‘‘(3) An Assistant Secretary for Emergency 
Communications, who shall report directly to the 
Under Secretary for Emergency Management. 
‘‘(4) An Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure 
Protection, who shall report directly to the Under 
Secretary for Emergency Management. 
‘‘(5) An Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity 
and Telecommunications, who shall report directly to 
the Under Secretary for Emergency Management. 
‘‘SEC. 502. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNDER SECRETARY. 
‘‘(a) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Subject to the direction 
and control of the Secretary, the Under Secretary for 
Emergency Management shall have the primary responsi-
bility within the executive branch of Government for pre-
paring for, mitigating against, responding to, and recov-
ering from acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other 
emergencies. Such responsibilities shall include the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Serving as the Secretary’s principal advi-
sor on emergency preparedness, mitigation, re-
sponse, and recovery issues. 
‘‘(2) Carrying out all functions and authorities 
prescribed by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
seq.). 
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‘‘(3) Coordinating the Federal response to acts 
of terrorism, natural disasters, or other emergencies, 
including coordination of— 
‘‘(A) the National Emergency Response 
Team; 
‘‘(B) the deployment of the Strategic Na-
tional Stockpile; 
‘‘(C) the National Disaster Medical Sys-
tem; 
‘‘(D) the Nuclear Incident Response Team 
(when operating as an organizational unit of 
the Department pursuant to this title); 
‘‘(E) the Metropolitan Medical Response 
System; 
‘‘(F) the Urban Search and Rescue Sys-
tem; 
‘‘(G) Federal Incident Response Support 
Teams; 
‘‘(H) Management Support Teams; and 
‘‘(I) the Mobile Emergency Response Sys-
tem. 
‘‘(4) Overseeing and directing all of the activi-
ties of the Directorate. 
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‘‘(5) Developing for each fiscal year, and sub-
mitting directly to the President, a prepared budget 
for the Directorate. 
‘‘(6) Coordinating emergency preparedness, 
mitigation, response, and recovery activities through-
out the Department. 
‘‘(7) Leading the development of an integrated 
national emergency management system. 
‘‘(8) Coordinating preparedness, mitigation, re-
sponse, and recovery efforts at the Federal level. 
‘‘(9) Working with all State, local, tribal, and 
private sector emergency managers, emergency re-
sponse providers, and emergency support providers 
on all matters pertaining to acts of terrorism, nat-
ural disasters, and other emergencies, including 
training, exercises, and lessons learned. 
‘‘(10) Implementing national strategies and 
policies in all matters pertaining to emergency man-
agement and the protection of critical infrastructure. 
‘‘(11) Establishing priorities for directing, fund-
ing, and conducting national preparedness programs, 
activities, and services for preventing, protecting 
against, mitigating against, responding to, and re-
covering from acts of terrorism, natural disasters, 
and other emergencies. 
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‘‘(12) Coordinating communications and sys-
tems of communications relating to homeland secu-
rity by and between all levels of government. 
‘‘(13) Directing and supervising homeland secu-
rity financial assistance awarded by the Department 
to State, local, and tribal governments. 
‘‘(14) Serving as an advocate for emergency 
preparedness across all government sectors, the pri-
vate sector, and the public. 
‘‘(15) Helping to ensure the acquisition of oper-
able and interoperable communications capabilities 
by Federal, State, and local governments and emer-
gency response providers. 
‘‘(16) Aiding the recovery from acts of ter-
rorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. 
‘‘(17) Minimizing, to the extent practicable, 
overlapping planning and reporting requirements ap-
plicable to State, local, and tribal governments and 
the private sector. 
‘‘(18) Performing such other duties relating to 
such responsibilities as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS TRANSFERRED.— 
‘‘(1) TRANSFER.—There are transferred to the 
Under Secretary for Emergency Management— 
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‘‘(A) the functions, personnel, assets, and 
liabilities of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency; and 
‘‘(B) the functions, personnel, assets, and 
liabilities of the Directorate of Preparedness. 
‘‘(2) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Under Secretary 
shall carry out the responsibilities of the Director of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
the responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Pre-
paredness. 
