7FB144

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666/text#H141DFA9E7BC2407AAF3D2B37B251BCAE

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666/text#HCF9E8E3AD2FE4CA1AABAD659F56DC4BC

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6666/text#H82A80918DB7948CA81CD64295258CDCC

The "emergency period" is determined by the Secratary of Health and Human Services.

[USC02] 42 USC 1320b-5: Authority to waive requirements during national emergencies. (2020). Uscode.house.gov. Retrieved 14 May 2020, from https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:42%20section:1320b-5%20edition:prelim)

For the full briefing, listen here: "COVID-19 Press Conference - May 4, 2020" @ https://www.facebook.com/CountyOfVentura/videos/2862198483900176/

"Could Contact Tracers Be Data Collection?": https://youtu.be/P7zU8aVJIbE

A bill is a legislative proposal before Congress. Bills from each house are assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced, starting at the beginning of each Congress (first and second sessions). (2020). Govinfo.gov. Retrieved 14 May 2020, from https://www.govinfo.gov/help/bills