EVALUATION OF NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES REGARDING BIOTERRORIST ATTACK AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

SEC. 126. EVALUATION OF NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES REGARDING BIOTERRORIST ATTACK AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES. (a) In General.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall promptly carry out a program to periodically evaluate new and emerging technologies that, in the determination of the Secretary, are designed to improve or enhance the ability of public health or safety officials to conduct public health surveillance activities relating to a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. (b) Certain Activities.—In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable— (1) survey existing technology programs funded by the Federal Government for potentially useful technologies; (2) promptly issue a request, as necessary, for information from non-Federal public and private entities for ongoing activities in this area; and (3) evaluate technologies identified under paragraphs (1) and (2) pursuant to subsection (c). (c) Consultation and Evaluation.—In carrying out subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall consult with the working group under section 319F(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as well as other appropriate public, nonprofit, and private entities, to develop criteria for the evaluation of such technologies and to conduct such evaluations. (d) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, a report on the activities under this section.