42 U.S.C. § 300hh–31 — Epidemiology-laboratory capacity grants

(a) In general. If Congress provides the money, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the CDC, must set up an Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Grant Program. Grants go to state health departments, local health departments, and tribal jurisdictions that meet criteria the Director sets; academic centers that help those departments may also qualify, as the Director decides. The grants help public health agencies watch for and respond to infectious diseases and other important public health conditions by: (1) building the ability to identify and track infectious diseases, including mosquito and other vector-borne diseases, and other important conditions; (2) improving lab work and electronic reporting of test orders and results; (3) improving information systems, including building and keeping a health information exchange that follows national guidelines and an advisory council's capacity and function rules; and (4) building and running prevention and control strategies. (b) Authorization of appropriations. Congress may spend $190,000,000 a year for fiscal years 2019 through 2023 on this program. Of that: (1) at least $95,000,000 each year must go to the work described in (a)(1) and (a)(4); (2) at least $60,000,000 each year must go to the work in (a)(3); and (3) at least $32,000,000 each year must go to the work in (a)(2).