Section text and notes
In general
There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services the position of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. The President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint an individual to serve in such position. Such Assistant Secretary shall report to the Secretary.
Duties
Leadership
section 300hh of this titleServe as the principal advisor to the Secretary on all matters related to Federal public health and medical preparedness and response for public health emergencies and, consistent with the National Response Framework and other applicable provisions of law, assist the Secretary in carrying out the functions under .
Personnel
Register, credential, organize, train, equip, and have the authority to deploy Federal public health and medical personnel under the authority of the Secretary, including the National Disaster Medical System, and coordinate such personnel with the Medical Reserve Corps and the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals.
Countermeasures
section 247d–6a of this titlesection 247d–6b of this titlesection 247d–6d of this titleOversee advanced research, development, and procurement of qualified countermeasures (as defined in ), security countermeasures (as defined in ), and qualified pandemic or epidemic products (as defined in ).
Coordination
Federal integration
Coordinate with relevant Federal officials to ensure integration of Federal preparedness and response activities for public health emergencies.
State, local, and tribal integration
Coordinate with State, local, and tribal public health officials, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, health care systems, and emergency medical service systems to ensure effective integration of Federal public health and medical assets during a public health emergency.
Emergency medical services
Promote improved emergency medical services medical direction, system integration, research, and uniformity of data collection, treatment protocols, and policies with regard to public health emergencies.
Policy coordination and strategic direction
section 314(a)(6) of title 6section 660(b) of title 6Provide integrated policy coordination and strategic direction, before, during, and following public health emergencies, with respect to all matters related to Federal public health and medical preparedness and execution and deployment of the Federal response for public health emergencies and incidents covered by the National Response Plan described in , or any successor plan; and such Federal responses covered by the National Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan developed under , including public health emergencies or incidents related to cybersecurity threats that present a threat to national health security.
Identification of inefficiencies
Coordination of grants and agreements
Drill and operational exercises
National security priority
21 U.S.C. 301On a periodic basis consult with, as applicable and appropriate, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, to provide an update on, and discuss, medical and public health preparedness and response activities pursuant to this chapter and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [ et seq.], including progress on the development, approval, clearance, and licensure of medical countermeasures.
Threat awareness
Coordinate with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and other relevant Federal officials, such as the Secretary of Agriculture, to maintain a current assessment of national security threats and inform preparedness and response capabilities based on the range of the threats that have the potential to result in a public health emergency.
Medical product and supply capacity planning
Logistics
section 247d(a) of this titleIn coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the General Services Administration, and other public and private entities, provide logistical support for medical and public health aspects of Federal responses to public health emergencies. Such logistical support shall include working with other relevant Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health officials and private sector entities to identify the critical infrastructure assets, systems, and networks needed for the proper functioning of the health care and public health sectors that need to be maintained through any emergency or disaster, including entities capable of assisting with, responding to, and mitigating the effect of a public health emergency, including a public health emergency determined by the Secretary pursuant to or an emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or the National Emergencies Act, including by establishing methods to exchange critical information and deliver products consumed or used to preserve, protect, or sustain life, health, or safety, and sharing of specialized expertise.
Leadership
Provide leadership in international programs, initiatives, and policies that deal with public health and medical emergency preparedness and response.
Countermeasures budget plan
Functions
Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Strategy and Implementation Plan
In general
section 300hh–10a of this titleNot later than , and biennially thereafter, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response shall develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a coordinated strategy and accompanying implementation plan for medical countermeasures to address chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. In developing such a plan, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response shall consult with the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise established under . Such strategy and plan shall be known as the “Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Strategy and Implementation Plan”.
Requirements
GAO report
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the submission to the Congress of the first Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Strategy and Implementation Plan, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an independent evaluation, and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report, concerning such Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Content
Protection of national security
In carrying out subsections (b)(7) and (d), the Secretary shall ensure that information and items that could compromise national security, contain confidential commercial information, or contain proprietary information are not disclosed.
Protection of national security from threats
In general
Authorization of appropriations
In general
To carry out this subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.
Supplement, not supplant
Amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall be used to supplement and not supplant funds provided under sections 247d–7e(d) and 247d–6b(g) of this title.
