I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3448
To improve the ability of the United States to prevent, prepare for, and
respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 11, 2001
Mr. TAUZIN (for himself, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BROWN of Ohio,
Mr. BURR of North Carolina, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. GILLMOR, Ms. HAR-
MAN, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. MAR-
KEY, Mr. UPTON, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. GORDON, Mr.
BUYER, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. BRYANT, Mr. RUSH, Mr. GANSKE, Ms.
ESHOO, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr.
ENGEL, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. SAWYER, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey,
Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr. STRICKLAND, Mr.
CHAMBLISS, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. LINDER, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin,
Mr. FLETCHER, Mr. LUTHER, Mr. EHRLICH, Mrs. CAPPS, Mrs. WILSON,
Mr. JOHN, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. CONYERS, Mrs. CUBIN, Ms. SLAUGHTER,
Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. ANDREWS, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. WATT of North
Carolina, Mr. SUNUNU, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. LARSON
of Connecticut, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. PICKERING,
Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. TERRY, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. SAXTON, Mr.
FOLEY, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. MCKEON, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. DEAL
of Georgia, Mr. SCHROCK, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. WALDEN, Mr. VITTER, and
Mr. CALLAHAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To improve the ability of the United States to prevent,
prepare for, and respond to bioterrorism and other public
health emergencies.
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide
for the operation in accordance with this section of
a system to be known as the National Disaster Med-
ical System (in this section referred to as the ‘Na-
tional System’). The Secretary shall designate the
Assistant Secretary for Emergency Preparedness as
the head of the National System, subject to the au-
thority of the Secretary.
‘‘(2) FEDERAL
AND
STATE
COLLABORATIVE
SYSTEM.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The National System
shall be a coordinated effort by the Federal
agencies specified in subparagraph (B), working
in collaboration with the States and other ap-
propriate public or private entities, to carry out
the purposes described in paragraph (3).
‘‘(B) 
PARTICIPATING
FEDERAL
AGEN-
CIES.—The Federal agencies referred to in sub-
paragraph (A) are the Department of Health
and Human Services, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the Department of De-
fense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
‘‘(3) PURPOSE OF SYSTEM.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may
activate the National System to—
‘‘(i) provide health services, health-re-
lated social services, other appropriate
human services, and appropriate auxiliary
services to respond to the needs of victims
of a public health emergency (whether or
not determined to be a public health emer-
gency under section 319); or
‘‘(ii) be present at locations, and for
periods of time, specified by the Secretary
on the basis that the Secretary has deter-
mined that a location is at risk of a public
health emergency during the time speci-
fied.
‘‘(B) ONGOING ACTIVITIES.—The National
System shall carry out such ongoing activities
as may be necessary to prepare for the provi-
sion of services described in subparagraph (A)
in the event that the Secretary activates the
National System for such purposes.
‘‘(C) TEST
FOR
MOBILIZATION
OF
SYS-
TEM.—During the one-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of the Public Health
Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of
2001, the Secretary shall conduct an exercise to
test the capability and timeliness of the Na-
tional System to mobilize and otherwise respond
effectively to a bioterrorist attack or other pub-
lic health emergency that affects two or more
geographic locations concurrently. Thereafter,
the Secretary may periodically conduct such ex-
ercises regarding the National System as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
‘‘(c) CRITERIA.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish criteria for the operation of the National Sys-
tem.
‘‘(2) EDUCATION
AND
TRAINING
OF
PER-
SONNEL.—In carrying out paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall establish criteria regarding the edu-
cation and training of individuals who provide emer-
gency services through the National System. In the
case of permanent, full-time positions in the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services that involve
significant supervisory roles within the National Sys-
tem, the criteria shall require that individuals in
such positions have completed appropriate education
or training programs as determined by the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(3) PARTICIPATION
AGREEMENTS
FOR
NON-
FEDERAL ENTITIES.—In carrying out paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall establish criteria regarding the
participation of States and private entities in the
National System, including criteria regarding agree-
ments for such participation. The criteria shall in-
clude the following:
‘‘(A) Provisions relating to the custody and
use of Federal personal property by such enti-
ties, which may in the discretion of the Sec-
retary include authorizing the custody and use
of such property on a reimbursable basis to re-
spond to emergency situations for which the
National System has not been activated by the
Secretary pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(A).
‘‘(B) Provisions relating to circumstances
in which an individual or entity has agreements
with both the National System and another en-
tity regarding the provision of emergency serv-
ices by the individual. Such provisions shall ad-
dress the issue of priorities among the agree-
ments involved.
