I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4381 
To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the determination, 
termination, and renewal of public health emergencies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 27, 2023 
Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Mr. GUTHRIE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently de-
termined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to 
the determination, termination, and renewal of public 
health emergencies, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘PHE Congressional 
Review Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES. 
Subsection (a) of section 319 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) EMERGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—If the Secretary deter-
mines, after consultation with such public health of-
ficials as may be necessary, that— 
‘‘(A) a disease or disorder presents a pub-
lic health emergency; or 
‘‘(B) a public health emergency, including 
significant outbreaks of infectious diseases or 
bioterrorist attacks, otherwise exists, 
the Secretary may take such action as may be ap-
propriate to respond to the public health emergency, 
including making grants, providing awards for ex-
penses, and entering into contracts and conducting 
and supporting investigations into the cause, treat-
ment, or prevention of a disease or disorder as de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A) and (B). 
‘‘(2) CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF NATIONWIDE 
EMERGENCIES.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date on which a determination of a nationwide pub-
lic health emergency is made, and every 6 months 
thereafter until the termination of such nationwide 
public health emergency, each House of Congress 
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shall meet to consider a vote on a joint resolution to 
determine whether that emergency shall be termi-
nated. 
‘‘(3) DURATION.— 
‘‘(A) TERMINATION.—Any determination 
of a public health emergency under paragraph 
(1) terminates upon the earlier of— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary declaring that the 
emergency no longer exists; 
‘‘(ii) the expiration of the 90-day pe-
riod beginning on the date on which the 
determination is made by the Secretary; or 
‘‘(iii) upon the enactment of a joint 
resolution to terminate the emergency. 
‘‘(B) RENEWAL.—Determinations that ter-
minate under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph 
(A) may be renewed by the Secretary (on the 
basis of the same or additional facts), and sub-
paragraph (A) applies to each such renewal. 
‘‘(C) NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS OF RE-
NEWAL.—Not later than 48 hours after making 
a determination under this subsection of a pub-
lic health emergency (including a renewal), the 
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Secretary shall submit to the Congress written 
notification of the determination.’’. 
Æ 
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