‘‘(c) PERFORMANCE OF PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED 
FUNCTIONS.—The Secretary shall perform the functions 
of the following entities through the Under Secretary for 
Emergency Management: 
‘‘(1) The Integrated Hazard Information Sys-
tem (which the Secretary shall rename ‘FIRESAT’) 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration. 
‘‘(2) The National Domestic Preparedness Of-
fice of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, includ-
ing the functions of the Attorney General relating 
thereto. 
‘‘(3) The Domestic Emergency Response Teams 
of the Department of Justice, including the func-
tions of the Attorney General relating thereto. 
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‘‘(4) The Office of Emergency Preparedness, 
the National Disaster Medical System, and the Met-
ropolitan Medical Response System of the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, including the 
functions of the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services and the Assistant Secretary for Public 
Health Emergency Preparedness relating thereto. 
‘‘(5) The United States Fire Administration 
and the United States Fire Academy. 
‘‘(d) REPROGRAMMING AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS.— 
In reprogramming or transferring funds, the Secretary 
shall comply with any applicable provision of an annual 
Homeland Security Appropriations Act relating to the re-
programming or transfer of funds. 
‘‘(e) SUFFICIENCY OF RESOURCES.—The Secretary 
shall provide to the Under Secretary for Emergency Man-
agement the resources and staff necessary to carry out 
the responsibilities of the Directorate of Emergency Man-
agement under this section. 
‘‘SEC. 503. PRINCIPAL ADVISOR ON EMERGENCY MANAGE-
MENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for Emer-
gency Management shall serve as the principal advisor to 
the President for all matters pertaining to emergency 
management in the United States. 
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‘‘(b) CABINET STATUS.—During the effective period 
of an Incident of National Significance declared by the 
Secretary under the National Response Plan, the Under 
Secretary for Emergency Management shall serve as a 
Cabinet Officer for the duration of such Incident of Na-
tional Significance. 
‘‘(c) APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL FEDERAL OFFI-
CIAL.—Notwithstanding any provision of the National Re-
sponse Plan or Homeland Security Presidential Directive 
5, the Secretary, in coordination with the Under Secretary 
for Emergency Management, shall designate the Principal 
Federal Official for purposes of the National Response 
Plan. 
‘‘(d) RETENTION OF AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this 
section shall be construed as affecting the authority of the 
Secretary under this Act. 
‘‘SEC. 504. REGIONAL OFFICES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with section 706, 
there is in the Directorate a Regional Office of Emergency 
Management for each region of the United States. 
‘‘(b) MANAGEMENT OF REGIONAL OFFICES.— 
‘‘(1) REGIONAL DIRECTOR.—Each Regional Of-
fice shall be headed by a Regional Director for 
Emergency Management, who shall be appointed by 
the Secretary, in consultation with State, local, and 
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tribal governments in the region. Except as provided 
in subsection (c)(3), each Regional Director for 
Emergency Management shall report directly to the 
Under Secretary for Emergency Management. 
‘‘(2) DEPUTY
REGIONAL
DIRECTOR.—There 
shall be in each Regional Office a Deputy Regional 
Director for Emergency Management, who shall be 
appointed by the Secretary, in consultation with 
State, local, and tribal governments in the region. 
The Deputy Regional Director for Emergency Man-
agement for a Regional Office shall report directly 
to the Regional Director for Emergency Manage-
ment for that Regional Office. 
‘‘(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each individual ap-
pointed as Regional Director or Deputy Regional Di-
rector for Emergency Management must possess a 
demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency 
management and possess familiarity with the geo-
graphical area and demographic characteristics of 
the population served by the Regional Office. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to the direction 
and control of the Secretary and in consultation with 
the Regional Advisory Council on Emergency Man-
agement under subsection (e), each Regional Direc-
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tor for Emergency Management shall work in part-
nership with State, local, and tribal governments, 
emergency managers, emergency response providers, 
emergency support providers, medical providers, the 
private 
sector, 
nongovernmental 
organizations, 
multijurisdictional councils of governments, and re-
gional planning commissions and organizations in 
the geographical area served by the Regional Office 
to carry out the responsibilities under this section. 