‘‘(d) INTERMITTENT
DISASTER-RESPONSE
PER-
SONNEL.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of assist-
ing the National System in carrying out duties
under this section, the Secretary may appoint indi-
viduals to serve as intermittent personnel of such
System in accordance with applicable civil service
laws and regulations.
‘‘(2) LIABILITY.—For purposes of section
224(a) and the remedies described in such section,
an individual appointed under paragraph (1) shall,
while acting within the scope of such appointment,
be considered to be an employee of the Public
Health Service performing medical, surgical, dental,
or related functions. With respect to the participa-
tion of individuals appointed under paragraph (1) in
training programs authorized by the Assistant Sec-
retary for Emergency Preparedness or a comparable
official of any Federal agency specified in subsection
(b)(2)(B), acts of individuals so appointed that are
within the scope of such participation shall be con-
sidered within the scope of the appointment under
paragraph (1) (regardless of whether the individuals
receive compensation for such participation).
‘‘(e) CERTAIN EMPLOYMENT ISSUES REGARDING
INTERMITTENT APPOINTMENTS.—
‘‘(1) INTERMITTENT
DISASTER-RESPONSE
AP-
POINTEE.—For purposes of this subsection, the term
‘intermittent disaster-response appointee’ means an
individual appointed by the Secretary under sub-
section (d).
‘‘(2) COMPENSATION FOR WORK INJURIES.—An
intermittent disaster-response appointee shall, while
acting in the scope of such appointment, be consid-
ered to be an employee of the Public Health Service
performing medical, surgical, dental, or related func-
tions, and an injury sustained by such an individual
shall be deemed ‘in the performance of duty’, for
purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, United States
Code, pertaining to compensation for work injuries.
With respect to the participation of individuals ap-
pointed under subsection (d) in training programs
authorized by the Assistant Secretary for Emergency
Preparedness or a comparable official of any Federal
agency specified in subsection (b)(2)(B), injuries
sustained by such an individual, while acting within
the scope of such participation, also shall be deemed
‘in the performance of duty’ for purposes of chapter
81 of title 5, United States Code (regardless of
whether the individuals receive compensation for
such participation). In the event of an injury to such
an intermittent disaster-response appointee, the Sec-
retary of Labor shall be responsible for making de-
terminations as to whether the claimant is entitled
to compensation or other benefits in accordance with
chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code.
‘‘(3) 
EMPLOYMENT
AND
REEMPLOYMENT
RIGHTS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Service as an inter-
mittent disaster-response appointee when the
Secretary activates the National System or
when the individual participates in a training
program authorized by the Assistant Secretary
for Emergency Preparedness or a comparable
official of any Federal agency specified in sub-
section (b)(2)(B) shall be deemed ‘service in the
uniformed services’ for purposes of chapter 43
of title 38, United States Code, pertaining to
employment and reemployment rights of indi-
viduals who have performed service in the uni-
formed services (regardless of whether the indi-
vidual receives compensation for such participa-
tion). All rights and obligations of such persons
and procedures for assistance, enforcement, and
investigation shall be as provided for in chapter
43 of title 38, United States Code.
‘‘(B) NOTICE OF ABSENCE FROM POSITION
OF EMPLOYMENT.—Preclusion of giving notice
of service by necessity of Service as an intermit-
tent disaster-response appointee when the Sec-
retary activates the National System shall be
deemed preclusion by ‘military necessity’ for
purposes of section 4312(b) of title 38, United
States Code, pertaining to giving notice of ab-
sence from a position of employment. A deter-
mination of such necessity shall be made by the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of
Defense, and shall not be subject to judicial re-
view.
‘‘(4) LIMITATION.—An intermittent disaster-re-
sponse appointee shall not be deemed an employee of
the Department of Health and Human Services for
purposes other than those specifically set forth in
this section.
‘‘(f) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘auxiliary services’ includes mortuary services, veteri-
nary services, and other services that are determined by
the Secretary to be appropriate with respect to the needs
referred to in subsection (b)(3)(A).
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of providing for the Assistant Secretary for Emer-
gency Preparedness and the operations of the National
System, other than purposes for which amounts in the
Public Health Emergency Fund under section 319 are
available, there are authorized to be appropriated such
sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2002
through 2006.’’.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING RESOURCES
OF NATIONAL SYSTEM.—It is the sense of the Congress
that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should
provide sufficient resources to individuals and entities
tasked to carry out the duties of the National Disaster
Medical System for reimbursement of expenses, oper-
ations, purchase and maintenance of equipment, training,
and other funds expended in furtherance of such National
System.
