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Authorities

ASPR Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2026-2029

The Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 USC ‌§201 et seq.), as amended, establishes ASPR's core legal authorities and scopes ASPR's public health emergency functions. ASPR operates in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, Presidential directives, executive orders, and HHS priorities. Core authorities, mainly from the Public Health Service Act, include: 
 

  • Section 301 (42 USC 241): Research and Development

  • Section 311 (42 USC 243): Federal/State Cooperation; Temporary Assistance to States

  • Section 319 (42 USC 247d): Declaration of a Public Health Emergency

  • Section 319C-2 (42 USC 247d-3b): Partnerships for State and Regional Hospital Preparedness to Improve Surge Capacity

  • Section 319F-2(a) (42 USC 247d-6b(a)): Strategic National Stockpile

  • Section 319F-2(b) (42 USC 247d-6b(b)): Smallpox Vaccine Development

  • Section 319F-2(c) (42 USC 247d-6b(c)): Project BioShield's Special Reserve Fund

  • Section 319F-2(i) (42 USC 247d-6b(i)): State Stockpile Pilot

  • Section 319F-3 (42 USC 247d-6b): Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act

  • Section 319I (42 USC 247d-7b): Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals

  • Section 319L (42 USC 247d-7e): Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority

  • Section 319L-1 (42 USC 247d-7f): Collaboration and Coordination

  • Section 319M (42 USC 247d-7g): National Biodefense Science Board

  • Sections 1201-4 (42 USC 300d-300d-6): Trauma Care Coordination

  • Section 1291 (42 USC ‌§300d–91): Military and Civilian Partnership for Trauma Readiness Grant Program

  • Section 2801 (42 USC 300hh): Public Health and Medical Preparedness and Response Functions

  • Section 2802 (42 USC 300hh–1): National Health Security Strategy

  • Section 2803 (42 USC 300hh–2): Enhancing Medical Surge capacity

  • Section 2811 (42 USC 300hh–10): Coordination of Preparedness For and Response to All-Hazards Public Health Emergencies; ASPR Duties and Functions

  • Section 2811(b)(7) (42 USC 300hh–10(b)(7)): Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (PHEMCE) Multiyear Budget

  • Section 2811-1 (42 USC 300hh–10a): PHEMCE

  • Section 2811A (42 USC 300hh–10b): National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters

  • Section 2811B (42 USC 300hh–10c): National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters

  • Section 2811C (42 USC 300hh–10d): National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters

  • Section 2811D (42 USC 300hh–10e): Advisory Committee Coordination

  • Section 2812 (42 USC 300hh–11): National Disaster Medical System

  • Section 2813 (42 USC 300hh–15): Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps

  • Section 2814 (42 USC 300hh-16): At-Risk Individuals

  • P.L. 81-774 (50 U.S.C. ‌§‌§4501 et seq.): As amended, Defense Production Act