Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73
§280e–11 Establishment and duties of Foundation
Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part Part N— - National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention › § 280e–11
Summary
Creates a private nonprofit called the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Foundation is not a federal agency and its officers are not federal employees. Its job is to support work to prevent and control disease, injury, and disability and to promote public health. The Foundation may set up an endowment fund made only from non‑Federal donations and Foundation assets to pay for positions tied to the CDC; that fund can pay only for the salaries and support of those endowed positions (staff, equipment, travel, recruiting, and related costs). The Foundation may also run fellowships, international exchange programs, research and demonstration projects, information forums, meetings and training, programs to collect and analyze health data, publications, and other related activities. The Foundation must have a Board of directors (normally 7 voting members, but the bylaws can allow more) and an executive director hired by the Board. The Board makes policies and bylaws and the director runs daily operations. Board members serve 5‑year terms, are unpaid but may get expense reimbursement, and vacancies must be filled within 180 days. Bylaws must protect the Foundation’s tax‑exempt status and must not harm the CDC’s ability to do its work or the integrity of government programs. Foundation officers may not direct federal employees. Non‑federal staff who work with the CDC under Foundation support must sign a memorandum agreeing to federal ethical and research rules. The Foundation must have biennial financial audits and must publish an annual report by February 1 listing activities, finances, and gifts. The CDC Director is the CDC’s liaison to the Foundation and may accept gifts and voluntary services from it. The law authorized up to $1,250,000 to be appropriated each fiscal year for initial grants, and the Secretary may make between $500,000 and $1,250,000 available each year from HHS program funds; certain early grants supported the committee that formed the Foundation and initial start‑up costs. A five‑member committee was created to set up the Foundation and name the initial Board and had deadlines to finish incorporation and hold the first Board meeting by November 1, 1994.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §280e–11
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)There shall be established in accordance with this section a nonprofit private corporation to be known as the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in this part referred to as the “Foundation”). The Foundation shall not be an agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government, and officers, employees, and members of the board of the Foundation shall not be officers or employees of the Federal Government.
(b)The purpose of the Foundation shall be to support and carry out activities for the prevention and control of diseases, disorders, injuries, and disabilities, and for promotion of public health.
(c)(1)In carrying out subsection (b), the Foundation shall establish a fund for providing endowments for positions that are associated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and dedicated to the purpose described in such subsection. Subject to subsection (f)(1)(B), the fund shall consist of such donations as may be provided by non-Federal entities and such non-Federal assets of the Foundation (including earnings of the Foundation and the fund) as the Foundation may elect to transfer to the fund.
(2)The provision of endowments under paragraph (1) shall be the exclusive function of the fund established under such paragraph. Such endowments may be expended only for the compensation of individuals holding the positions, for staff, equipment, quarters, travel, and other expenditures that are appropriate in supporting the positions, and for recruiting individuals to hold the positions endowed by the fund.
(d)In carrying out subsection (b), the Foundation may provide for the following with respect to the purpose described in such subsection:
(1)Programs of fellowships for State and local public health officials to work and study in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(2)Programs of international arrangements to provide opportunities for public health officials of other countries to serve in public health capacities in the United States in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or elsewhere, or opportunities for employees of such Centers (or other public health officials in the United States) to serve in such capacities in other countries, or both.
(3)Studies, projects, and research (which may include applied research on the effectiveness of prevention activities, demonstration projects, and programs and projects involving international, Federal, State, and local governments).
(4)Forums for government officials and appropriate private entities to exchange information. Participants in such forums may include institutions of higher education and appropriate international organizations.
(5)Meetings, conferences, courses, and training workshops.
(6)Programs to improve the collection and analysis of data on the health status of various populations.
(7)Programs for writing, editing, printing, and publishing of books and other materials.
(8)Other activities to carry out the purpose described in subsection (b).
(e)(1)The Foundation shall have a board of directors (in this part referred to as the “Board”), which shall be established and conducted in accordance with subsection (f). The Board shall establish the general policies of the Foundation for carrying out subsection (b), including the establishment of the bylaws of the Foundation.
(2)The Foundation shall have an executive director (in this part referred to as the “Director”), who shall be appointed by the Board, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, and for whom the Board shall establish the rate of compensation. Subject to compliance with the policies and bylaws established by the Board pursuant to paragraph (1), the Director shall be responsible for the daily operations of the Foundation in carrying out subsection (b).