SEC. 103. IMPROVING ABILITY OF CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION WITH RESPECT
TO 
BIOTERRORISM 
AND 
OTHER 
PUBLIC
HEALTH EMERGENCIES; FACILITIES.
Section 319D of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d–4) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 319D. REVITALIZING THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention have an essential role in
defending against and combatting public health threats of
the 21st century and requires secure and modern facilities,
and expanded and improved capabilities related to biologi-
cal threats or attacks or other public health emergencies,
sufficient to enable such Centers to conduct this important
mission.
‘‘(b) IMPROVING THE CAPACITIES OF THE CENTERS
FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ex-
pand, enhance, and improve the capabilities of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relating
to preparedness for and responding effectively to
bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
Activities that may be carried out under the pre-
ceding sentence include—
‘‘(A) expanding or enhancing the training
of personnel;
‘‘(B) improving communications facilities
and networks;
‘‘(C) improving capabilities for public
health surveillance and reporting activities;
‘‘(D) improving laboratory facilities related
to bioterrorism, including increasing the secu-
rity of such facilities; and
‘‘(E) such other activities as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
‘‘(2) IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY
CAPACITY.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, di-
rectly or through awards of grants, contracts,
or cooperative agreements, shall provide for the
establishment of a coordinated network of pub-
lic health laboratories, that may, at the discre-
tion of the Secretary, include laboratories that
serve as regional reference laboratories.
‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—In carrying out subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to
projects that include State or local government
financial commitments, that seek to incorporate
multiple public health and safety services or di-
agnostic databases into an integrated public
health or regional reference laboratory, and
that cover geographic areas lacking advanced
diagnostic and safety-level laboratory capabili-
ties.
‘‘(3) NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNICA-
TIONS AND SURVEILLANCE NETWORK.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, di-
rectly or through awards of grants, contracts,
or cooperative agreements, shall provide for the
establishment of integrated public health com-
munications and surveillance networks between
and among—
‘‘(i) Federal, State, and local public
health officials;
‘‘(ii) public and private health-related
laboratories, hospitals, and other health
care facilities; and
‘‘(iii) any other entities determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
‘‘(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Secretary
shall ensure that networks under subparagraph
(A) allow for the timely sharing and discussion,
in a secure manner, of essential information
concerning a bioterrorist attack or other public
health emergency, or recommended methods for
responding to such an attack or emergency.
‘‘(4) CONTINUITY OF EFFORT.—To the max-
imum extent practicable, the Secretary, in con-
ducting activities under paragraphs (1) through (3),
shall administer such activities in a manner that in-
tensifies, expands, or enhances activities being car-
ried out on the date of enactment of this subsection.
‘‘(c) FACILITIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention may design,
construct, and equip new facilities, renovate existing
facilities (including laboratories, laboratory support
buildings, scientific communication facilities, trans-
shipment complexes, secured and isolated parking
structures, office buildings, and other facilities and
infrastructure), and upgrade security of such facili-
ties, in order to better conduct the capacities de-
scribed in section 319A, and for supporting related
public health activities.
‘‘(2) MULTIYEAR CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—
For any project of designing, constructing, equip-
ping, or renovating any facility under paragraph (1),
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention may enter into a single contract or re-
lated contracts that collectively include the full scope
of the project, and the solicitation and contract shall
contain the clause ‘availability of funds’ found at
section 52.232–18 of title 48, Code of Federal Regu-
lations.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of achiev-
ing the mission of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention described in subsection (a), for car-
rying out subsection (b), for better conducting the
capacities described in section 319A, and for sup-
porting related public health activities, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for each of the fiscal years 2002 through
2006.
‘‘(2) FACILITIES.—For the purpose of carrying
out subsection (c), there are authorized to be appro-
priated $300,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2002 and 2003, and such sums as may be necessary
for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2006.’’.
SEC. 104. ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND COMMUNICATIONS.
Section 319F of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d–6) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (i)
as subsections (e) through (k), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing subsections:
‘‘(c) ADVICE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.—
‘‘(1) REQUIRED
ADVISORY
COMMITTEES.—In
coordination with the working groups under sub-
sections (a) and (b), the Secretary shall establish ad-
visory 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).
‘‘(2) NATIONAL
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
ON
CHILDREN AND TERRORISM.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall establish an advi-
sory committee to be known as the National
Advisory Committee on Children and Terrorism
(referred to in this paragraph as the ‘Advisory
Committee’).
