An Act to provide for a continuing survey and special studies of sickness and disability in the United States, and for periodic reports of the results thereof, and for other purposes
PL 84-652 (S.3076), enacted 07/03/1956

70 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 652-JULY 3, 1956 
m 
efficient and proper government of such institution, and they may, 
from time to time, agree to modifications in anj such agreement: 
Provided, That where the charge for any such service is established by 
the hiws of the State within whose territorial limits such institution is 
situated, the Commissioners may not pay for such service an amount 
in excess of the charge so established. 
There is hereby authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the making of 
payment for services under any such agreement. 
Approved July 3, 1956. 
.^propri ation« 
Public Law 651 
CHAPTER 509 
AN ACT 
To amend the Act of August 27, 1954, so as to provide for the erection of appro-
priate markers in national cemeteries to honor the memory of certain members 
of the Armed Forces who died or were liilled while serving in such forces. 
July 3, 19S6 
[S.2512] 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemmed^ That the Act entitled 
"An Act to provide for the erection of appropriate markers in national 
cemeteries to honor the memory of members of the Armed Forces miss-
ing in action", approved August 27,1954 (68 Stat. 880), is amended by 
adding after the word "action", the wOrds "or who died or were killed 
while serving in such forces, and whose remains have not been identi-
fied, have been buried at sea, or have been determined to be nonre-
coverable.". 
Approved July 3, 1956. 
National ceiiitt« 
teries. 
Markers. 
24 u s e 279d. 
Public Law 652 
CHAPTER 510 
AN ACT 
To provide for a continuing survey and special studies of siclsness and disability 
in the United States, and for periodic reports of the results thereof, and for 
other purposes. 
July 3, 1956 
[S. 3076] 
Be it ena/ited hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,, That this Act may 
be cited as the "National Health Survey Act". 
SEC. 2. (a) The Congress hereby finds and declares— 
(1) tnat the latest information on the number and relevant 
characteristics of persons in the country suffering from heart dis-
ease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and rheumatism, and other dis-
eases, injuries, and handicapping conditions is now seriously out 
of date; and 
(2) that periodic inventories providing reasonably current 
information on these matters are urgently needed for purposes 
such as (A) appraisal of the true state of health of our popula-
tion (including both adults and children), (B) adequate planning 
of any programs to improve their health, (C) research in the 
field of chronic diseases, and (D) measurement of the numbers of 
persons in the working ages so disabled as to be unable to perform 
gainful work. 
(b) It is, therefore, the purpose of this Act to provide (1) for a 
continuing survey and special studies to secure on a non-compulsory 
basis accurate and current statistical information on the amount, dis-
tribution, and effects of illness and disability in the United States and 
the services received for or because of such conditions; and (2) for 
National Health 
Survey Act. 
Decl a r a t i o n of 
Congress. 
Purpose. 
490 
PUBLIC LAW 652-JULY 3, 1956 
[70 S T A T 
58 Stat. 691; 60 
Stat. 423; 69 Stat. 
382. 
4 2 u s e 241-24 2c. 
P u b l i c ation of 
results. 
Appropriation. 
Agency coopera-
tion. 
41 u s e 5. 
58 Stat. 692. 
Advice a n d as-
sistance. 
studying methods and survey techniques for securing such statistical 
information, with a view toward their continuing improvement. 
SEC. 3. Part A of title I I I of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U. S. C. ch. 6A) is amended by adding after section 304 the following 
new section: 
u NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEYS AND STUDIES 
"SEC. 305. (a) The Surgeon General is authorized (1) to make, by 
sampling or other appropriate means, surveys and special studies of 
the population of the United States to determine the extent of illness 
and disability and related information such as: (A) the number, age, 
sex, ability to work or engage in other activities, and occupation or 
activities of persons afflicted with chronic or other disease or injury or 
handicapping condition; (B) the type of disease or injury or handi-
capping condition of each person so afflicted; (C) the length of time 
that each such person has been prevented from carrying on his occupa-
tion or activities; (D) the amounts and types of services received for 
or because of such conditions; and (E) the economic and other impacts 
of such conditions; and (2) in connection therewith, to develop and 
test new or improved methods for obtaining current data on illness 
and disability and related information. 
"(b) The Surgeon General is authorized, at appropriate intervals, 
to make available, through publications and otherwise, to any inter-
ested governmental or other public or private agencies, organizations, 
or groups, or to the public, the results of surveys or studies made 
pursuant to subsection (a). 
"(c) For each fiscal year beginning after June 30, 1956, there are 
authorized to be appropriated such sums as the Congress may deter-
mine for carrying out the provisions of this section. 
"(d) To assist in carrying out the provisions of this section the 
Surgeon General is authorized and directed to cooperate and consult 
w^ith the Departments of Commerce and Labor and any other inter-
ested Federal Departments or agencies and with State health depart-
ments. For such purpose he shall utilize insofar as possible the serv-
ices or facilities of any agency of the Federal Government and, with-
out regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, of any 
appropriate State or other public agency, and may, without regard 
to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, utilize the services 
or facilities of any private agency, organization, group, or individual, 
in accordance with written agreements between the head of such 
agency, organization, or group, or such individual, and the Secretary 
of Health, Education, and Welfare. 
Payment, if any, for such serv-
ices or facilities shall be made in such amounts as may be provided 
in such agreement." 
SEC. 4. Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U. S. C. 
241) is amended by striking out the word "and" at the end of para-
graph (f), redesignating paragraph (g) as paragraph (h), and in-
serting immediately following paragraph (f) the following new 
paragraph: 
"(g) Make available, to health officials, scientists, and appropriate 
public and other nonprofit institutions and organizations, technical 
advice and assistance on the application of statistical methods to ex-
periments, studies, and surveys in health and medical fields; and". 
Approved July 3, 1956.