Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
Floor Speech
SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to establish consistent eligibility requirements for graduate medical schools operating outside of the United States and Canada in order to increase accountability and protect United States students and taxpayer dollars. SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Three for-profit schools in the Caribbean have historically received nearly \3/4\ of all Federal funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) that goes to students enrolled at foreign graduate medical schools, despite those three schools being exempt from meeting the same eligibility requirements as the majority of graduate medical schools located outside of the United States and Canada.
(2) The National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation and the Department of Education recommend that all foreign graduate medical schools should be required to meet the same eligibility requirements to participate in Federal funding under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
(3) The attrition rate at United States medical schools averaged 3.2 percent between 1998 and 2018, while rates at for-profit Caribbean medical schools have been known to reach 30 percent.
(4) In 2024, residency match rates for foreign trained graduates averaged 67 percent compared to 93.5 percent for graduates of allopathic medical schools in the United States and 92.3 percent for graduates of osteopathic medical schools in the United States.
(5) On average, students at for-profit medical schools operating outside of the United States and Canada amass more student debt than students at medical schools in the United States. SEC. 4. REPEAL GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS.
Section 102(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:
``(i) in the case of a graduate medical school located outside the United States--
``(I) at least 60 percent of those enrolled in, and at least 60 percent of the graduates of, the graduate medical school outside the United States were not persons described in section 484(a)(5) in the year preceding the year for which a student is seeking a loan under part D of title IV; and
``(II) at least 75 percent of the individuals who were students or graduates of the graduate medical school outside the United States or Canada (both nationals of the United States and others) taking the examinations administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates received a passing score in the year preceding the year for which a student is seeking a loan under part D of title IV;''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(iii), by adding at the end the following:
``(V) Expiration of authority.--The authority of a graduate medical school described in subclause (I) to qualify for participation in the loan programs under part D of title IV pursuant to this clause shall expire beginning on the first July 1 following the date of enactment of the Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2024.''. SEC. 5. LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.
If a graduate medical school loses eligibility to participate in the loan programs under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.) due to the enactment of the amendments made by section 4, then a student enrolled at such graduate medical school on or before the date of enactment of this Act may, notwithstanding such loss of eligibility, continue to be eligible to receive a loan under such part D while attending such graduate medical school in which the student was enrolled upon the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the student continuing to meet all applicable requirements for satisfactory academic progress, until the earliest of--
(1) withdrawal by the student from the graduate medical school;
(2) completion of the program of study by the student at the graduate medical school; or
(3) the fourth June 30 after such loss of eligibility.
4745. A bill to establish the Federal Food Administration to protect the public health by ensuring the safety of food, preventing foodborne illness, maintaining safety reviews and reassessments of food additives, reducing the prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases, enforcing pesticide residue tolerances, improving the surveillance of foodborne pathogens, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Food Administration Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'', except as otherwise provided, means the Federal Food Administration established under section 101(a)(1).
(2) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'', except as otherwise provided, means the Commissioner of Foods appointed under section 101(a)(2).
(3) Facility.--The term ``facility'' means any factory, warehouse, or establishment that is subject to the requirements of section 415 or 419 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 350d; 350h). SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act, including the amendments made by this Act, shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. FUNDING.
(a) Transfer of Funds.--The appropriations, allocations, and other funds that relate to the authorities, functions and agencies transferred under section 102 shall be transferred to the Administration.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter. TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL FOOD ADMINISTRATION SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL FOOD ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services an agency to be known as the ``Federal Food Administration''.
(2) Head of administration.--The Administration shall be headed by the Commissioner of Foods, who shall have food safety expertise, and be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(3) Effect.--The Federal Food and Drug Administration shall be renamed the ``Federal Drug Administration'' and retain responsibility for carrying out its responsibilities related to drugs, cosmetics, devices, biological products, color additives, and tobacco. The Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall be renamed the ``Commissioner of Drugs'', and shall retain the responsibilities of the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, as of the day before the date of enactment of this Act, except such responsibilities that relate to food, which shall be assumed by the Commissioner of Food. Each reference in law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the ``Food and Drug Administration'' shall be deemed a reference to the ``Federal Drug Administration'', and each reference in law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the ``Commissioner of Food and Drugs'' shall be deemed a reference to the ``Commissioner of Drugs''.