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee
shall provide recommendations regarding—
‘‘(i) the preparedness of the health
care (including mental health care) system
to respond to bioterrorism as it relates to
children;
‘‘(ii) needed changes to the health
care and emergency medical service sys-
tems and emergency medical services pro-
tocols to meet the special needs of children;
and
‘‘(iii) changes, if necessary, to the na-
tional stockpile under section 121 of the
Public Health Security and Bioterrorism
Response Act of 2001 to meet the special
needs of children.
‘‘(C) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall be composed of such Federal offi-
cials as may be appropriate to address the spe-
cial needs of the diverse population groups of
children, and child health experts on infectious
disease, environmental health, toxicology, and
other relevant professional disciplines.
‘‘(D) TERMINATION.—The Advisory Com-
mittee terminates one year after the date of the
enactment of the Public Health Security and
Bioterrorism Response Act of 2001.
‘‘(3) EMERGENCY
PUBLIC
INFORMATION
AND
COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall establish an advi-
sory committee to be known as the Emergency
Public Information and Communications Advi-
sory Committee (referred to in this paragraph
as the ‘EPIC Advisory Committee’).
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The EPIC Advisory Com-
mittee shall make recommendations and report
on appropriate ways to communicate public-
health information regarding biological attacks
to the public.
‘‘(C) COMPOSITION.—The EPIC Advisory
Committee shall be composed of individuals rep-
resenting a diverse group of experts in public
health, communications, behavioral psychology,
and other areas determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
‘‘(D) 
DISSEMINATION.—The 
Secretary
shall ensure that the recommendations of the
EPIC Advisory Committee are widely dissemi-
nated to the media, State and local govern-
ments, poison control centers, and others as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
‘‘(E) TERMINATION.—The EPIC Advisory
Committee terminates one year after the date
of the enactment of the Public Health Security
and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2001.
‘‘(d) STRATEGY FOR COMMUNICATION OF INFORMA-
TION REGARDING BIOLOGICAL ATTACK.—In coordination
with the joint interdepartmental working group under sub-
section (b), the Secretary, acting through the Assistant
Secretary for Emergency Preparedness, shall develop a
strategy for effectively communicating information regard-
ing a biological attack, and shall develop means by which
to communicate such information. The Secretary may
carry out the preceding sentence directly or through
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.’’.
SEC. 105. EDUCATION OF HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL;
TRAINING REGARDING PEDIATRIC ISSUES.
Section 319F(g) of the Public Health Service Act, as
redesignated by section 104(1) of this Act, is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘(g) EDUCATION; TRAINING REGARDING PEDIATRIC
ISSUES.—
‘‘(1) MATERIALS; 
CORE
CURRICULUM.—The
Secretary, in collaboration with members of the
working group described in subsection (b), and pro-
fessional organizations and societies, shall—
‘‘(A) develop materials for teaching the ele-
ments of a core curriculum for the recognition
and identification (including proficiency testing)
of potential bioweapons and other agents that
may create a public health emergency, and for
the care of victims of such emergencies, recog-
nizing the special needs of children and other
vulnerable populations, to public health offi-
cials, medical professionals, emergency physi-
cians and other emergency department staff,
laboratory personnel, and other personnel work-
ing in health care facilities (including poison
control centers);
‘‘(B) develop a core curriculum and mate-
rials for community-wide planning by State and
local governments, hospitals and other health
care facilities, emergency response units, and
appropriate public and private sector entities to
respond to a bioterrorist attack or other public
health emergency;
‘‘(C) provide for dissemination and teach-
ing of the materials described in subparagraphs
(A) and (B) by all appropriate means, including
telemedicine, long-distance learning, or other
such means; and
‘‘(D) to the extent practicable, establish
and maintain an electronic database of individ-
uals participating in training or education pro-
grams carried out under this section, for the
purpose of providing continuing education ma-
terials and information to such participants.
‘‘(2) GRANTS.—In carrying out paragraph (1),
the Secretary may award grants to, or enter into co-
operative agreements with, professional organiza-
tions and societies, private accrediting organizations,
or other nonprofit institutions or entities meeting
criteria established by the Secretary, and may enter
into interagency cooperative agreements with other
Federal agencies.
‘‘(3) 
HEALTH-RELATED
ASSISTANCE
FOR
EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
PERSONNEL
TRAINING.—
The Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney
General and the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, may provide assistance with
respect to health-related aspects of emergency re-
sponse personnel training carried out by the Depart-
ment of Justice and the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency.’’.
