H.R. 6510: National Military Civilian Medical Surge Program Act of 2025

This bill, known as the National Military Civilian Medical Surge Program Act of 2025, aims to establish a program that enhances the collaboration between military and civilian medical resources during emergencies. Here is a breakdown of the main points:

Purpose of the Program

The bill's primary objective is to direct the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to implement the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program. This program is intended to:

• Support specific locations chosen by the Secretary of Defense to enhance medical response capabilities.
• Improve the interoperability and capacity of the National Disaster Medical System in the event of national emergencies or catastrophic incidents.

Management and Oversight

The program will be overseen by the Institute for Defense Health Cooperation and will involve several key military and health officials, including:

• The Secretary of Defense
• The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• The Director of the Defense Health Agency
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services

The Secretary of Defense will ensure that the program is effectively managed through regular meetings and updates among the involved parties.

Partnerships

To implement the program, the Secretary of Defense will establish partnerships with various organizations, including:

• Public and private health care organizations
• Academic medical centers
• Hospitals that can mobilize civilian medical responses during emergencies

These partnerships should focus on areas critical for addressing wartime contingencies and responding to public health emergencies.

Activation Framework

The program will activate in various emergency situations such as:

• National emergencies declared under the National Emergencies Act
• Public health emergencies declared under the Public Health Service Act
• Declarations of war by Congress
• Contingency operations
• Executive actions taken by the President under the War Powers Resolution
• Any major disaster as declared by the President

Reporting Requirements

The Secretary of Defense is required to provide annual reports to certain congressional committees detailing the program's status and capabilities. These reports must cover:

• Personnel readiness
• Resource availability
• Interagency coordination efforts
• Recommendations for improvements

Clarifications on Authority

It is specified that this program does not give the Secretary of Defense control over the leadership and administration of the National Disaster Medical System or the public health system.

Definitions

Key terms in the bill are defined, including "institution of higher education" and "National Disaster Medical System," to clarify the scope and intent of the partnerships and program objectives.

Relevant Companies

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