H.R. 6357House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to assess and make recommendations related to disaster medical assistance teams, and for other purposes.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 10:50 PM UTC

The bill requires the Government Accountability Office, led by the Comptroller General, to conduct a study on the readiness of disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs) to respond to natural and man‑made emergencies. Within a year, the GAO must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the relevant House and Senate committees. The goal is to evaluate how well DMATs are prepared, how training and resource decisions are made, and how those processes can be improved.

Key Provisions

The Comptroller General must assess whether DMAT mission readiness and related needs have changed over time.
The study must examine the standards used by the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response to determine training needs and mission readiness, and suggest ways to improve those standards.
It must evaluate how additional resources—personnel, training, equipment—have impacted readiness and whether the Assistant Secretary has effective plans to address readiness gaps.
A report with the study’s findings and recommendations must be delivered to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee no later than one year after enactment.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 12, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 12, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

July 12, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 12, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6357

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 12, 2018

Mr. Bilirakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to assess and make recommendations related to disaster medical assistance teams, and for other purposes.

GAO study and report on disaster medical assistance teams

(a)

Study and report

(1)

Study

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on the mission readiness of disaster medical assistance teams with respect to current and emerging natural and manmade threats.

(2)

Components

The study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include an assessment, in relation to disaster medical assistance teams, of—

(A)

whether the mission readiness of such teams, and the needs relating to such readiness, have changed over time;

(B)

the standards the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services uses to determine—

(i)

the training needs of such teams; and

(ii)

whether such teams are mission ready;

(C)

how to improve the determinations described in subparagraph (B);

(D)

the extent to which the provision of additional resources (including personnel, training, and equipment) has addressed mission readiness concerns; and

(E)

the extent to which the Assistant Secretary has developed plans to address mission readiness issues.

(3)

Report

Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 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 containing—

(A)

the findings of the study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1); and

(B)

related recommendations.

(b)

Disaster medical assistance team defined

In this section, the term disaster medical assistance team means a disaster medical assistance team operating pursuant to the National Disaster Medical System established under section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–11).