Authorities

6 USC sec 350 Workforce health and medical support

(a) In general

The Under Secretary for Management shall be responsible for workforce-focused health and medical activities of the Department. The Under Secretary for Management may further delegate responsibility for those activities, as appropriate.

(b) Responsibilities The Under Secretary for Management, in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer, shall—

(1)

provide oversight and coordinate the medical and health activities of the Department for the human and animal personnel of the Department;

(2)

establish medical, health, veterinary, and occupational health exposure policy, guidance, strategies, and initiatives for the human and animal personnel of the Department;

(3)

as deemed appropriate by the Under Secretary, provide medical liaisons to the components of the Department, on a reimbursable basis, to provide subject matter expertise on occupational medical and public health issues;

(4)

serve as the primary representative for the Department on agreements regarding the detail of Commissioned Corps officers of the Public Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department, except that components of the Department shall retain authority for funding, determination of specific duties, and supervision of such detailed Commissioned Corps officers; and

(5)

perform such other duties relating to the responsibilities described in this subsection as the Secretary may require.

6 USC sec 597 Chief Medical Officer

(a) In general

There is in the Office a Chief Medical Officer, who shall be appointed by the President. The Chief Medical Officer shall report to the Assistant Secretary.

(b) Qualifications

The individual appointed as Chief Medical Officer shall be a licensed physician possessing a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of medicine and public health.

(c) ResponsibilitiesThe Chief Medical Officer shall have the 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 on medical and public health issues to the Secretary, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Assistant Secretary, and other Department officials;

(2)

providing operational medical support to all components of the Department;

(3)

as appropriate, providing medical liaisons to the components of the Department, on a reimbursable basis, to provide subject matter expertise on operational medical issues;

(4)

coordinating with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, the medical community, and others within and outside the Department, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services, with respect to medical and public health matters; and

(5)

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