Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§300u–6a Individual offices of minority health within the Department

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XV— - HEALTH INFORMATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION › § 300u–6a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Heads of these agencies must set up an Office of Minority Health inside their agency: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Resources and Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency head picks the office director, who reports straight to them. The director must show experience and skill in minority health services research and in ending health disparities. If a federal law mentions the Department’s Office of Minority Health, it means the Office in the Office of the Secretary. Each year, from an agency’s appropriated funds, the Secretary must set aside an appropriate amount for that agency’s minority health office. When doing this, the Secretary must cut the funding for each of the agency’s programs by substantially the same percentage. The set‑aside money can be used for office work, including paying staff.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300u–6a

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The head of each agency specified in subsection (b)(1) 11 So in original. Subsec. (b) does not contain a par. (1). shall establish within the agency an office to be known as the Office of Minority Health. The head of each such Office shall be appointed by the head of the agency within which the Office is established, and shall report directly to the head of the agency. The head of such agency shall carry out this section (as this section relates to the agency) acting through such Director.
(b)The agencies referred to in subsection (a) are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
(c)Each Office of Minority Health established in an agency listed in subsection (a) 22 So in original. Probably should be “subsection (b)”. shall be headed by a director, with documented experience and expertise in minority health services research and health disparities elimination.
(d)Except as otherwise specified, any reference in Federal law to an Office of Minority Health (in the Department of Health and Human Services) is deemed to be a reference to the Office of Minority Health in the Office of the Secretary.
(e)(1)Of the amounts appropriated for a specified agency for a fiscal year, the Secretary must designate an appropriate amount of funds for the purpose of carrying out activities under this section through the minority health office of the agency. In reserving an amount under the preceding sentence for a minority health office for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reduce, by substantially the same percentage, the amount that otherwise would be available for each of the programs of the designated agency involved.
(2)The purposes for which amounts made available under paragraph 33 So in original. Probably should be “paragraph (1)”. may be expended by a minority health office include the costs of employing staff for such office.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Construction

Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10334(b)(2), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 973, provided that: “Nothing in this subsection [enacting this section and provisions set out as a note under this section] and the

Amendments

made by this subsection may be construed as establishing regulatory authority or modifying any existing regulatory authority.” Application of Allocation Requirements Pub. L. 112–10, div. B, title VIII, § 1827, Apr. 15, 2011, 125 Stat. 162, provided that: “Hereafter, no funds appropriated by this division or by any previous or subsequent Act shall be subject to the allocation requirements of section 1707A(e) [42 U.S.C. 300u–6a(e)] of the PHS Act [Public Health Service Act].” Limitation on Termination Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10334(b)(3), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 973, provided that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Federal office of minority health or Federal appointive position with primary responsibility over minority health issues that is in existence in an office of [or] agency of the Department of Health and Human Services on the date of enactment of this section [Mar. 23, 2010] shall not be terminated, reorganized, or have any of its power or duties transferred unless such termination, reorganization, or transfer is approved by an Act of Congress.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300u–6a

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73