(3)In carrying out subsection (b), the Board shall establish such policies and bylaws under paragraph (1), and the Director shall carry out such activities under paragraph (2), as may be necessary to ensure that the Foundation maintains status as an organization that—
(A)is described in subsection (c)(3) of section 501 of title 26; and
(B)is, under subsection (a) of such section, exempt from taxation.
(f)(1)(A)In establishing bylaws under subsection (e)(1), the Board shall ensure that the bylaws of the Foundation include bylaws for the following:
(i)Policies for the selection of the officers, employees, agents, and contractors of the Foundation.
(ii)Policies, including ethical standards, for the acceptance and disposition of donations to the Foundation and for the disposition of the assets of the Foundation.
(iii)Policies for the conduct of the general operations of the Foundation.
(iv)Policies for writing, editing, printing, and publishing of books and other materials, and the acquisition of patents and licenses for devices and procedures developed by the Foundation.
(B)In establishing bylaws under subsection (e)(1), the Board shall ensure that the bylaws of the Foundation (and activities carried out under the bylaws) do not—
(i)reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the Foundation, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to carry out its responsibilities or official duties in a fair and objective manner; or
(ii)compromise, or appear to compromise, the integrity of any governmental program or any officer or employee involved in such program.
(2)(A)Subject to subparagraph (B), the Board shall be composed of 7 individuals, appointed in accordance with paragraph (4), who collectively possess education or experience appropriate for representing the general field of public health, the general field of international health, and the general public. Each such individual shall be a voting member of the Board.
(B)The Board may, through amendments to the bylaws of the Foundation, provide that the number of members of the Board shall be a greater number than the number specified in subparagraph (A).
(3)The Board shall, from among the members of the Board, designate an individual to serve as the chair of the Board (in this subsection referred to as the “Chair”).
(4)Subject to subsection (j) (regarding the initial membership of the Board), the following shall apply to the Board:
(A)Any vacancy in the membership of the Board shall be filled by appointment by the Board, after consideration of suggestions made by the Chair and the Director regarding the appointments. Any such vacancy shall be filled not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the vacancy occurs.
(B)The term of office of each member of the Board appointed under subparagraph (A) shall be 5 years. A member of the Board may continue to serve after the expiration of the term of the member until the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the term of the member expires.
(C)A vacancy in the membership of the Board shall not affect the power of the Board to carry out the duties of the Board. If a member of the Board does not serve the full term applicable under subparagraph (B), the individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the predecessor of the individual.
(5)Members of the Board may not receive compensation for service on the Board. The members may be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the Board.
(g)In carrying out subsection (e)(2), the Director shall carry out the following functions:
(1)Hire, promote, compensate, and discharge officers and employees of the Foundation, and define the duties of the officers and employees.
(2)Accept and administer donations to the Foundation, and administer the assets of the Foundation.
(3)Establish a process for the selection of candidates for holding endowed positions under subsection (c).
(4)Enter into such financial agreements as are appropriate in carrying out the activities of the Foundation.
(5)Take such action as may be necessary to acquire patents and licenses for devices and procedures developed by the Foundation and the employees of the Foundation.
(6)Adopt, alter, and use a corporate seal, which shall be judicially noticed.
(7)Commence and respond to judicial proceedings in the name of the Foundation.
(8)Other functions that are appropriate in the determination of the Director.
(h)(1)The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may accept and utilize, on behalf of the Federal Government, any gift, donation, bequest, or devise of real or personal property from the Foundation for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of such Centers. Funds may be accepted and utilized by such Director under the preceding sentence without regard to whether the funds are designated as general-purpose funds or special-purpose funds.
(2)(A)The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may accept, on behalf of the Federal Government, any voluntary services provided to such Centers by the Foundation for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work of such Centers. In the case of an individual, such Director may accept the services provided under the preceding sentence by the individual until such time as the private funding for such individual ends.
(B)The limitation established in subparagraph (A) regarding the period of time in which services may be accepted applies to each individual who is not an employee of the Federal Government and who serves in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pursuant to financial support from the Foundation.
(3)No officer, employee, or member of the Board of the Foundation may exercise any administrative or managerial control over any Federal employee.
(4)In the case of any individual who is not an employee of the Federal Government and who serves in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pursuant to financial support from the Foundation, the Foundation shall negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the individual and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention specifying that the individual—
(A)shall be subject to the ethical and procedural standards regulating Federal employment, scientific investigation, and research findings (including publications and patents) that are required of individuals employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including standards under this chapter, chapter 131 of title 5, and the Technology Transfer Act; 11 See References in Text note below. and
(B)shall be subject to such ethical and procedural standards under chapter 11 of title 18 (relating to conflicts of interest), as the Director of such Centers determines is appropriate, except such memorandum may not provide that the individual shall be subject to the standards of section 209 of title 18.
