Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§300mm–51 Research Regarding Certain Health Conditions Related to September 11 Terrorist Attacks

Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER XXXI — WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM › Part C — Research Into Conditions › § 300mm–51

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The WTC Program Administrator must fund and carry out research on physical and mental health problems that might be linked to the September 11, 2001 attacks. That includes studies to figure out which conditions are related to the attacks, better ways to diagnose conditions where diagnosis is unclear, and better ways to treat conditions where treatment is unclear. The Administrator can continue studies started before January 2, 2011 and use the World Trade Center Health Registry, Clinical Centers of Excellence, or a Data Center to do the work. Research must include epidemiologic and other studies of enrolled WTC responders and certified-eligible survivors exposed in the attack area, and sampled groups outside the New York City disaster area (including Manhattan up to 14th Street and Brooklyn) with control groups to spot long-term effects. The Administrator must set up, with the Secretary of Education, a large research group to study health and school impacts on people who were 21 or younger on September 11, 2001 (including screening-eligible or certified-eligible survivors). That group may include youth who were outside the disaster area but in Manhattan up to 14th Street or in Brooklyn, plus control groups. The Administrator must work with the WTC Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee and must protect privacy and human subjects at least as strongly as rules for Department of Health and Human Services research.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300mm–51

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

(a)In general
The WTC Program Administrator shall conduct or support—
(1)research on physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks;
(2)research on diagnosing WTC-related health conditions, in the case of conditions for which there has been diagnostic uncertainty; and
(3)research on treating WTC-related health conditions, in the case of conditions for which there has been treatment uncertainty.
The Administrator may provide such support through continuation and expansion of research that was initiated before January 2, 2011, and through the World Trade Center Health Registry (referred to in section 300mm–52 of this title), through a Clinical Center of Excellence, or through a Data Center.
(b)Types of research
The research under subsection (a)(1) shall include epidemiologic and other research studies on WTC-related health conditions or emerging conditions—
(1)among enrolled WTC responders and certified-eligible WTC survivors under treatment and individuals who were exposed within a geographic area related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in a manner similar to the exposure within such geographic area experienced by individuals meeting the eligibility criteria under section 300mm–21(a)(2) or 300mm–31(a)(1)(B) of this title; and
(2)in sampled populations outside the New York City disaster area in Manhattan as far north as 14th Street and in Brooklyn, along with control populations, to identify potential for long-term adverse health effects in less exposed populations.
(c)Research cohort for emerging health impacts on youth
(1)In general
The WTC Program Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall establish a research cohort of sufficient size to conduct future research studies on the health and educational impacts of exposure to airborne toxins, or any other hazard or adverse condition, resulting from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including on the population of individuals who were 21 years of age or younger at the time of exposure, including such individuals who are screening-eligible WTC survivors or certified-eligible WTC survivors.
(2)Populations studied
The research cohort under paragraph (1) may include—
(A)individuals who, on September 11, 2001, were 21 years of age or younger and were—
(i)outside the New York City disaster area; and
(ii)in—
(I)the area of Manhattan not further north than 14th Street; or
(II)Brooklyn; and
(B)control populations, including populations of individuals who, on September 11, 2001, were 21 years of age or younger.
(d)Consultation
The WTC Program Administrator shall carry out this section in consultation with the WTC Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee.
(e)Application of privacy and human subject protections
The privacy and human subject protections applicable to research conducted under this section shall not be less than such protections applicable to research conducted or funded by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–328, § 7702(a)(1)(A), substituted “The WTC” for “With respect to individuals, including enrolled WTC responders and certified-eligible WTC survivors, receiving monitoring or treatment under part B, the WTC” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 117–328, § 7702(a)(1)(B), struck out “of such individuals” after “WTC-related health conditions”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 117–328, § 7702(a)(2), inserted “and individuals who were exposed within a geographic area related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in a manner similar to the exposure within such geographic area experienced by individuals meeting the eligibility criteria under section 300mm–21(a)(2) or 300mm–31(a)(1)(B) of this title” after “treatment”. Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 117–328, § 7702(a)(3), (4), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300mm–51

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110