WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare › Chapter 6A

42 U.S.C. 247d: Public health emergencies

Created in 2000 by Public Law 106-505. Changed by 10 later laws. 3 new laws this Congress changed it.

41 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 6 U.S.C. 321r, 6 U.S.C. 467, 7 U.S.C. 9071a, 10 U.S.C. 1096, 15 U.S.C. 9042.

1 part of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services (1).

This Congress

  • H.R. 7148 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 · became law · changed (e)
  • H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 · became law · changed (e)
  • H.R. 1968 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · became law · changed (e)

How it got here

2024

  • Pub. L. 118–158 substituted "March 31, 2025" for "December 31, 2024". (American Relief Act, 2025) Law text · (e)
  • Pub. L. 118–42 substituted "December 31, 2024" for "March 8, 2024". (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024) Law text · (e)
  • Pub. L. 118–35 substituted "March 8, 2024" for "January 19, 2024". (Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024) Law text · (e)

2023

  • Pub. L. 118–22 substituted "January 19, 2024" for "November 17, 2023". (Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024) Law text · (e)
  • Pub. L. 118–15 substituted "November 17, 2023" for "September 30, 2023". (Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act) Law text · (e)

2022

  • Pub. L. 117–328, §2103(a)(1), added subpar. (F) and redesignated former subpar. (F) as (G). (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (b), (G)
  • Pub. L. 117–328, §2103(a)(2), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "the expenditures made from the Public Health Emergency Fund in such fiscal year; and". (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 117–328, §2223(a), added subsec. (g). (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (g)
  • Pub. L. 117–328, §2407, added subsec. (h). (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) Law text · (h)

2019

  • Pub. L. 116–22, §206(1)(A), substituted "under such subsection or if the Secretary determines there is the significant potential for a public health emergency, to allow the Secretary to rapidly respond to the immediate needs resulting from such public health emergency or potential p… (Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 116–22, §206(1)(B), (C), added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3). (Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019) Law text · (b), (3)
  • Pub. L. 116–22, §206(1)(D), added pars. (4) and (5). (Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019) Law text · (b), (5)
  • Pub. L. 116–22, §206(2), inserted "rapidly respond to public health emergencies or potential public health emergencies and" after "used to" and substituted "activities under this chapter or funds otherwise provided for emergency response." for "activities under this section." (Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 116–22, §701(c), substituted "2023" for "2018". (Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019) Law text · (e)

2016

  • Pub. L. 114–255 added subsec. (f). (21st Century Cures Act) Law text · (f)

2013

  • Pub. L. 113–5 added subsec. (e). (Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013) Law text · (e)

2002

  • Pub. L. 107–188, §158, substituted "grants, providing awards for expenses, and" for "grants and" in concluding provisions. (Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 107–188, §144(a), inserted at end of concluding provisions "Any such determination of a public health emergency terminates upon the Secretary declaring that the emergency no longer exists, or upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date on which the determination is made b… (Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002) Law text · (a)
  • Pub. L. 107–188, §141, added subsec. (d). (Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002) Law text · (d)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.