(5)Any individual who is an officer, employee, or member of the Board of the Foundation may not directly or indirectly participate in the consideration or determination by the Foundation of any question affecting—
(A)any direct or indirect financial interest of the individual; or
(B)any direct or indirect financial interest of any business organization or other entity of which the individual is an officer or employee or in which the individual has a direct or indirect financial interest.
(6)The Foundation shall—
(A)provide for biennial audits of the financial condition of the Foundation; and
(B)make such audits, and all other records, documents, and other papers of the Foundation, available to the Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States for examination or audit.
(7)(A)Not later than February 1 of each fiscal year, the Foundation shall publish a report describing the activities of the Foundation during the preceding fiscal year. Each such report shall include for the fiscal year involved a comprehensive statement of the operations, activities, financial condition, and accomplishments of the Foundation, including an accounting of the use of amounts provided for under subsection (i).
(B)With respect to the financial condition of the Foundation, each report under subparagraph (A) shall include the source, and a description of, all gifts to the Foundation of real or personal property, and the source and amount of all gifts to the Foundation of money. Each such report shall include a specification of any restrictions on the purposes for which gifts to the Foundation may be used.
(C)The Foundation shall make copies of each report submitted under subparagraph (A) available—
(i)for public inspection, and shall upon request provide a copy of the report to any individual for a charge not to exceed the cost of providing the copy; and
(ii)to the appropriate committees of Congress.
(8)The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall serve as the liaison representative of such Centers to the Board and the Foundation.
(i)(1)(A)The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall—
(i)for fiscal year 1993, make a grant to an entity described in subsection (j)(9) (relating to the establishment of a committee to establish the Foundation);
(ii)for fiscal year 1994, make a grant to the committee established under such subsection, or if the Foundation has been established, to the Foundation; and
(iii)for fiscal year 1995 and each subsequent fiscal year, make a grant to the Foundation.
(B)A grant under subparagraph (A) may be expended—
(i)in the case of an entity receiving the grant under subparagraph (A)(i), only for the purpose of carrying out the duties established in subsection (j)(9) for the entity;
(ii)in the case of the committee established under such subsection, only for the purpose of carrying out the duties established in subsection (j) for the committee; and
(iii)in the case of the Foundation, only for the purpose of the administrative expenses of the Foundation.
(C)A grant under subparagraph (A) may not be expended to provide amounts for the fund established under subsection (c).
(D)For the purposes described in subparagraph (B)—
(i)any portion of the grant made under subparagraph (A)(i) for fiscal year 1993 that remains unobligated after the entity receiving the grant completes the duties established in subsection (j)(9) for the entity shall be available to the committee established under such subsection; and
(ii)any portion of a grant under subparagraph (A) made for fiscal year 1993 or 1994 that remains unobligated after such committee completes the duties established in such subsection for the committee shall be available to the Foundation.
(2)(A)For the purpose of grants under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be appropriated $1,250,000 for each fiscal year.
(B)For the purpose of grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary may for each fiscal year make available not less than $500,000, and not more than $1,250,000 from the amounts appropriated for the fiscal year for the programs of the Department of Health and Human Services. Such amounts may be made available without regard to whether amounts have been appropriated under subparagraph (A).
(3)If the Foundation receives Federal funds for the purpose of serving as a fiscal intermediary between Federal agencies, the Foundation may not receive such funds for the indirect costs of carrying out such purpose in an amount exceeding 10 percent of the direct costs of carrying out such purpose. The preceding sentence may not be construed as authorizing the expenditure of any grant under paragraph (1) for such purpose.
(4)The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may provide facilities, utilities, and support services to the Foundation if it is determined by the Director to be advantageous to the programs of such Centers.
(j)(1)There shall be established in accordance with this subsection a committee to carry out the functions described in paragraph (2) (which committee is referred to in this subsection as the “Committee”).
(2)The functions referred to in paragraph (1) for the Committee are as follows:
(A)To carry out such activities as may be necessary to incorporate the Foundation under the laws of the State involved, including serving as incorporators for the Foundation. Such activities shall include ensuring that the articles of incorporation for the Foundation require that the Foundation be established and operated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this part (or any successor to this part), including such provisions as may be in effect pursuant to amendments enacted after October 27, 1992.
(B)To ensure that the Foundation qualifies for and maintains the status described in subsection (e)(3) (regarding taxation).
(C)To establish the general policies and initial bylaws of the Foundation, which bylaws shall include the bylaws described in subsections (e)(3) and (f)(1).
