[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 96 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27450-27451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10618]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Medical Reserve Corps Request for Information

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response 
(ASPR), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The American Rescue Plan provides $100 million to the Medical 
Reserve Corps (MRC) program. To inform a strategic and impactful plan 
for execution of this funding, HHS is issuing this Request for 
Information (RFI). The RFI solicits specific input regarding current 
strengths and needs of MRC units and stakeholders, resource gaps 
highlighted during the COVID-19 response, and recommendations for 
short- and long-term priorities for the MRC. The set of questions is 
available in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

DATES: To be considered, public comments must be received 
electronically no later than midnight eastern standard time (EST) 30 
days after posting.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted online at http://www.regulations.gov. All submissions must be submitted to the Docket 
named HHS-ASPR-2021-0013 to ``Request for Information (RFI) from Non-
Federal Stakeholders: Advancing the Medical Reserve Corps with the 
American Rescue Plan.'' Comments submitted electronically, including 
attachments, will be posted to the docket unchanged and available to 
view by the public. Evidence and information supporting your comment 
can be submitted as attachments. Please provide your contact 
information or organization name on the web-based form for possible 
follow up from HHS. There is a 5,000 character limit on comments and 
maximum number (10) of attached files and maximum size (10 MB) of each 
attached file.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Esmeralda Pereira, MSPH, Director, 
Medical Reserve Corps Program, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services, 
Washington, DC, (202) 205-0065 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps is 
authorized by Section 2813 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 
300hh-15]. The MRC program supports a national network of over 200,000

[[Page 27451]]

volunteers organized into approximately 760 local community-based 
units. MRC units are committed to improving local emergency response 
capabilities, reducing vulnerabilities, and building community 
preparedness and resilience. More than 500 MRC units in 48 states, the 
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern 
Mariana Islands have bolstered local emergency response capabilities 
and served as critical medical and public health response assets during 
the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The American Rescue Plan provides an unprecedented opportunity to 
invest in and advance the Medical Reserve Corps. The RFI seeks public 
input on the current strengths and needs of MRC units and stakeholders, 
resource gaps highlighted during the COVID-19 response, and 
recommendations for short- and long-term priorities for the MRC. 
Responses may address one or more of the areas below:
    1. What do you see as the top strengths of the Medical Reserve 
Corps? Has the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted new or different strengths 
of the MRC?
    2. What do you see as the top needs or resource gaps of the MRC? 
Has the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted new or different needs of the 
MRC?
    3. Do you have recommendations on the top short- and long-term 
priorities for the MRC? What operational capabilities, services, or 
competencies would you propose that the MRC focus on? Do you have 
recommendations on ways to strengthening the MRC's role as a federal 
disaster response asset?
    4. Any additional topics you wish to provide input on.
    The information received will inform the planning for executing the 
American Rescue Plan funding.

Nikki Bratcher-Bowman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
[FR Doc. 2021-10618 Filed 5-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-37-P