42 U.S.C. § 247b–23 — National strategy and regional centers of excellence in vector-borne diseases

(a) In general The Secretary must do two things. First, make sure there is a national strategy to address vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases. That strategy must (i) find gaps and any needless duplication in federally funded programs, and (ii) set strategic goals with benchmarks to measure progress. The Secretary must update the strategy as needed. Second, the Secretary must coordinate programs and activities — including data collection, research, and developing diagnostics, treatments, vaccines, and other related work — across the Department of Health and Human Services and, where appropriate, with other federal agencies or departments. (b) Consultation While carrying out the strategy work in subsection (a)(1), the Secretary must consult the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (created under a different section) and other appropriate people, such as: (1) epidemiologists experienced in vector-borne diseases; (2) representatives of patient advocacy and research organizations focused on vector-borne diseases, including ones with experience in related research, public health, data collection, or patient access to care; (3) health information technology experts or other information management specialists; (4) clinicians, entomologists, vector-management professionals, public health professionals, and others with vector-borne disease expertise; and (5) researchers, including those with experience in translational research. (c) Centers of excellence Working with the CDC Director, the Secretary must award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to colleges and universities to set up or keep supporting regional "centers of excellence" in vector-borne diseases, including tick-borne diseases, by: (1) helping academia and public health organizations work together on surveillance, prevention, and response activities; (2) training public health entomologists and other health care professionals, as appropriate; (3) doing research to develop and test prevention and control tools and methods, including evidence-based and new evidence-informed methods to anticipate and respond to outbreaks; or (4) preparing for and responding to outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. (d) Eligibility To be eligible for an award under subsection (c), a university must submit an application, at the time, in the manner, and with the information the Secretary requires, including a description of how it will carry out the activities in subsection (c). (e) Reports (1) Program summary A university that gets an award under subsection (c) must, within one year of getting it, and every year after that, send the Secretary a summary of the programs and activities the award funded. (2) Progress report Not later than 4 years after December 20, 2019, the Secretary must report to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the progress made against vector-borne diseases through activities under this section. (f) Authorization of appropriations Congress authorized $10,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.