Documentation required
Public Law 115–141section 247d–7e(c)(4)(F) of this titleThe Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, in accordance with subsection (b)(7), shall document amounts expended for purposes of carrying out this subsection, including amounts appropriated under the heading “Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund” under the heading “Office of the Secretary” under title II of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 () and allocated to carrying out .
Appearances before Congress
In general
Clarifications
Waiver authority
The Chair of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate or the Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) for the applicable fiscal year with respect to the applicable Committee.
Scope of requirements
3
Closed hearings
Information that is not appropriate for disclosure during an open hearing under paragraph (1) in order to protect national security may instead be discussed in a closed hearing that immediately follows such open hearing.
July 1, 1944, ch. 373 Pub. L. 109–417, title I, § 102(a)(3)120 Stat. 2833 Pub. L. 113–5, title I, § 102(a)127 Stat. 163 Pub. L. 114–255, div. A, title III, § 3083130 Stat. 1141 Pub. L. 116–22, title III, § 302(a)133 Stat. 934 Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXI, § 7143(d)(4)136 Stat. 3663 Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2103(b)(2)136 Stat. 5712 (, title XXVIII, § 2811, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , (b), title IV, §§ 401, 402(b), 404(b), title V, § 501, title VII, § 703(b), , , 942, 943, 948, 950, 963; , , ; , (c), , , 5713.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
act June 25, 1938, ch. 675 52 Stat. 1040 section 301 of Title 21The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(H), is , , which is classified generally to chapter 9 (§ 301 et seq.) of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.
Pub. L. 93–28888 Stat. 143 section 5121 of this titleThe Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 68 (§ 5121 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Pub. L. 94–41290 Stat. 1255 section 1601 of Title 50The National Emergencies Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(5), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 34 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Pub. L. 115–141132 Stat. 348 Pub. L. 115–141132 Stat. 714 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, referred to in subsec. (f)(2)(C), is , , . Title II of division H of the Act is title II of div. H of , , , which is not classified to the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Prior Provisions
section 300hh–11 of this titleA prior section 2811 of act , was renumbered section 2812 and is classified to .
Amendments
Pub. L. 117–328, § 2103(b)(2)(A)section 300hh of this title2022—Subsec. (b)(1). , inserted “and, consistent with the National Response Framework and other applicable provisions of law, assist the Secretary in carrying out the functions under ” after “emergencies”.
Pub. L. 117–263section 660(b) of title 66 U.S.C. 149(c)Subsec. (b)(4)(D). substituted “” for “section 228(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ()”.
Pub. L. 117–328, § 2103(b)(2)(B)(i)Subsec. (b)(4)(E). , substituted “recommend actions necessary to overcome these obstacles, such as—” and cls. (i) to (iii) for “the actions necessary to overcome these obstacles.”
Pub. L. 117–328, § 2103(b)(2)(B)(ii)Subsec. (b)(4)(G). , inserted “each year, including national-level and State-level full-scale exercises not less than once every 4 years” after “operational exercises”, substituted “exercises—” and “(i) based on” for “exercises based on—”, added cls. (ii) and (iii), and redesignated former cls. (i) and (ii) as subcls. (I) and (II), respectively, of cl. (i).
Pub. L. 117–328, § 2103(b)(2)(B)(iii)Subsec. (b)(4)(J). , added subpar. (J).
Pub. L. 117–328, § 2103(c)Subsec. (g). , added subsec. (g).
Pub. L. 116–22, § 401(1)2019—Subsec. (b). , inserted “utilize experience related to public health emergency preparedness and response, biodefense, medical countermeasures, and other relevant topics to” after “shall” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 116–22, § 703(b)section 314(a)(6) of title 6Subsec. (b)(4)(D). , amended subpar. (D) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Provide integrated policy coordination and strategic direction with respect to all matters related to Federal public health and medical preparedness and execution and deployment of the Federal response for public health emergencies and incidents covered by the National Response Plan developed pursuant to , or any successor plan, before, during, and following public health emergencies.”
Pub. L. 116–22, § 401(2)Subsec. (b)(4)(I). , added subpar. (I).
