6 U.S.C. § 321r — Transfer of equipment during a public health emergency
submitted 5 years ago by Pub. L. 107-296 to r/title-6-DOMESTIC-SECURITY · 334 words · no verdicts yet
During a public health emergency, DHS can transfer extra protective gear to HHS. HHS must request the transfer and pay for it. Both Secretaries must first confirm the gear is truly excess and safe to give up. DHS must also track this equipment and share the list with HHS and Congress.
(a) Authorization of transfer of equipment. When the Secretary* of Health and Human Services declares a public health emergency* under 42 U.S.C. § 247d(a), the DHS Secretary may transfer extra personal protective equipment or other medically necessary equipment to HHS. This can only happen if HHS asks for it, and DHS must be reimbursed for what it gives up.
(b) Determination by Secretaries.
(1) In general. Before HHS can even ask for a transfer, the HHS Secretary must first check whether the equipment is available some other way. Before DHS can start the transfer, the DHS Secretary — after talking with the heads of each DHS component — must determine that the equipment is truly excess, meaning DHS doesn't need it, and must certify that giving it up won't hurt the health or safety of DHS's own officers, employees, or contractors.
(2) Notification. Both Secretaries must each send Congress a notification explaining the determination they just made.
(3) Required inventory.
(A) In general. The DHS Secretary, acting through the Department's Chief Medical Officer, must keep a running inventory of every piece of personal protective equipment and medically necessary equipment DHS has. This inventory must be constantly available to the HHS Secretary and to four congressional committees: the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Committee on Homeland* Security and Governmental Affairs, the House Appropriations Committee, and the House Committee on Homeland Security.
(B) Form. Each inventory must be shared in unclassified form, though it may include a classified annex.
During a public health emergency* declared by the Secretary* of Health and Human Services under section 247d(a) of title 42, the Secretary, at the request of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, may transfer to the Department* of Health and Human Services, on a reimbursable basis, excess personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment in the possession of the Department.
In carrying out this section—
before requesting a transfer under subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall determine whether the personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment is otherwise available; and
before initiating a transfer under subsection (a), the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of each component within the Department, shall—
determine whether the personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment requested to be transferred under subsection (a) is excess equipment; and
certify that the transfer of the personal protective equipment or medically necessary equipment will not adversely impact the health or safety of officers, employees, or contractors of the Department.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary shall each submit to Congress a notification explaining the determination made under subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, of paragraph (1).
The Secretary shall—
acting through the Chief Medical Officer of the Department, maintain an inventory of all personal protective equipment and medically necessary equipment in the possession of the Department; and
make the inventory required under clause (i) available, on a continual basis, to—
the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and
the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland* Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
Each inventory required to be made available under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
Source credit: (Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 529, as added Pub. L. 117–58, div. G, title IX, § 70953(f)(2)(A), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1315.)
- 2021Enacted · Pub. L. 107-296 · 135 Stat. 1315
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 107-296 on 2021-11-15.
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