Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§247b–6 National Strategy for Combating and Eliminating Tuberculosis
Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER II — GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part B — Federal-State Cooperation › § 247b–6
Summary
The Secretary of Health, working through the CDC Director, can give grants to states, local governments, and public agencies to prevent, control, and get rid of tuberculosis. Grants can pay for research (with priority for latent TB, drug‑resistant strains, and cases in high‑risk groups), for creating new tools like drugs, tests, and vaccines, and for public‑health actions and demonstrations (for example, building regional response teams, reducing health disparities, working on the U.S.–Mexico border and with foreign‑born people, and focusing on high‑risk places). Grants also can fund public information, training for health workers, support centers doing this work, international cooperation, and better information systems for TB tracking. Applicants must agree to work with public and nonprofit primary care and substance‑abuse providers and must include a local plan for TB prevention, control, and elimination. The Secretary gives priority to applicants who promise non‑Federal money or donations. The Secretary may instead loan supplies, equipment, or staff, but will lower the cash grant by the fair value of what is provided. An advisory council must be set up to advise the Secretary, help coordinate federal action, update a national elimination plan, and issue a report at least every two years that will be made public. A Federal Tuberculosis Task Force will advise on research and plans for new tools. Congress authorized specific funding: $200,000,000 for FY2009, $210,000,000 for FY2010, $220,500,000 for FY2011, $231,525,000 for FY2012, and $243,101,250 for FY2013. Up to 25% of each year’s funds may be held back for emergency grants. Funding formulas for grants must consider TB rates and case complexity, and the authorization applies only if annual appropriations meet or exceed the FY2009 amount.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §247b–6
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may make grants to States, political subdivisions, and other public entities for preventive health service programs for the prevention, control, and elimination of tuberculosis.
(b)Research and development; demonstration projects; education and training
With respect to the prevention, treatment, control, and elimination of tuberculosis, the Secretary may, directly or through grants to public or nonprofit private entities, carry out the following:
(1)Research, with priority given to research and development concerning latent tuberculosis infection, strains of tuberculosis resistant to drugs, and research concerning cases of tuberculosis that affect certain populations at risk for tuberculosis.
(2)Research and development and related activities to develop new tools for the elimination of tuberculosis, including drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, and public health interventions, such as directly observed therapy and non-pharmaceutical intervention, and methods to enhance detection and response to outbreaks of tuberculosis, including multidrug resistant tuberculosis. The Secretary is encouraged to give priority to programmatically relevant research so that new tools can be utilized in public health practice.
(3)Demonstration projects for—
(A)the development of regional capabilities to prevent, control, and eliminate tuberculosis and prevent multidrug resistant and extensively drug resistant strains of tuberculosis;
(B)the intensification of efforts to reduce health disparities in the incidence of tuberculosis;
(C)the intensification of efforts to control tuberculosis along the United States-Mexico border and among United States-Mexico binational populations, including through expansion of the scope and number of programs that—
(i)detect and treat binational cases of tuberculosis; and
(ii)treat high-risk cases of tuberculosis referred from Mexican health departments;
(D)the intensification of efforts to prevent, detect, and treat tuberculosis among foreign-born persons who are in the United States;
(E)the intensification of efforts to prevent, detect, and treat tuberculosis among populations and settings documented as having a high risk for tuberculosis; and
(F)tuberculosis detection, control, and prevention.
(4)Public information and education activities.
(5)Education, training, clinical skills improvement activities, and workplace exposure prevention for health professionals, including allied health personnel and emergency response employees.
(6)Support of Centers to carry out activities under paragraphs (1) through (4).
(7)Collaboration with international organizations and foreign countries in carrying out such activities.
(8)Develop, enhance, and expand information technologies that support tuberculosis control including surveillance and database management systems with cross-jurisdictional capabilities, which shall conform to the standards and implementation specifications for such information technologies as recommended by the Secretary.
(c)Cooperation with providers of primary health services
The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) or (b) only if the applicant for the grant agrees that, in carrying out activities under the grant, the applicant will cooperate with public and nonprofit private providers of primary health services or substance abuse services, including entities receiving assistance under section 254b, 254b, or 256a of this title or under subchapter III–A or XVII.
(d)Application for grant
(1)In general
The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) or (b) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application, subject to paragraph (2), is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out the subsection involved.
(2)Plan for prevention, control, and elimination
The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the application under paragraph (1) contains a plan regarding the prevention, control, and elimination of tuberculosis in the geographic area with respect to which the grant is sought.
