[House Report 112-24]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 112-24
======================================================================
DENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONDER ACT OF 2011
_______
March 2, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Upton, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 570]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 570) to amend the Public Health Service Act to
enhance the roles of dentists and allied dental personnel in
the Nation's disaster response framework, and for other
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon
without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Committee Consideration.......................................... 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 2
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 2
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 3
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 3
Earmark.......................................................... 3
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 3
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Constitutional Authority Statement...............................
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 570, the ``Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2011'',
was introduced on February 9, 2011, by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-
TX) and subsequently referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
The goal of H.R. 570 is to include dental professionals and
facilities into various components of the nation's emergency
response preparedness framework.
Background and Need for Legislation
Recent disasters--the terrorist attacks of September 11,
2001, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita--have made clear the
critical need for a prepared, robust national medical response
structure. Currently, however, the term ``medical responder''
(as used in relevant disaster-related federal law) does not
include an important part of such a structure--dentists, allied
dental personnel, and dental facilities. These individuals and
offices are both eager and willing to participate and otherwise
assist in supporting medical and public health responses to
disasters. The purpose of this legislation is to provide them
with the statutory authority to do so. With minimal additional
training, they could readily fit into an all-hazards emergency
healthcare response effort.
The House passed legislation similar to H.R. 570 in the
111th Congress (H.R. 111-647). No further action was taken on
the legislation during that Congress.
Hearings
The Committee on Energy and Commerce has not held hearings
on the legislation.
Committee Consideration
H.R. 570, the ``Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2011'',
was introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess on February 9, 2011, and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill was
subsequently referred to the Subcommittee on Health on February
9, 2011. The Subcommittee met in open markup session to
consider H.R. 570 on February 11, 2011. H.R. 570 was adopted by
a voice vote. Subsequently, H.R. 570 was forwarded to the full
Committee.
On February 15, 2011, the Committee on Energy and Commerce
met in open markup session and considered H.R. 570 as approved
by the Subcommittee. There were no amendments offered in full
Committee and subsequently the Committee ordered H.R. 570
favorably reported to the House, as approved by the
Subcommittee on Health, by a voice vote.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto.
There were no record votes taken in connection with ordering
H.R. 570 reported. A motion by Mr. Upton to order H.R. 570
reported to the House, without amendment, was agreed to by a
voice vote.
Committee Oversight Findings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the oversight findings and
recommendations of the Committee are reflected in the
descriptive portions of this report, including the finding that
dentists, allied dental personnel, and dental facilities should
be incorporated into the nation's emergency response
preparedness framework.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the performance goals and
objectives of the Committee are reflected in the descriptive
portions of this report, including the goal to incorporate
dentists, allied dental personnel, and dental facilities into
the nation's emergency response preparedness framework.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its
own the analysis of H.R. 570 prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office.
Earmark
In compliance clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the
Committee finds that H.R. 570, the ``Dental Emergency Responder
Act of 2011,'' contains no earmarks.
Committee Cost Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Congressional Budget Office Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate
provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
February 25, 2011.
Hon. Fred Upton,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 570, the Dental
Emergency Responder Act of 2011.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lisa Ramirez-
Branum.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 570--Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2011
H.R. 570 would amend the responsibilities of federal
agencies tasked with developing and implementing the National
Health Security Strategy under the Public Health Service Act
and the National Response Plan under the Homeland Security Act
of 2002. The bill would direct the Secretary of Health and
Human Services to include, under the preparedness goals of the
National Health Security Strategy, dental health facilities as
entities to prepare for and respond to public health
emergencies. The bill also would include dental personnel
within the definition of emergency response provider and
require federal agencies with responsibilities under the
National Response Plan to address the preparedness and
deployment of dental resources.
Based on the cost of similar requirements, CBO estimates
that implementing H.R. 570 would have a negligible impact on
federal spending over the next five years; any additional
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds. Enacting this legislation would not affect direct
spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do
not apply.
H.R. 570 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Lisa Ramirez-
Branum. The estimate was approved by Holly Harvey, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title; table of contents
Section 1 designates the short title of the Act as the
``Dental Emergency Responder Act of 2011''.
Section 2. Dental emergency responders: public health and medical
response
Section 2(a) amends section 2802(b)(3) of the Public Health
Service Act to include dental health facilities in the National
Health Security Strategy.
Section 2(b) amends section 319F(a)(5)(B) of the Public
Health Service Act to include dental entities in the All-
Hazards Public Health and Medical Response Curricula and
Training.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
* * * * * * *
Part B--Federal-State Cooperation
* * * * * * *
SEC. 319F. PUBLIC HEALTH COUNTERMEASURES TO A BIOTERRORIST ATTACK.
(a) All-Hazards Public Health and Medical Response Curricula
and Training.--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(5) Dissemination and training.--
(A) * * *
(B) Certain entities.--The education and
training activities described in subparagraph
(A) may be carried out by Federal [public
health or medical] public health, medical, or
dental entities, appropriate educational
entities, professional organizations and
societies, private accrediting organizations,
and other nonprofit institutions or entities
meeting criteria established by the Secretary.
* * * * * * *
TITLE XXVIII--NATIONAL ALL-HAZARDS PREPAREDNESS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCIES
Subtitle A--National All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Planning,
Coordinating, and Reporting
* * * * * * *
SEC. 2802. NATIONAL HEALTH SECURITY STRATEGY.
(a) * * *
(b) Preparedness Goals.--The National Health Security
Strategy shall include provisions in furtherance of the
following:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(3) Medical.--Increasing the preparedness, response
capabilities, and surge capacity of hospitals, other
health care facilities (including mental health
facilities and which may include dental health
facilities), and trauma care and emergency medical
service systems, with respect to public health
emergencies, which shall include developing plans for
the following:
(A) * * *
* * * * * * *
(D) Effective utilization of any available
public and private mobile medical assets (which
may include such dental health assets) and
integration of other Federal assets.
* * * * * * *