42 U.S.C. § 247d-6
The Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, and in consultation with relevant public and private entities, shall develop core health and medical response curricula and trainings by adapting applicable existing curricula and training programs to improve responses to public health emergencies.
The public health and medical response training program may include course work related to-
On a periodic basis, products prepared as part of the program shall be rigorously tested and peer-reviewed by experts in the relevant fields.
The Secretary and the Secretary of Defense shall-
The Secretary may provide for the dissemination and teaching of the materials described in paragraphs (1) and (2) by appropriate means, as determined by the Secretary.
The education and training activities described in subparagraph (A) may be carried out by Federal public health, medical, or dental entities, appropriate educational entities, professional organizations and societies, private accrediting organizations, and other nonprofit institutions or entities meeting criteria established by the Secretary.
In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may carry out activities directly or through the award of grants and contracts, and may enter into interagency agreements with other Federal agencies.
In coordination with the working group under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish advisory committees in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3) to provide expert recommendations to assist such working groups in carrying out their respective responsibilities under subsections (a) and (b).
For purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the National Advisory Committee on At-Risk Individuals and Public Health Emergencies (referred to in this paragraph as the "Advisory Committee").
The Advisory Committee shall provide recommendations regarding-
The Advisory Committee shall be composed of such Federal officials as may be appropriate to address the special needs of the diverse population groups of at-risk populations.
The Advisory Committee terminates six years after June 12, 2002.
For purposes of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to be known as the Emergency Public Information and Communications Advisory Committee (referred to in this paragraph as the "EPIC Advisory Committee").
The EPIC Advisory Committee shall make recommendations to the Secretary and report on appropriate ways to communicate public health information regarding bioterrorism and other public health emergencies to the public.
The EPIC Advisory Committee shall be composed of individuals representing a diverse group of experts in public health, medicine, communications, behavioral psychology, and other areas determined appropriate by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall review the recommendations of the EPIC Advisory Committee and ensure that appropriate information is disseminated to the public.
The EPIC Advisory Committee terminates one year after June 12, 2002.
The Secretary may establish 20 officer positions in the Epidemic Intelligence Service Program, in addition to the number of the officer positions offered under such Program in 2006, for individuals who agree to participate, for a period of not less than 2 years, in the Career Epidemiology Field Officer program in a State, local, or tribal health department that serves a health professional shortage area (as defined under section 254e(a) of this title), a medically underserved population (as defined under section 254b(b)(3) of this title), or a medically underserved area or area at high risk of a public health emergency as designated by the Secretary.
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to institutions of higher education, including accredited schools of public health, or other nonprofit private entities to establish or maintain a network of Centers for Public Health Preparedness and Response (referred to in this subsection as "Centers").
To be eligible to receive an award under this subsection, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of how the entity will-
The Centers established or maintained under this subsection shall use funds awarded under this subsection to carry out activities to advance public health preparedness and response capabilities, which may include-
In awarding grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under this subsection, the Secretary shall support not fewer than 10 Centers, subject to the availability of appropriations, and ensure that such awards are equitably distributed among the geographical regions of the United States.
With respect to pathogens of potential use in a bioterrorist attack, and other agents that may cause a public health emergency, the Secretary, taking into consideration any recommendations of the working group under subsection (a), shall conduct, and award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements for, research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and studies in the health sciences relating to-
with consideration given to the needs of children and other vulnerable populations.
The Secretary shall give priority under this section to the funding of research and other studies related to priority countermeasures.
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider using the biomedical research and development capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with that Department's affiliations with health-professions universities. When advantageous to the Government in furtherance of the purposes of such paragraph, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to achieve such purposes.
For purposes of this section, the term "priority countermeasure" means a drug, biological product, device, vaccine, vaccine adjuvant, antiviral, or diagnostic test that the Secretary determines to be-
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section for fiscal year 2007-
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for fiscal year 2008 and each subsequent fiscal year.