(3)Determination of amount of nonfederal contributions
(A)Priority
In awarding grants under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary shall give highest priority to an applicant that provides assurances that the applicant will contribute non-Federal funds to carry out activities under this section, which may be provided directly or through donations from public or private entities and may be in cash or in kind, including equipment or services.
(B)Federal amounts not to be included as contributions
Amounts provided by the Federal Government, or services assisted or subsidized to any significant extent by the Federal Government, may not be included in determining the amount of non-Federal contributions as described in subparagraph (A).
(e)Supplies and services in lieu of grant funds
(1)In general
Upon the request of a grantee under subsection (a) or (b), the Secretary may, subject to paragraph (2), provide supplies, equipment, and services for the purpose of aiding the grantee in carrying out the subsection involved and, for such purpose, may detail to the State any officer or employee of the Department of Health and Human Services.
(2)Corresponding reduction in payments
With respect to a request described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall reduce the amount of payments under the grant involved by an amount equal to the costs of detailing personnel and the fair market value of any supplies, equipment, or services provided by the Secretary. The Secretary shall, for the payment of expenses incurred in complying with such request, expend the amounts withheld.
(f)Advisory Council
(1)In general
The Secretary shall establish an advisory council to be known as the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis (in this subsection referred to as the “Council”).
(2)Duties
The Council shall provide advice and recommendations regarding the elimination of tuberculosis to the Secretary. In addition, the Council shall, with respect to eliminating such disease, provide to the Secretary and other appropriate Federal officials advice on—
(A)coordinating the activities of the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies that relate to the disease, including activities under subsection (b);
(B)responding rapidly and effectively to emerging issues in tuberculosis; and
(C)efficiently utilizing the Federal resources involved.
(3)Comprehensive plan
(A)In general
In carrying out paragraph (2), the Council shall make or update recommendations on the development, revision, and implementation of a comprehensive plan to eliminate tuberculosis in the United States.
(B)Consultation
In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Council may consult with appropriate public and private entities, which may, subject to the direction or discretion of the Secretary, include—
(i)individuals who are scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals, who are not officers or employees of the Federal Government and who represent the disciplines relevant to tuberculosis elimination;
(ii)members of public-private partnerships or private entities established to address the elimination of tuberculosis;
(iii)members of national and international nongovernmental organizations whose purpose is to eliminate tuberculosis;
(iv)members from the general public who are knowledgeable with respect to tuberculosis elimination including individuals who have or have had tuberculosis; and
(v)scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who reside in a foreign country with a substantial incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis, and who represent the specialties and disciplines relevant to the research under consideration.
(C)Certain components of plan
In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Council shall, subject to the direction or discretion of the Secretary—
(i)consider recommendations for the involvement of the United States in continuing global and cross-border tuberculosis control activities in countries where a high incidence of tuberculosis directly affects the United States; and
(ii)review the extent to which progress has been made toward eliminating tuberculosis.
(4)Biennial report
(A)In general
The Council shall submit a biennial report to the Secretary, as determined necessary by the Secretary, on the activities carried under this section. Each such report shall include the opinion of the Council on the extent to which its recommendations regarding the elimination of tuberculosis have been implemented, including with respect to—
(i)activities under subsection (b); and
(ii)the national plan referred to in paragraph (3).
(B)Public
The Secretary shall make a report submitted under subparagraph (A) public.
(5)Composition
The Council shall be composed of— (A)
(B)State and local tuberculosis control and public health officials;
(C)individuals who are scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who represent disciplines relevant to tuberculosis elimination; and
(D)members of national and international nongovernmental organizations established to address the elimination of tuberculosis.
(6)Staff, information, and other assistance
The Secretary shall provide to the Council such staff, information, and other assistance as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the Council.
(g)Federal Tuberculosis Task Force
(1)Duties
The Federal Tuberculosis Task Force (in this subsection referred to as the “Task Force”) shall provide to the Secretary and other appropriate Federal officials advice on research into new tools under subsection (b)(2), including advice regarding the efficient utilization of the Federal resources involved.
(2)Comprehensive plan for new tools development
In carrying out paragraph (1), the Task Force shall make recommendations on the development of a comprehensive plan for the creation of new tools for the elimination of tuberculosis, including drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines.
(3)Consultation
In developing the comprehensive plan under paragraph (1), the Task Force shall consult with external parties including representatives from groups such as—
(A)scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who represent the specialties and disciplines relevant to the research under consideration;
(B)members from public-private partnerships, private entities, or foundations (or both) engaged in activities relevant to research under consideration;
(C)members of national and international nongovernmental organizations established to address tuberculosis elimination;
(D)members from the general public who are knowledgeable with respect to tuberculosis including individuals who have or have had tuberculosis; and
(E)scientists, physicians, laboratorians, and other health professionals who reside in a foreign country with a substantial incidence or prevalence of tuberculosis, and who represent the specialties and disciplines relevant to the research under consideration.
