A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Foodborne Illness Rapid Response Act," aims to protect certain divisions within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It prohibits the Secretary from carrying out staffing reduction efforts for specific divisions during a certain timeframe. This prohibition applies for one year following a multi-state or nationally significant foodborne illness outbreak. The restriction covers divisions responsible for the surveillance of foodborne diseases and the response to foodborne illness outbreaks. A staffing reduction effort is defined as any action, including reorganizations, that removes 1 percent or more of the total employees in those divisions within a 60-day period.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +4
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?
The bill strengthens the response capacity for foodborne illness outbreaks, a form of epidemic.
- Scored +3
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
Ensuring CDC surveillance protects consumers from foodborne illness outbreaks.
- Scored +2
Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster?
Strengthening CDC response capabilities mimics disaster relief functionality for public health crises.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill may slightly increase or maintain spending by preventing staff reductions during critical periods.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Maintains critical response capabilities: By preventing the removal of 1 percent or more of employees in specific divisions during the year following a significant outbreak, the bill ensures that divisions responsible for surveillance and outbreak response remain staffed (Section 2, subsection d, 1).
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Protects agency expertise during crises: The prohibition on staffing reduction efforts, including reorganizations, helps ensure that the personnel responsible for foodborne disease surveillance are not reduced during critical periods (Section 2, subsection d, 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill strengthens the response capacity for foodborne illness outbreaks, a form of epidemic. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Strengthening public health surveillance improves the overall health safety of the population.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — Protecting food safety surveillance benefits all ages, including children. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Foodborne illness prevention provides public health benefits that disproportionately assist vulnerable populations. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Protecting food safety surveillance benefits all ages, including seniors. Would union members be better off under this? — Protecting agency workforce stability benefits federal employees and those in specialized divisions.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Ensuring CDC surveillance protects consumers from foodborne illness outbreaks. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill may slightly increase or maintain spending by preventing staff reductions during critical periods.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this improve help for people hit by a disaster? — Strengthening CDC response capabilities mimics disaster relief functionality for public health crises.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill protects existing scientific workforce positions within the CDC.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates constraints on the Secretary's ability to manage agency staffing.
- 7/30/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Don BaconRepublican · Nebraska