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Tracking COVID–19 Variants Act

Introduced: February 4, 2021 Introduced by: Bera, Ami Democratic · California See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 5, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 4, 2021
Introduced in House
Feb 4, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Tracking COVID-19 Variants Act

This bill expands viral genomic sequencing, disease surveillance, and other public health research activities.

Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must issue guidance on the sequencing of the virus that causes COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Additionally, the CDC must establish a program to strengthen genomic sequencing, analytics, and disease surveillance activities. As part of this program, the CDC must provide grants and technical assistance to health departments to build their capacity to carry out such activities.

Furthermore, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) must carry out a demonstration program to expand an existing program that links different federal data sets for statistical public health research, including research on food insecurity, housing instability, and other social determinants of health. In particular, the program must support linkages with the National Death Index, a database of death records maintained by the NCHS.

What's happening now February 5, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 236 Identical bill Tracking COVID–19 Variants Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 19
All 19 Democratic 11
D
Grijalva, Raúl M.
Arizona · Feb 24, 2021
HASTINGS, ALCEE
· Feb 22, 2021
 D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Feb 22, 2021
Kilmer, Derek
· Feb 22, 2021
 D
Mrvan, Frank J.
Indiana · Feb 22, 2021
 D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Feb 22, 2021
 D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Feb 5, 2021
 D
Tonko, Paul
New York · Feb 5, 2021
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Feb 4, 2021
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Feb 4, 2021
COOPER, JAMES
· Feb 4, 2021
Jackson Lee, Sheila
· Feb 4, 2021
Jones, Mondaire
· Feb 4, 2021
Lee, Barbara
· Feb 4, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 4, 2021
O'Halleran, Tom
· Feb 4, 2021
 D
Peters, Scott H.
California · Feb 4, 2021
 D
Schrier, Kim
Washington · Feb 4, 2021
 D
Sewell, Terri A.
Alabama · Feb 4, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 791: Tracking COVID–19 Variants Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-791/
MLA
"H.R. 791: Tracking COVID–19 Variants Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-791/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 791, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-791/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 791: Tracking COVID–19 Variants Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-791/)
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