Page:Executive Order 13995.pdf/3

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provide funding and administrative support for the Task Force to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. The Chair shall convene regular meetings of the Task Force, determine its agenda, and direct its work. The Chair shall designate an Executive Director of the Task Force, who shall coordinate the work of the Task Force and head any staff assigned to the Task Force.

(f) Termination. Unless extended by the President, the Task Force shall terminate within 30 days of accomplishing the objectives set forth in this order, including the delivery of the report and recommendations specified in this section, or 2 years from the date of this order, whichever comes first.

Sec. 3. Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response. To address the inequities identified in section 1 of this order, it is hereby directed that:

(a) The Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of HHS, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Education, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the heads of all other agencies with authorities or responsibilities relating to the pandemic response and recovery shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law: 1. consult with the Task Force to strengthen equity data collection, reporting, and use related to COVID–19;

2. assess pandemic response plans and policies to determine whether personal protective equipment, tests, vaccines, therapeutics, and other resources have been or will be allocated equitably, including by considering: 1. the disproportionately high rates of COVID–19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality in certain communities; and

2. any barriers that have restricted access to preventive measures, treatment, and other health services for high-risk populations;

3. based on the assessments described in subsection (a)(ii) of this section, modify pandemic response plans and policies to advance equity, with consideration to: 1. the effect of proposed policy changes on the distribution of resources to, and access to health care by, communities of color and other underserved populations;

2. the effect of proposed policy changes on agencies’ ability to collect, analyze, and report data necessary to monitor and evaluate the impact of pandemic response plans and policies on communities of color and other underserved populations; and

3. policy priorities expressed by communities that have suffered disproportionate rates of illness and death as a result of the pandemic;

4. strengthen enforcement of anti-discrimination requirements pertaining to the availability of, and access to, COVID–19 care and treatment; and

5. partner with States, localities, Tribes, and territories to explore mechanisms to provide greater assistance to individuals and families experiencing disproportionate economic or health effects from COVID–19, such as by expanding access to food, housing, child care, or income support.

(b) The Secretary of HHS shall:  provide recommendations to State, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders on how to facilitate the placement of contact tracers and other workers in communities that have been hardest hit by the pandemic, recruit such workers from those communities, and connect such workers to existing health workforce training programs and other career advancement programs; and 