115th CONGRESS 2d Session |
To require a study and report on matters concerning best practices in mortality counts as a result of a major disaster.
June 7, 2018
Ms. Harris (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Carper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
To require a study and report on matters concerning best practices in mortality counts as a result of a major disaster.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Counting Our Unexpected Natural Tragedies' Victims Act of 2018” or the “COUNT Victims Act”.
(a) In general.—Not later than September 30, 2018, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall enter into a contract with the National Academy of Medicine to conduct a study and prepare a report as described in subsection (b).
(A) IN GENERAL.—The study described in this subsection shall be a study of matters concerning best practices in mortality counts as a result of a major disaster (as defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)).
(B) CONTENTS.—The study described in this subsection shall address approaches to quantifying mortality and significant morbidity among populations affected by major disasters, which shall include best practices and policy recommendations for—
(i) equitable and timely attribution, in order to facilitate access to available benefits, among other things;
(ii) timely prospective tracking of population levels of mortality and significant morbidity, and their causes, in order to continuously inform response efforts; and
(iii) retrospective study of disaster-related mortality and significant morbidity to inform after-action analysis and improve subsequent preparedness efforts.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date on which the contract described in subsection (a) is entered into, the National Academy of Medicine shall complete and transmit to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency a report on the study described in paragraph (1).
(c) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for fiscal years 2018 through 2020.