House Committee Approves Bill To Transfer National Disaster Medical System To HHS, USA

The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday by voice vote approved a bill (HR 5438) that would transfer the National Disaster Medical System from the Department of Homeland Security to HHS, CQ Today reports (George, CQ Today, 5/24). The system -- which helps coordinate the federal response to public health emergencies, bioterrorist attacks and other disasters -- was transferred from HHS to DHS under the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Under the legislation, sponsored by committee Chair Joe Barton (R-Texas) and ranking member John Dingell (D-Mich.), the system would transfer from DHS to HHS within nine months. The bill also would codify into law that HHS serves as the primary agency in charge of the coordination of the federal response to national health emergencies and disasters (Evans, CongressDaily, 5/25).


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