Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73
§217 Use of Service in time of war or emergency
Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - ADMINISTRATION AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › Part Part A— - Administration › § 217
Summary
In war or a presidential emergency, the President can use the Service as he decides. He may make the commissioned corps a branch of the land and naval forces, subject to UCMJ (10 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), and keep it in Service unless he directs otherwise.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §217
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In time of war, or of emergency proclaimed by the President, he may utilize the Service to such extent and in such manner as shall in his judgment promote the public interest. In time of war, or of emergency involving the national defense proclaimed by the President, he may by Executive order declare the commissioned corps of the Service to be a military service. Upon such declaration, and during the period of such war or such emergency or such part thereof as the President shall prescribe, the commissioned corps (a) shall constitute a branch of the land and naval forces of the United States, (b) shall, to the extent prescribed by regulations of the President, be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice [10 U.S.C. 801 et seq.], and (c) shall continue to operate as part of the Service except to the extent that the President may direct as Commander in Chief.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, referred to in text, is classified to chapter 47 (§ 801 et seq.) of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Amendments
1956—Act Apr. 27, 1956, empowered President to declare commissioned corps of the Service to be a military service in time of emergency involving national defense, and substituted “the Uniform Code of Military Justice” for “the Articles of War and to the Articles for the Government of the Navy”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education. Repeal of Prior Acts Continuing Section section 6 of Joint Res.
July 3, 1952, ch. 570, 66 Stat. 334, repealed Joint Res. Apr. 14, 1952, ch. 204, 66 Stat. 54 as amended by Joint Res.
May 28, 1952, ch. 339, 66 Stat. 96; Joint Res.
June 14, 1952, ch. 437, 66 Stat. 137; Joint Res.
June 30, 1952, ch. 526, 66 Stat. 296, which continued provisions until
July 3, 1952. This repeal shall take effect as of
June 16, 1952, by section 7 of said Joint Res.
July 3, 1952.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Functions of Public Health Service, Surgeon General of Public Health Service, and all other officers and employees of Public Health Service, and functions of all agencies of or in Public Health Service transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff.
June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, set out as a note under section 202 of this title. Executive Order No. 9575 Ex. Ord. No. 9575, eff.
June 28, 1945, 10 F.R. 7895, which declared the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service to be a military service subject to the Articles for the Government of the Navy as therein prescribed, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 10349, eff. Apr. 28, 1952, 17 F.R. 3769. Executive Order No. 10349 Ex. Ord. No. 10349, eff. Apr. 28, 1952, 17 F.R. 3769, superseded Ex. Ord. No. 9575, and subjected the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service to the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice until
June 1, 1952. Executive Order No. 10356 Ex. Ord. No. 10356, eff.
June 2, 1952, 17 F.R. 4967, amended Ex. Ord. No. 10349, and extended from
June 1, 1952, to
June 15, 1952, the period during which the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service was subject to the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military justice. Executive Order No. 10362 Ex. Ord. No. 10362, eff.
June 14, 1952, 17 F.R. 5413, amended Ex. Ord. No. 10356, and extended from
June 15, 1952, to
June 30, 1952, the period during which the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service was subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Executive Order No. 10367 Ex. Ord. No. 10367, eff.
June 30, 1952, 17 F.R. 5929, amended Ex. Ord. No. 10362, and extended from
June 30, 1952, to
July 3, 1952, the period during which the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service was subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 217
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73