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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 12, 2025

Mr. Schmitt (for himself and Mr. Lee) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To reform the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, limit the scope of public health authorities, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Public Health Improvement Act”.

SEC. 2. TERMS OF CDC AND NIH DIRECTORS.

(a) Term of CDC Director.—Section 305(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242c(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “No individual may serve as Director for a total period of more than 12 years.”.

(b) Term of NIH Director.—Section 402(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 282(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “No individual may serve as Director of NIH for a total period of more than 12 years.”.

SEC. 3. LIMITING THE CDC STRATEGIC PLAN.

Section 305(c)(2)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242c(c)(2)(A)) is amended—

(1) in clause (i), by striking “and noncommunicable diseases or conditions, and addressing injuries, and occupational and environmental hazards” and inserting “diseases”;

(2) in clause (ii), by striking “or conditions”;

(3) in clause (iii), by adding “and” at the end;

(4) in clause (iv), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon; and

(5) by striking clause (v).

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE CDC DIRECTOR.

Section 305A(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 242c- 1(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “by the Secretary under” and inserting “as described in”; and

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the following:

“(A) Three members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services—

“(i) 1 of whom shall be appointed to represent the Department of Health and Human Services; and

“(ii) 1 of whom shall be a public health official.

“(B) Two members shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.

“(C) Two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.

“(D) Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“(E) Two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

“(F) Four members shall be appointed by the Comptroller General of the United States.”.

SEC. 5. LIMITING THE SCOPE OF REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO CONTROL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.

Section 361(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264(a)) is amended to read as follows:

“(a) To prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the States or possessions, or from one State or possession into any other State or possession, the Secretary may make and enforce regulations for the inspection, fumigation, disinfection, sanitation, pest extermination, or destruction of animals or articles found to be so infected or contaminated as to be sources of dangerous infection to human beings.”.

SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

Section 319(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d(a)) is amended by striking the third and fourth sentences and inserting the following: “Determinations that terminate under the preceding sentence may be renewed by a majority vote in both chambers of Congress, and such a renewal period terminates upon the Secretary declaring that the emergency no longer exists or the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which both chambers of Congress have voted in favor of such renewal, whichever occurs first. Not later than 48 hours after making a determination under this subsection of a public health emergency, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress written notification of the determination.”.

SEC. 7. TRANSFER OF OFFICES TO NIH.

(a) In General.—Effective on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the offices described in subsection (b) shall be transferred from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the National Institutes of Health.

(b) Offices Described.—The offices described in this subsection are the following:

(1) The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.

(2) The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

(3) The National Center for Environmental Health.

(4) The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

(5) The National Center for Health Statistics.

(6) The National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention.

(7) The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

(8) The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

SEC. 8. REGULATIONS.

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue such new or revised regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act (including the amendments made by this Act).

SEC. 9. PREEMPTION.

The provisions of this Act (including the amendments made by this Act) shall supersede any provision of Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, or local law, declaration, guidance, or directive to the extent that such law, declaration, guidance, or directive is inconsistent with this Act (including such amendments). <all>