tion to another), and robust intraregional and inter-
regional exercises. 
‘‘(8) In consultation with the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology, to coordinate 
medically-related research and development pro-
grams of the Department of Homeland Security with 
research and development programs of other Federal 
departments and agencies, and with other entities. 
‘‘(9) To perform such other duties relating to 
the responsibilities described in this subsection as 
the Secretary may provide. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING NATIONAL RE-
SPONSE PLAN.—Subject to the direction and control of 
the Secretary, the responsibilities of the Chief Medical Of-
ficer regarding the National Response Plan created pursu-
ant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (and 
any successor plan) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) To direct the operational elements of the 
National Disaster Medical System response to an in-
cident of national significance, including by coordi-
nating the activities of the Department of Homeland 
Security with the activities of the Department of De-
fense, the Department of Health and Human Serv-
ices, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and any 
other relevant Federal departments and agencies.
‘‘(2) To submit a report to the Congress, not 
later than 6 months after the date of the enactment 
of this section, on the viability of expanding the Na-
tional Disaster Medical System by adding a full- 
time, ready-to-deploy component and maintaining 
the existing system as a reserve component. 
‘‘(3) In consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, to ensure that the Na-
tional Response Plan includes a plan to rapidly de-
liver medical supplies from the Strategic National 
Stockpile to the site of a natural disaster, industrial 
or transportation accident, or intentional attack on 
the United States involving conventional or uncon-
ventional weapons, and to acquire the transpor-
tation, logistical, and other assets necessary to carry 
out the plan. 
‘‘(4) In cooperation with the Assistant Sec-
retary for Infrastructure Protection, to ensure that 
plans are in place to ensure the continued func-
tioning of the Nation’s critical infrastructure in the 
event of a biological incident as defined in the Bio-
logical Incident Annex of the National Response 
Plan. 
‘‘(5) To submit to the Congress, within 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section—
‘‘(A) an analysis of conflicts among the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002, Homeland Se-
curity Presidential Directive 10, and the Na-
tional Response Plan and its annexes as to the 
respective authorities and responsibilities of the 
Department of Homeland Security and the De-
partment of Health and Human Services, when 
responding to a biological or medical disaster, 
especially if the disaster is declared an incident 
of national significance as defined in the Na-
tional Response Plan; and 
‘‘(B) recommendations on appropriate stat-
utory or other policy changes to address such 
conflicts. 
‘‘(d) 
RESPONSIBILITIES
REGARDING
NATIONAL 
MEDICAL SURGE CAPACITY.—Subject to the direction and 
control of the Secretary, the responsibilities of the Chief 
Medical Officer regarding national medical surge capacity 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) To conduct periodic assessments of the 
needs and capabilities of emergency medical pro-
viders, including governmental and nongovernmental 
providers, and to make the findings of such assess-
ments available to the Congress and to the emer-
gency medical provider community.
‘‘(2) To conduct surveys, not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this section and 
periodically thereafter, on the number of emergency 
medical personnel, the number of available hospitals 
beds (especially emergency and isolation bed space), 
and the production capacity of the United States to 
make vaccines, medicines, and medical supplies, and 
to make the findings of such surveys available to the 
Congress and to the emergency medical provider 
community. 
‘‘(3) Consistent with the findings of the surveys 
conducted under paragraph (2), and in consultation 
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, to ensure that the health care sys-
tem of the United States is ready to respond to an 
incident of national significance, including natural 
disasters, industrial or transportation accidents, or 
intentional attacks on the United States involving 
conventional or unconventional weapons. 
‘‘(4) To focus Federal resources on developing 
a national medical surge capacity, including by— 
‘‘(A) integrating and coordinating the as-
sets of the Department of Homeland Security 
with the assets of the Department of Defense,
the Department of Health and Human Services, 
and the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
‘‘(B) seeking to acquire and use private 
and government hospitals that have or will be 
closed, including hospitals that close because of 
the closure and realignment of military installa-
tions; and 
‘‘(C) in partnership with State and local 
authorities, generating and disseminating emer-
gency backup plans for treatment and housing 
sick or injured citizens if hospital space is un-
available, including identification of sites, num-
ber of patients who can be treated there, and 
medical staff and equipment necessary to use 
the site as an emergency treatment facility. 
‘‘(e) RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING PROJECT BIO-
SHIELD.—Subject to the direction and control of the Sec-
retary, the responsibilities of the Chief Medical Officer re-
garding Project BioShield shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) To ensure the rapid completion of material 
threat assessments and material threat determina-
tions and any other responsibilities incumbent upon 
the Department of Homeland Security for Project 
BioShield.