(a) In general
The Secretary shall establish the Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise (referred to in this section as the “PHEMCE”). The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response and the Director of the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy shall serve as co-chairs of the PHEMCE.
(b) MembersThe PHEMCE shall include each of the following members, or the designee of such members:
(11)
Representatives of any other Federal agency, which may include the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the Director of the Strategic National Stockpile, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c) Functions
(1) In generalThe functions of the PHEMCE shall include the following:
(A)
Utilize a process to make recommendations to the Secretary regarding research, advanced research, development, procurement, stockpiling, deployment, distribution, and utilization with respect to countermeasures, as defined in section 247d–6b(c) of this title, including prioritization based on the health security needs of the United States. Such recommendations shall be informed by, when available and practicable, the National Health Security Strategy pursuant to section 300hh–1 of this title, the Strategic National Stockpile needs pursuant to section 247d–6b of this title, and assessments of current national security threats, including chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, including emerging infectious diseases. In the event that members of the PHEMCE do not agree upon a recommendation, the Secretary shall provide a determination regarding such recommendation.
(B)
Identify national health security needs, including gaps in public health preparedness and response related to countermeasures and challenges to addressing such needs (including any regulatory challenges), and support alignment of countermeasure procurement with recommendations to address such needs under subparagraph (A).
(C)
Assist the Secretary in developing strategies related to logistics, deployment, distribution, dispensing, and use of countermeasures that may be applicable to the activities of the strategic national stockpile under section 247d–6b(a) of this title.
(D)
Provide consultation for the development of the strategy and implementation plan under section 300hh–10(d) of this title.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2811–1, as added Pub. L. 116–22, title IV, § 402(a), June 24, 2019, 133 Stat. 942; amended Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2104(k)(1), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5719.)