Pub. L. 116–22, § 302(a)section 247d(a) of this titleSubsec. (b)(5). , inserted at end “Such logistical support shall include working with other relevant Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health officials and private sector entities to identify the critical infrastructure assets, systems, and networks needed for the proper functioning of the health care and public health sectors that need to be maintained through any emergency or disaster, including entities capable of assisting with, responding to, and mitigating the effect of a public health emergency, including a public health emergency determined by the Secretary pursuant to or an emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or the National Emergencies Act, including by establishing methods to exchange critical information and deliver products consumed or used to preserve, protect, or sustain life, health, or safety, and sharing of specialized expertise.”
Pub. L. 116–22, § 501(1)Subsec. (b)(7). , substituted “March 15” for “March 1” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 116–22, § 501(2)Subsec. (b)(7)(A)(iii) to (v). , added cls. (iii) to (v) and struck out former cl. (iii) which read as follows: “procurement, stockpiling, maintenance, and replenishment of all products in the Strategic National Stockpile;”.
Pub. L. 116–22, § 501(3)Subsec. (b)(7)(D) to (F). , (4), added subpar. (D) and redesignated former subpars. (D) and (E) as (E) and (F), respectively.
Pub. L. 116–22, § 402(b)(1)section 300hh–10a of this titleSubsec. (d)(1). , substituted “Not later than , and biennially thereafter” for “Not later than 180 days after , and every year thereafter” and “Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise established under ” for “Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs”.
Pub. L. 116–22, § 302(b)Subsec. (d)(2)(C). , inserted “, and ancillary medical supplies to assist with the utilization of such countermeasures or products,” after “products”.
Pub. L. 116–22, § 402(b)(2)Subsec. (d)(2)(J)(v). , substituted “2-year period” for “one-year period”.
Pub. L. 116–22, § 404(b)Subsec. (f). , added subsec. (f).
Pub. L. 114–255, § 3083(1)section 247d–6a of this titlesection 247d–6b of this titlesection 247d–6d of this title2016—Subsec. (b)(7). , in introductory provisions, substituted “Develop, and update not later than March 1 of each year, a coordinated 5-year budget plan based on the medical countermeasure priorities described in subsection (d), including with respect to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agent or agents that may present a threat to the Nation, including such agents that are novel or emerging infectious diseases, and the corresponding efforts to develop qualified countermeasures (as defined in ), security countermeasures (as defined in ), and qualified pandemic or epidemic products (as defined in ) for each such threat.” for “Develop, and update on an annual basis, a coordinated 5-year budget plan based on the medical countermeasure priorities described in subsection (d).”
Pub. L. 114–255, § 3083(3)Subsec. (b)(7)(D). , substituted “, not later than March 15 of each year, to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and” for “to the appropriate committees of Congress upon request.”
Pub. L. 114–255, § 3083(2)Subsec. (b)(7)(E). , (4), added subpar. (E).
Pub. L. 113–5, § 102(a)(1)(A)section 247d–6b of this titlesection 247d–6a of this title2013—Subsec. (b)(3). , inserted “, security countermeasures (as defined in ),” after “qualified countermeasures (as defined in )”.
Pub. L. 113–5, § 102(a)(1)(B)Subsec. (b)(4)(D) to (H). , added subpars. (D) to (H).
Pub. L. 113–5, § 102(a)(1)(C)Subsec. (b)(7). , added par. (7).
Pub. L. 113–5, § 102(a)(2)Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which directed that the Assistant Secretary would have authority over and responsibility for the National Disaster Medical System and the Hospital Preparedness Cooperative Agreement Program, would exercise the responsibilities and authorities of the Secretary with respect to the coordination of the Medical Reserve Corps, the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals, the Strategic National Stockpile, and the Cities Readiness Initiative, and would assume other duties as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
Pub. L. 113–5, § 102(a)(3)Subsecs. (d), (e). , added subsecs. (d) and (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
Pub. L. 109–417, title I, § 102(b)120 Stat. 2834
Transfer of functions .—
References .—
Interagency Coordination Plan
Pub. L. 113–5, title I, § 102(b)127 Stat. 168