42 U.S.C. § 247d-6
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2022-Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117-328, §2231(a)(1), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which authorized Secretary to establish Centers for Public Health Preparedness at accredited schools of public health.Subsec. (f)(1)(C). Pub. L. 117-328, §2231(a)(2), struck out ",of which $5,000,000 shall be used to carry out paragraphs (3) through (5) of such subsection" after "$31,000,000". 2013-Subsec. (a)(5)(B). Pub. L. 113-5 substituted "public health, medical, or dental" for "public health or medical". 2006-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109-417, §304(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (a) which established a working group on bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 109-417, §301(d)(1), substituted "At-Risk Individuals and Public Health Emergencies" for "Children and Terrorism" in heading.Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109-417, §301(d)(2), substituted "At-Risk Individuals and Public Health Emergencies" for "Children and Terrorism". Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 109-417, §301(d)(3)(A), substituted "public health emergencies as they relate to at-risk individuals" for "bioterrorism as it relates to children". Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 109-417, §301(d)(3)(B), (C), substituted "at-risk individuals" for "children".Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 109-417, §301(d)(4), substituted "at-risk populations" for "children, and child health experts on infectious disease, environmental health, toxicology, and other relevant professional disciplines". Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 109-417, §301(d)(5), substituted "six years" for "one year".Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109-417, §301(e), struck out "and the working group under subsection (a) of this section" after "Secretary".Subsecs. (c) to (h). Pub. L. 109-417, §304(2)-(4), added subsecs. (c), (d), and (f), redesignated subsec. (h) as (e), and struck out former subsecs. (c) to (g), which related to: in subsec. (c), development of communication strategy; in subsec. (d), Federal Internet site on bioterrorism; in subsec. (e), grants to increase capacity to detect, diagnose, and respond to acts of bioterrorism; in subsec. (f), assistance to State and local health agencies to enable effective response to attacks; and, in subsec. (g), education and training activities. Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 109-417, §304(5), struck out subsecs. (i) and (j) which related to report to congressional committees on public health and medical consequences of a bioterrorist attack and the supplementary nature of funds appropriated under this section, respectively. 2004-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108-276, §2(d)(1), inserted "the Secretary of Homeland Security," after "Management Agency," in introductory provisions.Subsec. (h)(4)(B). Pub. L. 108-276, §2(d)(2), substituted "to treat, identify, or prevent conditions" for "to diagnose conditions".2002-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107-188, §108, added subsec. (a) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (a). Text read as follows: "The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a joint interdepartmental working group on preparedness and readiness for the medical and public health effects of a bioterrorist attack on the civilian population. Such joint working group shall-"(1) coordinate research on pathogens likely to be used in a bioterrorist attack on the civilian population as well as therapies to treat such pathogens;"(2) coordinate research and development into equipment to detect pathogens likely to be used in a bioterrorist attack on the civilian population and protect against infection from such pathogens;"(3) develop shared standards for equipment to detect and to protect against infection from pathogens likely to be used in a bioterrorist attack on the civilian population; and "(4) coordinate the development, maintenance, and procedures for the release of, strategic reserves of vaccines, drugs, and medical supplies which may be needed rapidly after a bioterrorist attack upon the civilian population."Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(1), (3), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which related to establishment, functions, membership, and coordination of a working group on the public health and medical consequences of bioterrorism. Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(3), added subsecs. (c) and (d). Former subsecs. (c) and (d) redesignated (e) and (f), respectively.Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(2), redesignated subsec. (c) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (g). Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 107-188, §111(3), which directed the amendment of section 391F(e)(2) of the Public Health Service Act by striking out "or" after "clinic," and inserting before period ",professional organization or society, school or program that trains medical laboratory personnel, private accrediting organization, or other nonprofit private institution or entity meeting criteria established by the Secretary", was executed to subsec. (e)(2) of this section, which is section 319F(e)(2) of the Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(2), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (h).Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 107-188, §105, amended heading and text of subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretary, in collaboration with members of the working group described in subsection (b) of this section, and professional organizations and societies, shall-"(1) develop and implement educational programs to instruct public health officials, medical professionals, and other personnel working in health care facilities in the recognition and care of victims of a bioterrorist attack; and "(2) develop and implement programs to train laboratory personnel in the recognition and identification of a potential bioweapon." Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(2), redesignated subsec. (e) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (i). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107-188, §125, amended heading and text of subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretary shall consult with the working group described in subsection (a) of this section, to develop priorities for and conduct research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and studies in the health sciences related to-"(1) the epidemiology and pathogenesis of potential bioweapons;"(2) the development of new vaccines or other therapeutics against pathogens likely to be used in a bioterrorist attack;"(3) the development of medical diagnostics to detect potential bioweapons; and"(4) other relevant research areas." Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(2), redesignated subsec. (f) as (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (j). Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(1), (2), redesignated subsec. (g) as (i) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (i). Text read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $215,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year through 2006."Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 107-188, §104(a)(2), redesignated subsec. (h) as (j).
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
OTHER REPORTS Pub. L. 107-188, title I, §101(b)(1), June 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 598, provided that:"(1) IN GENERAL.-Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [June 12, 2002], the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this subsection as the 'Secretary') 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 concerning-"(A) the recommendations and findings of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism under section 319F(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act [probably means section 319F(b)(2), 42 U.S.C. 247d-6(b)(2)] ;"(B) the recommendations and findings of the EPIC Advisory Committee under section 319F(c)(3) of such Act [probably means section 319F(b)(3), 42 U.S.C. 247d-6(b)(3)] ; "(C) the characteristics that may render a rural community uniquely vulnerable to a biological attack, including distance, lack of emergency transport, hospital or laboratory capacity, lack of integration of Federal or State public health networks, workforce deficits, or other relevant characteristics; "(D) the characteristics that may render areas or populations designated as medically underserved populations (as defined in section 330 of such Act [42 U.S.C. 254b] ) uniquely vulnerable to a biological attack, including significant numbers of low-income or uninsured individuals, lack of affordable and accessible health care services, insufficient public and primary health care resources, lack of integration of Federal or State public health networks, workforce deficits, or other relevant characteristics; "(E) the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to additional legislative authority that the Secretary determines is necessary to effectively strengthen rural communities, or medically underserved populations (as defined in section 330 of such Act); and "(F) the need for and benefits of a National Disaster Response Medical Volunteer Service that would be a private-sector, community-based rapid response corps of medical volunteers."
STUDY REGARDING COMMUNICATIONS ABILITIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES Pub. L. 107-188, title I, §104(b), June 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 606, provided that: "The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Federal Communications Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall conduct a study to determine whether local public health entities have the ability to maintain communications in the event of a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency. The study shall examine whether redundancies are required in the telecommunications system, particularly with respect to mobile communications, for public health entities to maintain systems operability and connectivity during such emergencies. The study shall also include recommendations to industry and public health entities about how to implement such redundancies if necessary."
- Advisory Committee
- The term "Advisory Committee" means the Green Building Advisory Committee established under section 484.1
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.1See References in Text note below.
- Service
- The term "Service" means the Public Health Service;
- practices
- The term "practices" means design, financing, permitting, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance, and other practices that contribute to achieving zero-net-energy buildings or facilities.