‘‘(2) CORE
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The core re-
sponsibilities of each Regional Director are as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(A) Ensuring coordination and integra-
tion of regional preparedness, mitigation, re-
sponse, and recovery activities and programs, 
including planning, training, exercises, and pro-
fessional development. 
‘‘(B) Participating in regional emergency 
management activities. 
‘‘(C) Identifying critical gaps in prepared-
ness and reporting such gaps to the Assistant 
Secretary for Grants and Planning. 
‘‘(D) Identifying critical gaps in critical in-
frastructure and reporting such gaps to the As-
sistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. 
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‘‘(E) Organizing, in consultation with the 
Assistant Secretary for Training and Exercises, 
regional training and exercise programs. 
‘‘(F) Facilitating the dissemination and 
implementation of lessons learned and best 
practices. 
‘‘(G) Improving general information shar-
ing and other forms of coordination. 
‘‘(H) Encouraging, in coordination with 
the Director of the Office of Public and Com-
munity Preparedness, public and community 
preparedness efforts. 
‘‘(I) Assisting in the development of re-
gional capabilities needed for a national cata-
strophic response system. 
‘‘(J) Monitoring, in coordination with the 
Assistant Secretary for Grants and Planning, 
the use of Federal homeland security assistance 
awarded by the Department to State, local, and 
tribal governments. 
‘‘(K) Pre-identifying Joint Field Office lo-
cations in areas with large populations or in 
areas at high risk to acts of terrorism, natural 
disasters, or other emergencies. 
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‘‘(L) Fostering the development of mutual 
aid and other cooperative agreements pertaining 
to emergency management. 
‘‘(M) Identifying critical gaps in regional 
capabilities to respond to the needs of at-risk 
communities, as described in section 527(e). 
‘‘(N) Performing such other duties relating 
to such responsibilities as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
‘‘(3) INCIDENTS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.— 
‘‘(A) APPOINTMENT OF REGIONAL DIREC-
TOR AS PRINCIPAL FEDERAL OFFICIAL OR FED-
ERAL COORDINATING OFFICER.—During the ef-
fective period of an Incident of National Signifi-
cance declared by the Secretary under the Na-
tional Response Plan, if the Regional Director 
is appointed Principal Federal Official or Fed-
eral Coordinating Officer, the Deputy Regional 
Director shall assume the responsibilities of the 
Regional Director during such incident. 
‘‘(B) RESPONSIBILITIES
OF
PRINCIPAL 
FEDERAL OFFICIAL.—In addition to the respon-
sibilities of the Principal Federal Official under 
the National Response Plan, such Official shall, 
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with respect to the Incident of National Signifi-
cance— 
‘‘(i) establish and direct a Joint Field 
Office and any other coordination struc-
ture that is needed for such incident; 
‘‘(ii) possess the authority to make 
any necessary operational decisions, in ac-
cordance with existing Federal law, with-
out obtaining approval from the Secretary; 
‘‘(iii) coordinate and direct, as appro-
priate, Federal response assets deployed 
within the operational area; 
‘‘(iv) serve as the primary point of 
contact between the Department, the De-
partment of Defense, and States for con-
tingency planning; and 
‘‘(v) act as the primary point of con-
tact and situational awareness locally for 
the Secretary of Homeland Security. 
‘‘(d) TRAINING AND EXERCISE REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) TRAINING.—The Secretary shall require 
each Regional Director and Deputy Regional Direc-
tor for Emergency Management to complete Prin-
cipal Federal Officer training not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Regional Director or 
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Deputy Regional Director is appointed. In addition, 
the Secretary shall require each Regional Director 
and Deputy Regional Director to periodically, but 
not less than annually, undergo specific training to 
complement the qualifications of the Regional Direc-
tor or Deputy Regional Director. Such training shall 
include training with respect to the National Inci-
dent Management System, the National Response 
Plan, and such other subjects as determined by the 
Secretary. 
‘‘(2) EXERCISES.—The Secretary shall require 
each Regional Director and Deputy Regional Direc-
tor for Emergency Management to regularly partici-
pate in regional or national exercises. 