(h)Authorization of appropriations
(1)General program
(A)In general
For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, $220,500,000 for fiscal year 2011, $231,525,000 for fiscal year 2012, and $243,101,250 for fiscal year 2013.
(B)Reservation for emergency grants
Of the amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may reserve not more than 25 percent for emergency grants under subsection (a) for any geographic area, State, political subdivision of a State, or other public entity in which there is, relative to other areas, a substantial number of cases of tuberculosis, multidrug resistant tuberculosis, or extensively drug resistant tuberculosis or a substantial rate of increase in such cases.
(C)Priority
In allocating amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give priority to allocating such amounts for grants under subsection (a).
(D)Allocation of funds
(i)Requirement of formula
Of the amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A), not reserved under subparagraph (B), and allocated by the Secretary for grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall distribute a portion of such amounts to grantees under subsection (a) on the basis of a formula.
(ii)Relevant factors
The formula developed by the Secretary under clause (i) shall take into account the level of tuberculosis morbidity and case complexity in the respective geographic area and may consider other factors relevant to tuberculosis in such area.
(iii)No change to formula required
This subparagraph does not require the Secretary to modify the formula that was used by the Secretary to distribute funds to grantees under subsection (a) for fiscal year 2009.
(2)Limitation
The authorization of appropriations established in paragraph (1) for a fiscal year is effective only if the amount appropriated under such paragraph for such year equals or exceeds the amount appropriated to carry out this section for fiscal year 2009.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The reference to section 254b of this title the first place appearing, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original a reference to section 329, meaning section 329 of act July 1, 1944, which was omitted in the general amendment of subpart I (§ 254b et seq.) of part D of this subchapter by Pub. L. 104–299, § 2, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3626. section 256a of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was repealed by Pub. L. 104–299, § 4(a)(3), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3645.
Amendments
2008—Pub. L. 110–392, § 101(1), substituted “National strategy for combating and eliminating tuberculosis” for “Preventive health services regarding tuberculosis” in section catchline. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–392, § 101(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) related to research, demonstration projects, education, and training for the purpose of prevention, control, and elimination of tuberculosis. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 110–392, § 101(3), added par. (3). Subsec. (f)(2) to (6). Pub. L. 110–392, § 111(a), added pars. (2) to (5), redesignated former par. (5) as (6), and struck out former pars. (2) to (4) which related to general duties, certain activities, and composition of the Council, respectively. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–392, § 111(c)(2), added subsec. (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (h). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 110–392, § 131, added subsec. (h) and struck out former subsec. (h) which authorized appropriations for grants, research, demonstration projects, education, and training for fiscal years 1994 to 2002. Pub. L. 110–392, § 111(c)(1), redesignated subsec. (g) as (h). 2003—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–163 substituted “254b” for “254c, 254b(h)” before “, or”. 2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–251 substituted “254b(h)” for “256”. 1998—Subsec. (g)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105–392, § 405(1)(A), substituted “2002” for “1998”. Subsec. (g)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–392, § 405(1)(B), substituted “25 percent” for “$50,000,000”. Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 105–392, § 405(2), substituted “2002” for “1998”. Pub. L. 105–392, § 401(b)(1), substituted “carrying out subsection (b)” for “making grants under subsection (b)”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2003 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–163 deemed to have taken effect immediately after the enactment of Pub. L. 107–251, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–163, set out as a note under section 233 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by section 401(b)(1) of Pub. L. 105–392 deemed to have taken effect immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 103–183, see section 401(e) of Pub. L. 105–392, set out as a note under section 242m of this title.
Construction
of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–392, title I, § 111(b), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4199, provided that: “With respect to the advisory council under section 317E(f) of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 247b–6(f)], the
Amendments
made by subsection (a) [amending this section] may not be construed as terminating the membership on such council of any individual serving as such a member as of the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 13, 2008].” Termination of Advisory CouncilsAdvisory councils established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a council established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such council is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a council established by Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See section 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Pub. L. 93–641, § 6, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2275, set out as a note under section 217a of this title, provided that an advisory committee established pursuant to the Public Health Service Act shall terminate at such time as may be specifically prescribed by an Act of Congress enacted after Jan. 4, 1975.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 247b–6
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110