[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6352 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6352

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 with respect to the position 
                       of Chief Medical Officer.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 5, 2006

 Mr. Barton of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee 
 on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL



To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 with respect to the position 
                       of Chief Medical Officer.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

    Section 516 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended to read 
as follows:

``SEC. 516. CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.

    ``(a) In General.--There is in the Department a Chief Medical 
Officer, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate.
    ``(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.''.
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