U.S. Rep. Katko (R-NY) commended passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of his bipartisan bill to require that federal agencies submit to Congress their plans for responding to any resurgence of COVID-19.
“The bill passed today requires the administration and federal agencies to develop and submit plans to Congress on how our nation would respond to a second wave of COVID-19,” said Rep. Katko on Sept. 30. “With central New York continuing to face the effects of the ongoing pandemic, I will not sit idly by as the prospect of a second wave threatens our region.”
The House approved the COVID Preparedness, Response, and Effective Planning for Advanced Requirements by the Executive Branch (PREPARE) Act, or COVID PREPARE Act, H.R. 7496, which Rep. Katko introduced in July with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), and advanced the bill to the U.S. Senate on Oct. 1.
“The ongoing pandemic has killed over 200,000 Americans, upended millions of lives, and threatened the health and economic wellbeing of our entire nation,” Rep. Katko said. “As central New York’s representative in Congress, I made a solemn promise that I would hold the administration and federal government accountable, and ensure we have a more effective plan for combating this crisis and a potential resurgence of the virus.”
If enacted, H.R. 7496 would require that the submitted plans from federal agencies detail response efforts and include measurable goals, anticipated challenges, and how each would consult with Congress, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Katko’s office.
The Senate has referred the measure to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for consideration.