SEC. 106. GRANTS REGARDING SHORTAGES OF CERTAIN
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 319G the following section:
‘‘SEC. 319H. GRANTS REGARDING TRAINING AND EDU-
CATION 
OF 
CERTAIN 
HEALTH 
PROFES-
SIONALS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make awards
of grants and cooperative agreements to appropriate pub-
lic and nonprofit private health or educational entities, in-
cluding health professions schools and programs as de-
fined in section 799B, for the purpose of providing low-
interest loans, partial scholarships, partial fellowships, re-
volving loan funds, or other cost-sharing forms of assist-
ance for the education and training of individuals in any
category of health professions for which there is a shortage
that the Secretary determines should be alleviated in order
to prepare for or respond effectively to bioterrorism and
other public health emergencies.
‘‘(b) AUTHORITY REGARDING NON-FEDERAL CON-
TRIBUTIONS.—The Secretary may require as a condition
of an award under subsection (a) that a grantee under
such subsection provide non-Federal contributions toward
the purpose described in such subsection.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for
each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2006.’’.
SEC. 107. EMERGENCY SYSTEM FOR VERIFICATION OF CRE-
DENTIALS OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS VOLUN-
TEERS.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act,
as amended by section 106 of this Act, is amended by in-
serting after section 319H the following section:
‘‘SEC. 319I. EMERGENCY SYSTEM FOR VERIFICATION OF
HEALTH PROFESSIONS VOLUNTEERS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, directly or
through an award of a grant, contract, or cooperative
agreement, establish and maintain a system for verifying
the credentials, licenses, accreditations, and hospital privi-
leges of individuals, who during public health emergencies
volunteer to serve as health professionals (referred to in
this section as the ‘verification system’). In carrying out
the preceding sentence, the Secretary shall provide for an
electronic database for the verification system.
‘‘(b) CERTAIN CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish criteria regarding the verification system under sub-
section (a), including provisions regarding the promptness
and efficiency of the system in collecting, storing, updat-
ing, and disseminating information on the credentials, li-
censes, accreditations, and hospital privileges of volunteers
described in subsection (a).
‘‘(c) ADVANCE REGISTRATION OF VOLUNTEERS.—In
order to facilitate the availability of health professionals
during a public health emergency, the Secretary shall pro-
vide for the advance registration with the system of health
professionals who are willing to serve as volunteers de-
scribed in subsection (a), and may carry out activities to
encourage health professionals to register with the system.
‘‘(d) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may make
grants and provide technical assistance to States and
other public or nonprofit private entities for activities re-
lating to the verification system developed under sub-
section (a).
‘‘(e) COORDINATION
AMONG
STATES.—The Sec-
retary shall encourage each State to provide legal author-
ity during a public health emergency for health profes-
sionals authorized in another State to provide certain
health services to provide such health services in the State.
‘‘(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—This section may
not be construed as authorizing the Secretary to issue re-
quirements regarding the provision by the States of cre-
dentials, licenses, accreditations, or hospital privileges.
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized
to be appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
2003 through 2006.’’.
SEC. 108. ENHANCING PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES FOR
BIOTERRORISM AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCIES.
Section 319F of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247d–6) is amended—
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(a) WORKING GROUP ON PREPAREDNESS FOR ACTS
OF BIOTERRORISM.—The Secretary, in coordination with
the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, the Attorney General,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Agri-
culture, the Secretary of Energy, and the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency 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 and prioritize research on, and
the development of countermeasures against, patho-
gens likely to be used in a bioterrorist attack on the
civilian population;
‘‘(2) facilitate the development, production, and
regulatory review of priority countermeasures (as de-
fined in subsection (h)(2)(C)) for a bioterrorist at-
tack on the civilian population;
‘‘(3) 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;
‘‘(4) develop shared standards for equipment to
detect and to protect against infection from patho-
gens likely to be used in a bioterrorist attack on the
civilian population; and
‘‘(5) coordinate the development, maintenance,
and procedures for the release and distribution of
strategic reserves of vaccines, drugs, and medical
supplies which may be needed rapidly after a bioter-
rorist attack upon the civilian population, including
consideration of vulnerable populations (such as chil-
dren, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities).’’;
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and all that follows through ‘‘shall establish’’
and inserting the following: ‘‘The Secretary, in col-
laboration with the Secretary of Defense, the Direc-
tor of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,
the Attorney General, the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
Labor, and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, shall establish’’;
(3) in subsection (b)(2)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘re-
spond to a bioterrorist attack; and’’ and insert-
ing the following: ‘‘respond to a bioterrorist at-
tack, including the provision of appropriate
safety and health training and protective meas-
ures for medical, emergency service, and other
personnel responding to such attacks;’’;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the
period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and