‘‘(e) REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCILS
ON EMER-
GENCY MANAGEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in each Re-
gional Office a Regional Advisory Council on Emer-
gency Management. Each Advisory Council shall re-
port to the Regional Director of the Regional Office. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(A) The Regional Director shall appoint 
the following members to the Advisory Council 
of that Regional Director’s Regional Office— 
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‘‘(i) subject matter experts from 
across the Federal Government, including 
representatives from the Departments of 
Defense, Energy, Health and Human Serv-
ices, and Transportation; 
‘‘(ii) subject matter experts from com-
ponents of the Directorate, including the 
Offices of Grants and Planning, Training 
and Exercises, Public and Community Pre-
paredness, Infrastructure Protection, Re-
sponse, and Recovery; 
‘‘(iii) subject matter experts from 
other components of the Department, in-
cluding the Coast Guard, United States 
Customs and Border Protection, Immigra-
tion and Customs Enforcement, the Trans-
portation Security Administration, and the 
United States Secret Service; 
‘‘(iv) subject matter experts rep-
resenting emergency managers, emergency 
response providers, and emergency support 
providers; and 
‘‘(v) subject matter experts from the 
private sector, including nongovernmental 
organizations, educational institutions, so-
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cial action agencies, and faith-based orga-
nizations. 
‘‘(B) State, local, and tribal governments 
within the geographic area served by the Re-
gional Office shall appoint officials, including 
Adjutants General and emergency managers, as 
members of the Advisory Council. 
‘‘(3) TERMS OF OFFICE.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term of office of 
each member of the Advisory Council shall be 
3 years. 
‘‘(B) INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS.—Of the 
members initially appointed to the Advisory 
Council— 
‘‘(i) one-third shall be appointed for a 
term of one year; and 
‘‘(ii) one-third shall be appointed for a 
term of two years. 
‘‘(4) CHAIR.—At the first meeting of the Advi-
sory Council, the members of the Advisory Council 
appointed under paragraph (2) shall elect a chair of 
the Advisory Council. 
‘‘(5) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Council shall 
meet at least biannually at the call of the chair. 
Each member shall be given appropriate notice of 
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the call of each meeting, whenever possible not less 
than 15 days before the meeting. 
‘‘(6) REGIONAL FACTORS.—The size and com-
position of each Advisory Council shall be deter-
mined by— 
‘‘(A) the size of the region associated with 
the Advisory Council; 
‘‘(B) the propensity of that region to expe-
rience natural disasters and other emergencies; 
‘‘(C) the risk of acts of terrorism within 
the region; and 
‘‘(D) State, local, and tribal preparedness, 
as measured against the National Preparedness 
Goal. 
‘‘(7) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Advisory Council 
shall carry out the following responsibilities: 
‘‘(A) Advise the Regional Director on 
emergency management issues specific to that 
region. 
‘‘(B) Identify any geographic, demo-
graphic, or other characteristics peculiar to any 
State, local, or tribal government within the re-
gion that might make preparedness, mitigation, 
response, or recovery more complicated or dif-
ficult. 
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‘‘(C) Advise the Regional Director on de-
veloping a process of peer review for cata-
strophic emergency plans submitted under sec-
tion 524. 
‘‘(D) Advise the Regional Director of any 
weaknesses or deficiencies in preparedness, 
mitigation, response, and recovery for any 
State, local, or tribal government within the re-
gion of which the Advisory Council is aware. 
‘‘(E) Assist the Regional Director in estab-
lishing a process to secure goods and services 
through coordinated, pre-negotiated contracts 
by Federal, State, local, and tribal govern-
ments. 
‘‘(F) Provide recommendations on other 
matters pertaining to emergency management. 
‘‘(G) Provide such advice as the Regional 
Director requests. 
‘‘(f) COORDINATION.—Each Regional Director for 
Emergency Management shall coordinate all activities con-
ducted under this section with other Federal departments 
and agencies, and shall not have authority over other 
agencies of the Department, including the Coast Guard, 
the United States Customs and Border Protection, Immi-
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gration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Se-
curity Administration, or the United States Secret Service. 
