The Public Health Service Act

The Public Health Service Act, as amended, requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a National Health Security Strategy that establishes preparedness goals which, among other things, includes “taking into account the public health and medical needs of at-risk individuals" described as children, pregnant women, older adults, individuals with disabilities, or others who may have access or functional needs in the event of a public health emergency, as determined by the Secretary. Examples of statutorily required activities that HHS must follow​​ to address the public health and medical needs of at-risk individuals include:

• Monitoring emerging issues
• Overseeing implementation of preparedness goals
• Assisting federal agencies in preparedness activities
  
• Providing guidance on preparedness and response strategies and capabilities
• Ensuring the strategic national stockpile addresses the needs of at-risk populations
• Developing curriculum for public health and medical response training
• Disseminating and updating best practices
• Ensuring communication addresses the needs of at-risk populations
• Ensuring coordination to detect emerging public health threats and adverse health outcomes that may affect at-risk individuals

Other Federal Legislation

There are many federal laws and executive orders that describe at-risk populations disproportionately impacted by disasters and ​public health emergencies, including populations that have historically faced discrimination.

Year​	Federal Laws and Executive Orders​	Persons with Disabilities	Older Adults	English Language Proficiency​	National Origins	Sex	Socioeconomic Status
1944​	​​​​Public Health Service (PHS) Act​
​1964	​Title VI of the Civil Rights Act	​	​	​
1972​	​Title IX of the Education Amendment Act​				​​​​​​	​
1973	​Rehabilitation Act				​​​​​​
1975​	​Age Discrimination Act				​​​​​​
1988​	​Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act)				​​​​​​
1990​	​Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)				​​​​​​
2000​	​Executive Order 13166 – Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency				​​​​​​
2004​	​Executive Order 13347 – Individuals with Disabilities Emergency Preparedness				​​​​​​
2006​	​Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA)				​​​​​​
​2010	​Affordable Care Act Section 1557 (Section 2814) (​Section 2802)	​	​	​	​	​	​
2021​	​Executive Order 13985 – Advancing Racial Equality and Support for Underserved Communities Through​ the Federal Government​		​		​​​​​​
2021​	​​​​​​Executive Order 13995 – Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery		​		​​​​​​

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