§ 321e. Chief Medical Officer

(a) In general

There is in the Department a Chief Medical Officer, who shall be appointed by the President.

(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 Department for medical issues related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters, including—

(1) serving as the principal advisor to the Secretary and the Administrator on medical and public health issues;

(2) coordinating the biodefense activities of the Department;

(3) ensuring internal and external coordination of all medical preparedness and response activities of the Department, including training, exercises, and equipment support;

(4) serving as the Department’s primary point of contact with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other Federal departments or agencies, on medical and public health issues;

(5) serving as the Department’s primary point of contact for State, local, and tribal governments, the medical community, and others within and outside the Department, with respect to medical and public health matters;

(6) discharging, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, the responsibilities of the Department related to Project Bioshield; and

(7) performing such other duties relating to such responsibilities as the Secretary may require.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 516, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 611(13), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1409; amended Pub. L. 112–166, § 2(f)(4), Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1285.)

Amendments

Amendments

2012—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–166 struck out “, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate” before period at end.

Change Of Name

Change of Name

Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of Pub. L. 109–295 or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until Mar. 31, 2007, see section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of this title.

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–166 effective 60 days after Aug. 10, 2012, and applicable to appointments made on and after that effective date, including any nomination pending in the Senate on that date, see section 6(a) of Pub. L. 112–166, set out as a note under section 113 of this title.