H.R. 801 – Securing the Border for Public Health Act of 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 3:02 AM UTC

The Securing the Border for Public Health Act of 2023 amends the Public Health Service Act to give the Secretary authority to temporarily block the entry of people and goods from foreign countries when there is a serious risk of spreading communicable diseases or importing certain controlled substances. The Secretary makes this determination, after consulting the Attorney General, and can set the duration of the suspension. The rule would affect travelers, importers, and any country designated as a health or drug risk.

Key Provisions

Allows the Secretary, by regulation, to suspend all or part of the entry of persons and property from a designated country when a serious public‑health danger exists.
Defines the circumstances for a determination: the presence of a communicable disease or, after Attorney General consultation, certain controlled substances that pose a heightened danger to the United States.
Specifies “certain controlled substances” as narcotic drugs, opiates, opium derivatives, stimulants, and fentanyl‑related substances.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

HouseCalendars Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 36.

May 11, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 2, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

February 2, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

March 3, 2023

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Health Subcommittee

March 8, 2023

HouseCommittee

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 12 .

Health Subcommittee

March 8, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 23, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 24, 2023

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 19.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 24, 2023

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-53.

Energy and Commerce Committee

May 11, 2023

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 36.

May 11, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 801 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5 · May 11, 2023

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mrs. RODGERS of Washington: Committee on Energy and…

Bill Text

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Reported in HouseIssued May 11, 2023

IB

Union Calendar No. 36

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 801

[Report No. 118–53]

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 2, 2023

Mrs. Lesko (for herself and Mrs. Miller-Meeks) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

May 11, 2023

Additional sponsors: Mr. Allen, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Mike Garcia of California, Mr. LaMalfa, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Brecheen, Mr. Carey, Mr. Babin, Mr. Barr, Mr. Kustoff, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Santos, and Mr. Buchanan

May 11, 2023

Reported from the Committee on Energy and Commerce; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

A BILL

To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to provide for suspension of entries and imports from designated countries to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and import into the United States of certain controlled substances.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Securing the Border for Public Health Act of 2023.

2.

Suspension of entries and imports from designated countries to prevent spread of communicable diseases and import of certain controlled substances

Section 362 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 265) is amended to read as follows:

362.

Suspension of entries and imports from designated countries to prevent spread of communicable diseases and import of certain controlled substances

(a)

In general

Whenever the Secretary makes a determination described in subsection (b) with respect to a country, the Secretary, by regulation, shall have the power to prohibit, in whole or in part, for a period of time determined to be necessary by the Secretary, the introduction of persons and property from such countries designated by the Secretary in order to avert the danger described in such subsection.

(b)

Determination

A determination described in this subsection is a determination by the Secretary that, by reason of the existence of any communicable disease or, after consultation with the Attorney General, certain controlled substances in a foreign country—

(1)

there is serious danger of the introduction of such disease or substances into the United States; and

(2)

such danger is so increased by the introduction of persons or property from such country that a suspension of the right to introduce such persons and property is required in the interest of the public health.

(c)

Definition

In this section, the term certain controlled substance means—

(1)

a narcotic drug as defined in section 1300.01 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations);

(2)

an opiate as described in section 1308.11(b) or 1308.12(c) of such title (or successor regulations);

(3)

an opium derivative as described in section 1308.11(c) of such title (or successor regulations);

(4)

a stimulant as described in section 1308.11(f) or 1308.12(d) of such title (or successor regulations); and

(5)

a fentanyl-related substance as described in section 1308.11(h) of such title (or successor regulations).

.

May 11, 2023

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed