Authorizing Legislation

Attachment 1a

Public Health Service Act, as amended Section 301(a) and Section 317K 42 USC 241(a), 42 USC 247b-12.

42 U.S. Code § 241 - Research and investigations generally

(a) Authority of Secretary

The Secretary shall conduct in the Service, and encourage, cooperate with, and render assistance to other appropriate public authorities, scientific institutions, and scientists in the conduct of, and promote the coordination of, research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and studies relating to the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of physical and mental diseases and impairments of man, including water purification, sewage treatment, and pollution of lakes and streams. In carrying out the foregoing the Secretary is authorized to—

1. collect and make available through publications and other appropriate means, information as to, and the practical application of, such research and other activities;

2. make available research facilities of the Service to appropriate public authorities, and to health officials and scientists engaged in special study;

3. make grants-in-aid to universities, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private institutions, and to individuals for such research projects as are recommended by the advisory council to the entity of the Department supporting such projects and make, upon recommendation of the advisory council to the appropriate entity of the Department, grants-in-aid to public or nonprofit universities, hospitals, laboratories, and other institutions for the general support of their research;

4. secure from time to time and for such periods as he deems advisable, the assistance and advice of experts, scholars, and consultants from the United States or abroad;

5. for purposes of study, admit and treat at institutions, hospitals, and stations of the Service, persons not otherwise eligible for such treatment;

6. make available, to health officials, scientists, and appropriate public and other nonprofit institutions and organizations, technical advice and assistance on the application of statistical methods to experiments, studies, and surveys in health and medical fields;

7. enter into contracts, including contracts for research in accordance with and subject to the provisions of law applicable to contracts entered into by the military departments under sections 2353 and 2354 of title 10, except that determination, approval, and certification required thereby shall be by the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and

8. adopt, upon recommendations of the advisory councils to the appropriate entities of the Department or, with respect to mental health, the National Advisory Mental Health Council, such additional means as the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.

The Secretary may make available to individuals and entities, for biomedical and behavioral research, substances and living organisms. Such substances and organisms shall be made available under such terms and conditions (including payment for them) as the Secretary determines appropriate.

42 U.S. Code § 247b–12 - Safe motherhood

(a) Surveillance

1. Purpose

The purpose of this subsection is to continue surveillance systems at the local, State, and national level to better understand the burden of maternal complications and mortality and to decrease the disparities among population at risk of death and complications from pregnancy.

2. Activities

For the purpose described in paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may carry out the following activities:

1. The Secretary may continue to implement a national surveillance program to identify and promote the investigation of deaths and severe complications that occur during pregnancy.

2. The Secretary may continue to expand the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to provide surveillance and collect data in each State.

3. The Secretary may continue to expand the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program to provide technical support, financial assistance, or the time-limited assignment of senior epidemiologists to maternal and child health programs in each State.

(b) Prevention research

1. Purpose

The purpose of this subsection is to continue to provide the Secretary with the authority to further expand research concerning risk factors, prevention strategies, and the roles of the family, health care providers and the community in safe motherhood.

2. Research

The Secretary may continue to carry out activities to expand research relating to—

1. encouraging preconception counseling, especially for at risk populations such as diabetics;

2. the identification of critical components of prenatal delivery and postpartum care;

3. the identification of outreach and support services, such as folic acid education, that are available for pregnant women;

4. the identification of women who are at high risk for complications;

5. preventing preterm delivery;

6. preventing urinary tract infections;

7. preventing unnecessary caesarean sections;

8. an examination of the higher rates of maternal mortality among African American women; (I) an examination of the relationship between domestic violence and maternal complications and mortality;

10. preventing and reducing adverse health consequences that may result from smoking, alcohol and illegal drug use before, during and after pregnancy;

11. preventing infections that cause maternal and infant complications; and (L) other areas determined appropriate by the Secretary.

(c) Prevention programs

(1) In general

The Secretary may continue to carry out activities to promote safe motherhood, including—

1. public education campaigns on healthy pregnancies and the building of partnerships with outside organizations concerned about safe motherhood;

2. education programs for physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and (C) activities to promote community support services for pregnant women.

(d) Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2018 through 2023.