(b) Duties of the Commissioner.--The Commissioner shall--
(1) administer and enforce all authorities under chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.);
(2) serve as a representative to international food safety bodies and discussions;
(3) promulgate and enforce regulations to ensure the security of the food supply from all forms of contamination, including intentional contamination; and
(4) oversee--
(A) implementation of Federal food efforts;
(B) inspection, labeling, enforcement, and research efforts to protect the public health;
(C) development of consistent and science-based standards for safe food;
(D) safety reviews and reassessments of food additives;
(E) establishment and enforcement of tolerances for poisonous or deleterious substances;
(F) monitoring and enforcement of pesticide residue tolerances in or on foods;
(G) coordination and prioritization of food research and education programs with other Federal agencies;
(H) prioritization of Federal food efforts and deployment of Federal food resources to achieve the greatest benefit in reducing foodborne illness and diet-related chronic diseases;
(I) coordination of the Federal response to foodborne illness outbreaks with other Federal and State agencies;
(J) integration of Federal food activities with State and local agencies; and
(K) assignment of tolerances for animal drugs used in food- producing animals. SEC. 102. TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY, FUNCTIONS AND AGENCIES.
(a) Transfer of Authority.--The Administration shall assume responsibility for carrying out chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.) and maintain all enforcement authorities with respect to food held by the Food and Drug Administration on the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Transfer of Functions.--For each Federal agency, office, and center specified in subsection (c), there are transferred to the Administration all functions that the head of the Federal agency exercised on the day before the date of enactment of this Act (including all related functions of any officer or employee of the Federal agency) that relate to administration or enforcement of the food law, as determined by the President.
(c) Transferred Agencies.--The Federal agencies referred to in subsection (b) are--
(1) the resources and facilities of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition of the Food and Drug Administration that administer chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.);
(2) the resources and facilities of the Office of Regulatory Affairs of the Food and Drug Administration that administer and conduct inspections of food and feed facilities and imports;
(3) the resources and facilities of the Center for Veterinary Medicine of the Food and Drug Administration that administer chapter IV of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (21 U.S.C. 341 et seq.);
(4) the Office of Food Policy and Response of the Food and Drug Administration; and
(5) such other offices, services, or agencies as the President designates by Executive order to carry out this Act.
(d) Conforming Amendment.--Subchapter A of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 371 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 716. REGULATION OF FOOD.
``Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of the Federal Food Administration Act of 2024, any authority under this Act that relates to food shall be under the authority of the Federal Food Administration, and shall be carried out by the Commissioner of Food. Any reference in this Act to authorities related to food held by the Secretary shall be deemed to be a reference to authorities held by the Commissioner of Food.''. SEC. 103. ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Officers and Employees.--The Commissioner may--
(1) appoint officers and employees for the Administration in accordance with the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to appointment in the competitive service; and
(2) fix the compensation of those officers and employees in accordance with chapter 51 and with subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(b) Experts and Consultants.--The Administration may--
(1) procure the services of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; and
(2) pay in connection with those services the travel expenses of the experts and consultants, including transportation and per diem in lieu of subsistence while away from the homes or regular places of business of the individuals, as authorized by section 5703 of that title.
(c) Bureaus, Offices, and Divisions.--The Commissioner may establish within the Administration such bureaus, offices, and divisions as the Commissioner determines are necessary to perform the duties of the Commissioner.
(d) Advisory Committees.--
(1) In general.--The Commissioner shall establish advisory committees that consist of representative of scientific expert bodies, academics, industry specialists, and consumers.
(2) Duties.--The duties of an advisory committee established under paragraph (1) may include developing recommendations with respect to the development of regulatory science and processes, research, communications, performance standards, and inspection. TITLE II--ADMINISTRATION OF FOODS PROGRAM SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF INSPECTION PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Commissioner shall establish an inspection program, which shall include inspections of food facilities subject to subsection (b) and in accordance with section 202.
(b) Facility Categories.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner shall issue formal guidance defining the criteria by which food facilities will be divided into ``high-risk,'' ``intermediate risk,'' and ``low-risk'' facilities.
(c) Inspection Frequencies.--Frequency of inspections of food facilities under this Act shall be based on the categories defined pursuant to subjection (b) and in accordance with section 202. SEC. 202. INSPECTIONS OF FOOD FACILITIES.
(a) Frequency of Inspections.--
(1) High-risk facilities.--The Commissioner shall inspect high-risk facilities not less than once per a year.
(2) ``intermediate-risk facilities .--The Commissioner shall inspect intermediate-risk facilities not less than once every 2 years.
(3) ``low-risk facilities.--The Commissioner shall inspect low risk facilities, which shall include warehouses or similar facilities that engage in packaging or distribution, and pose very minimal public health risk, not less than once every 3 years.
(b) Infant Formula Manufacturing Facilities.--The Commissioner shall inspect the facilities of each manufacturer of infant formula not less than every 6 months.
(c) Federal and State Cooperation.--The Commissioner shall contract with State officials to carry out half of the safety inspections required under this section. SEC. 203. COMPLIANCE CHECKS.
Not later than 30 days after issuing a form that is equivalent to an FDA Form 483 to a facility, pursuant to an inspection under section 704 of Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 374), the Commissioner shall conduct a follow-up compliance check with the facility.
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