Title 2 — The CongressRelease 119-73
§4123 Authority of Attending Physician in response to medical contingencies or public health emergencies at Capitol
Title 2 › Chapter CHAPTER 41— - CONGRESSIONAL OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - ATTENDING PHYSICIAN › § 4123
Summary
Attending Physician must lead medical response at the Capitol during bioterrorism or public-health emergencies, can order quarantines and declare deaths, and must coordinate with D.C.'s public health commissioner and the chief medical examiner. Applies to Capitol Buildings (the Capitol's buildings) and United States Capitol Grounds (the surrounding grounds); effective January 23, 2004.
Full Legal Text
Title 2, §4123
The Congress — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Attending Physician to Congress shall have the authority and responsibility for overseeing and coordinating the use of medical assets in response to a bioterrorism event and other medical contingencies or public health emergencies occurring within the Capitol Buildings or the United States Capitol Grounds. This shall include the authority to enact quarantine and to declare death. These actions will be carried out in close cooperation and communication with the Commissioner of Public Health, Chief Medical Examiner, and other Public Health Officials of the District of Columbia government.
(b)In this section—
(1)the term “Capitol Buildings” has the meaning given such term in section 5101 of title 40; and
(2)the term “United States Capitol Grounds” has the meaning given such term in section 5102(a) of title 40.
(c)Subsection (a) shall take effect on January 23, 2004, and shall apply during any fiscal year occurring on or after January 23, 2004.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was formerly classified to section 121g of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
2 U.S.C. § 4123
Title 2 — The Congress
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73