‘‘(g) RETENTION OF AUTHORITIES.— 
‘‘(1) 
FEDERAL
COORDINATING
OFFICER.— 
Nothing in this section shall be construed as affect-
ing any authority of the Federal Coordinating Offi-
cer under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5201 et seq.). 
‘‘(2) STATE, LOCAL, AND
TRIBAL
GOVERN-
MENTS.—Nothing in this section shall be construed 
as limiting the power of State, local, and tribal gov-
ernments. 
‘‘(h) DEADLINE AND USE OF EXISTING OFFICES.— 
‘‘(1) DEADLINE.—The Secretary shall establish 
the Regional Offices required under this section not 
later than one year after the date of the enactment 
of the Foundations for Emergency Management Act. 
‘‘(2) USE OF EXISTING FIELD OFFICES.—In es-
tablishing the Regional Offices required under this 
section, the Secretary shall, to the extent prac-
ticable, co-locate and consolidate field offices of the 
Department that are in existence as of the date of 
the enactment of such Act. 
‘‘(i) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 
871(a) and subject to paragraph (2), the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), including 
subsections (a), (b), and (d) of section 10 of such 
Act, and section 552b(c) of title 5, United States 
Code, shall apply to the Advisory Council. 
‘‘(2) TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2)(B) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) shall not apply to the Advisory Council. 
‘‘SEC. 505. CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Department a 
Chief Medical Officer, who shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
The Chief Medical Officer shall report directly to the 
Under Secretary for Emergency Management. 
‘‘(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The individual appointed as 
Chief Medical Officer shall possess a demonstrated ability 
in and knowledge of medicine and public health. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Chief Medical Officer 
shall have the primary responsibility within the Depart-
ment for medical issues related to acts of terrorism, nat-
ural disasters, and other emergencies, including the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) Serving as the Secretary’s principal advi-
sor on medical and public health issues. 
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‘‘(2) Coordinating the biosurveillance and detec-
tion activities of the Department. 
‘‘(3) Ensuring that decision support tools link 
biosurveillance and detection information to near 
real-time response actions at the State, local, and 
tribal level. 
‘‘(4) Ensuring internal and external coordina-
tion of all medical preparedness and response activi-
ties of the Department, including training, exercises, 
and equipment support. 
‘‘(5) Serving as the Department’s primary point 
of contact with the Departments of Agriculture, De-
fense, Health and Human Services, Transportation, 
and Veterans Affairs, and other Federal depart-
ments or agencies, on medical and public health 
issues. 
‘‘(6) Serving as the Department’s primary point 
of contact with respect to medical and public health 
matters. 
‘‘(7) Discharging, in coordination with the 
Under Secretary for Science and Technology, re-
sponsibilities of the Department related to Project 
Bioshield. 
‘‘(8) Establishing doctrine and priorities for the 
National Disaster Medical System and supervising 
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its medical components, consistent with the National 
Response Plan and the National Incident Manage-
ment System. 
‘‘(9) Establishing doctrine and priorities for the 
Metropolitan Medical Response System, consistent 
with the National Response Plan and the National 
Incident Management System. 
‘‘(10) Assessing and monitoring long-term 
health issues of emergency managers, emergency re-
sponse providers, and emergency support providers. 
‘‘(11) Developing and updating guidelines for 
State, local, and tribal governments for medical re-
sponse plans for chemical, biological, radiological, 
nuclear, or explosive weapon attacks. 
‘‘(12) Identifying, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, appropriate 
medical equipment and supplies for inclusion in the 
force packages under the Prepositioned Equipment 
Program under section 581. 
‘‘(13) Developing, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, appropriate 
patient tracking capabilities to execute domestic pa-
tient movement and evacuations, including a system 
that has the capacity of electronically maintaining 
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and transmitting the health information of hospital 
patients. 
‘‘(14) Performing such other duties relating to 
such responsibilities as the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(d) DEPUTY.—There is in the Department a Deputy 
Chief Medical Officer, who shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary and who shall assist the Chief Medical Officer in 
carrying out the responsibilities under subsection (c). 
‘‘(e) QUALIFICATIONS.—The individual appointed as 
Deputy Chief Medical Officer shall possess a demonstrated 
ability in and knowledge of medicine and public health. 
‘‘(f) 
LONG-TERM
HEALTH
ASSESSMENT
PRO-
GRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Medical Officer, 
in consultation with the Director of the National In-
stitute for Occupational Safety and Health, shall es-
tablish a program to assess, monitor, and study the 
health and safety of emergency managers, emer-
gency response providers, and emergency support 
providers following Incidents of National Signifi-
cance declared by the Secretary under the National 
Response Plan. 
‘‘(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In carrying 
out the program under this subsection, the Chief 
Medical Officer shall enter into cooperative agree-
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ments, as necessary, with medical institutions in the 
areas affected by such Incidents of National Signifi-
cance. 
‘‘(g) FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL AS-
SETS.— 
‘‘(1) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.—The Chief Med-
ical Officer shall develop a comprehensive plan to 
identify, deploy, and track public health and medical 
assets of the Federal Government for use during a 
catastrophic event. 
‘‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Chief Medical Officer shall submit to Congress a re-
port containing the plan developed under this sub-
section. 
‘‘SEC. 506. NATIONAL BIOSURVEILLANCE INTEGRATION 
SYSTEM. 
‘‘(a) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Chief Medical Officer, shall establish a Na-
tional Biosurveillance Integration System (referred to in 
this section as the ‘NBIS’) to enhance the capability of 
the Federal Government to rapidly identify, characterize, 
and localize a biological event by integrating and analyzing 
data from human health, animal, plant, food, and environ-
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mental monitoring systems (both national and inter-
national) into 1 comprehensive system. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The NBIS shall be designed 
to detect, as early as possible, a biological event that pre-
sents a risk to the United States or the infrastructure or 
key assets of the United States. The NBIS shall— 
‘‘(1) consolidate data from all relevant surveil-
lance systems maintained by the Department and 
other governmental and private sources, both foreign 
and domestic; 
‘‘(2) use an information technology system that 
uses the best available statistical and other analyt-
ical tools to automatically identify and characterize 
biological events in as close to real-time as possible; 
and 
‘‘(3) process and protect sensitive data con-
sistent with requirements of applicable privacy laws 
including the Health Insurance Portability and Ac-
countability Act of 1996. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL OF-
FICER.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Medical Officer 
shall— 
‘‘(A) establish an entity to perform all op-
erations and assessments related to the NBIS; 
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‘‘(B) continuously monitor the availability 
and appropriateness of data feeds and solicit 
new surveillance systems with data that would 
enhance biological situational awareness or 
overall NBIS performance; 
‘‘(C) continuously review and seek to im-
prove the statistical and other analytical meth-
ods utilized by NBIS; 
‘‘(D) establish a procedure to enable States 
and local government entities to report sus-
picious events that could warrant further as-
sessments using NBIS; 
‘‘(E) receive and consider all relevant 
homeland security information; and 
‘‘(F) provide technical assistance, as ap-
propriate, to all Federal, regional, State, and 
local government entities and private sector en-
tities that contribute data relevant to the oper-
ation of NBIS. 
‘‘(2) ASSESSMENTS.—The Chief Medical Officer 
shall— 
‘‘(A) continuously evaluate available data 
for evidence of a biological event; and 
‘‘(B) integrate homeland security informa-
tion with NBIS data to provide overall situa-
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tional awareness and determine whether a bio-
logical event has occurred. 
‘‘(3) INFORMATION SHARING.—The Chief Med-
ical Officer shall— 
‘‘(A) in the event that a biological event is 
detected, notify the Secretary and disseminate 
results of NBIS assessments related to that bi-
ological event to appropriate Federal, regional, 
State, and local response entities in a timely 
manner to support decisionmaking; 
‘‘(B) provide reports on NBIS assessments 
to Federal, regional, State, and local govern-
ments and any private sector entities, as consid-
ered appropriate by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) use available information sharing net-
works internal to the Department, as well as 
those within the intelligence community and op-
eration centers, for distributing NBIS incident 
or situational awareness reports. 
‘‘(d) NOTIFICATION OF CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.— 
The Secretary shall ensure that the Chief Medical Officer 
is notified of any threat of a biological event and receives 
all classified and unclassified reports related to threats of 
biological events in a timely manner. 
‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES.— 
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‘‘(1) HIRING OF EXPERTS.—The Chief Medical 
Officer shall hire individuals with the necessary ex-
pertise to develop and operate the NBIS system. 
‘‘(2) DETAIL
OF
PERSONNEL.—Upon the re-
quest of the Chief Medical Officer, the head of any 
Federal department or agency may detail, on a reim-
bursable basis, any of the personnel of that depart-
ment or agency to the Directorate of Emergency 
Management to assist the Chief Medical Officer in 
carrying out this section. 
‘‘(3) PRIVACY.—The Chief Medical Officer shall 
ensure all applicable privacy regulations are strictly 
adhered to in the operation of the NBIS and the 
sharing of any information related to the NBIS. 
‘‘(f) JOINT BIOSURVEILLANCE LEADERSHIP COUN-
CIL.—The Chief Medical Officer shall— 
‘‘(1) establish an interagency coordination coun-
cil to facilitate interagency cooperation to advise the 
Chief Medical Officer on recommendations to en-
hance the biosurveillance capabilities of the Depart-
ment; and 
‘‘(2) invite officials of Federal agencies that 
conduct biosurveillance programs, including the De-
partment of Health and Human Services, the De-
partment of Agriculture, the Environment Protec-
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tion Agency, and the Department of Defense, to 
serve on such council. 
‘‘(g) ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 
December 31 of each year, the Chief Medical Officer shall 
submit to Congress a report that contains each of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) A list of departments, agencies, and pri-
vate or nonprofit entities participating in the NBIS 
and the data each entity contributes to the NBIS. 
‘‘(2) An implementation plan for the NBIS that 
includes cost, schedule, and key milestones. 
‘‘(3) The status of the implementation of the 
NBIS. 
‘‘(4) The schedule for obtaining access to any 
relevant biosurveillance information not compiled in 
NBIS as of the date on which the report is sub-
mitted. 
‘‘(5) A description of the incident reporting or 
decisionmaking protocols in effect as of the date on 
which the report is submitted and any changes made 
to such protocols during the period beginning on the 
date on which the report for the preceding year was 
submitted and ending on the date on which the re-
port is submitted. 
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‘‘(6) A list of any Federal, State, or local gov-
ernment entities that have direct or indirect access 
to the information that is integrated into the NBIS. 
‘‘(h) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND 
AGENCIES.—The authority of the Chief Medical Officer 
under this section shall not affect an authority or responsi-
bility of any other department or agency of the Federal 
Government with respect to biosurveillance activities 
under any program administered by that department or 
agency. 
‘‘(i) BIOLOGICAL
EVENT.—The term ‘biological 
event’ means— 
‘‘(1) an act of terrorism that uses material of 
biological origins; or 
‘‘(2) a naturally occurring outbreak of an infec-
tious disease that may affect national security. 
‘‘SEC. 507. OFFICE OF STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL GOVERN-
MENT COORDINATION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is in the Directorate 
of Emergency Management an Office of State, Local, and 
Tribal Government Coordination to oversee and coordinate 
programs of the Directorate for and relationships with na-
tional organizations representing State, local, and tribal 
governments. 
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‘‘(b) DIRECTOR.—The Office shall be headed by a Di-
rector, who shall be appointed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director of the Office 
of State, Local, and Tribal Government Coordination 
shall, in consultation with the Regional Directors for 
Emergency Management appointed under section 504(b), 
carry out the following responsibilities: 
‘‘(1) Coordinating the activities of the Direc-
torate relating to State, local, and tribal govern-
ment. 
‘‘(2) Assessing and advocating for the resources 
needed by State, local, and tribal governments to 
prevent, prepare for, respond to, mitigate against, 
and recover from acts of terrorism, natural disas-
ters, and other emergencies. 
‘‘(3) Providing State, local, and tribal govern-
ments with regular information, research, and tech-
nical support to assist local efforts in securing the 
homeland. 
‘‘(4) Developing a process for receiving mean-
ingful and timely consultation from State, local, and 
tribal governments to assist in the development of 
an integrated national emergency management sys-
tem. 
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