(D)To provide for the initial operation of the Foundation, including providing for quarters, equipment, and staff.
(E)To appoint the initial members of the Board in accordance with the requirements established in subsection (f)(2)(A) for the composition of the Board, and in accordance with such other qualifications as the Committee may determine to be appropriate regarding such composition. Of the members so appointed—
(i)2 shall be appointed to serve for a term of 3 years;
(ii)2 shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4 years; and
(iii)3 shall be appointed to serve for a term of 5 years.
(3)(A)The Committee shall complete the functions required in paragraph (1) not later than September 30, 1994. The Committee shall terminate upon the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary determines that the functions have been completed.
(B)The initial meeting of the Board shall be held not later than November 1, 1994.
(4)The Committee shall be composed of 5 members, each of whom shall be a voting member. Of the members of the Committee—
(A)no fewer than 2 shall have broad, general experience in public health; and
(B)no fewer than 2 shall have broad, general experience in nonprofit private organizations (without regard to whether the individuals have experience in public health).
(5)The Committee shall, from among the members of the Committee, designate an individual to serve as the chair of the Committee.
(6)The term of members of the Committee shall be for the duration of the Committee. A vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall not affect the power of the Committee to carry out the duties of the Committee. If a member of the Committee does not serve the full term, the individual appointed to fill the resulting vacancy shall be appointed for the remainder of the term of the predecessor of the individual.
(7)Members of the Committee may not receive compensation for service on the Committee. Members of the Committee may be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the Committee.
(8)The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may, from amounts available to the Director for the general administration of such Centers, provide staff and financial support to assist the Committee with carrying out the functions described in paragraph (2). In providing such staff and support, the Director may both detail employees and contract for assistance.
(9)(A)With respect to a grant under paragraph (1)(A)(i) of subsection (i) for fiscal year 1993, an entity described in this paragraph is a private nonprofit entity with significant experience in domestic and international issues of public health. Not later than 180 days after October 27, 1992, the Secretary shall make the grant to such an entity (subject to the availability of funds under paragraph (2) of such subsection).
(B)The grant referred to in subparagraph (A) may be made to an entity only if the entity agrees that—
(i)the entity will establish a committee that is composed in accordance with paragraph (4); and
(ii)the entity will not select an individual for membership on the Committee unless the individual agrees that the Committee will operate in accordance with each of the provisions of this subsection that relate to the operation of the Committee.
(C)The Secretary may make a grant referred to in subparagraph (A) only if the applicant for the grant makes an agreement that the grant will not be expended for any purpose other than carrying out subparagraph (B). Such a grant may be made only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary containing such agreement, and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such other agreements and such assurances and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this paragraph.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Technology Transfer Act, referred to in subsec. (h)(4)(A), may mean the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–502, Oct. 20, 1986, 100 Stat. 1785, or the National Competitiveness Technology Transfer Act of 1989, part C (§§ 3131–3133) of title XXXI of div. C of Pub. L. 101–189, Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1674. For complete classification of these Acts to the Code, see
Short Title
of 1986 Amendment note and
Short Title
of 1989 Amendment note both set out under section 3701 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, and Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 280d–11 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 106–310.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 399G of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 399H and was classified to section 280f of this title, prior to being omitted from the Code.
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (h)(4)(A). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “chapter 131 of title 5,” for “the Ethics in Government Act,”. 2006—Subsec. (h)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–245, § 1(a), substituted “In the case of an individual, such Director may accept the services provided under the preceding sentence by the individual until such time as the private funding for such individual ends.” for “In the case of an individual, such Director may accept the services provided under the preceding sentence by the individual for not more than 2 years.” Subsec. (h)(7)(A). Pub. L. 109–245, § 1(b)(1), inserted “, including an accounting of the use of amounts provided for under subsection (i)” before period at end of second sentence. Subsec. (h)(7)(C). Pub. L. 109–245, § 1(b)(2), added subpar. (C) and struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: “The Foundation shall make copies of each report submitted under subparagraph (A) available for public inspection, and shall upon request provide a copy of the report to any individual for a charge not exceeding the cost of providing the copy.” Subsec. (i)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–245, § 1(c)(1)(A), substituted “$1,250,000” for “$500,000”. Subsec. (i)(2)(B). Pub. L. 109–245, § 1(c)(1)(B), substituted “not less than $500,000, and not more than $1,250,000” for “not more than $500,000”. Subsec. (i)(4). Pub. L. 109–245, § 1(c)(2), added par. (4).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 280e–11
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73