HR 1119
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1119
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the position
of National Nurse for Public Health.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 16, 2011
Mr. WEINER (for himself, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Ms. EDDIE
BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. OLVER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. BLUMENAUER, and Mr. HONDA)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the position
of National Nurse for Public Health.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `National Nurse Act of 2011'.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL NURSE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
Title XVII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u et seq.) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 1711. NATIONAL NURSE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
`(1) IN GENERAL- There is established within the Office of the Surgeon General
a full-time position, to be filled by registered nurse to be known as the
National Nurse for Public Health.
`(2) PROCEDURE- Except for the initial appointment of the National Nurse
for Public Health under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall appoint the National
Nurse for Public Health in accordance with Commissioned Corps Instruction
CC23.4.6 (relating to Chief Professional Officer Nominations), as in effect
on February 13, 2008.
`(3) INITIAL APPOINTMENT- Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this section, the Secretary shall appoint the individual serving as the
Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service as of the date of the enactment
of this section as the first National Nurse for Public Health.
`(b) Rank and Grade- The National Nurse for Public Health shall have the same
rank and grade as the Deputy Surgeon General of the Public Health Service.
`(c) Duties- The National Nurse for Public Health shall carry out the following:
`(1) Provide leadership and coordination of Public Health Service nursing
professional affairs for the Office of the Surgeon General and other agencies
of the Public Health Service, including providing representation for the
Government of the United States at the Global Forum for Government Chief
Nursing and Midwifery Officers and serving as a member of the Federal Nursing
Service Council.
`(2) Represent the Surgeon General and the agencies of Public Health Service
in communications with groups and societies concerned with nursing issues
at the local, State, national, and international levels.
`(3) Provide guidance and advice to the Surgeon General and the Nurse Professional
Advisory Committee on matters such as standards, recruitment, retention,
readiness, and career development of nurses employed by and contracted with
agencies of the Public Health Service.
`(4) Conduct media campaigns and make personal appearances for purposes
of paragraphs (5) through (7).
`(5) Provide guidance and leadership for activities to promote the public
health, including encouraging nurses and other health professionals to be
volunteers and developing projects that educate the public about and engage
the public in prevention practices to achieve better health.
`(6) Provide guidance and leadership to encourage nurses to engage in furthering
their education in order to conduct nursing research, increase the awareness
of evidence-based practice, and educate future nurses.
`(7) Provide guidance and leadership for activities that will increase public
safety and emergency preparedness.
`(d) National Health Priorities--Healthy People 2020-
`(1) IN GENERAL- The National Nurse for Public Health, in cooperation with
the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, heads of the agencies
of the Public Health Service, States, and organizations that represent health
professionals, shall participate in the identification of national health
priorities.
`(2) ADDRESSING NATIONAL HEALTH PRIORITIES- The National Nurse for Public
Health, in addressing national health priorities, shall encourage volunteerism
of nurses and other individuals, and strengthen the relationship between
Government agencies and health-related national organizations.
`(3) COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS-
`(A) IMPLEMENTATION- In addressing national health priorities, the National
Nurse for Public Health shall--
`(i) provide guidance and coordination on recommended activities to
organizations;
`(ii) acknowledge successful programs and encourage their replication;
`(iii) promote the dissemination of evidence-based practice in educating
the public on health promotion and disease prevention activities;
`(iv) encourage practicing nurses and other health professionals, including
retired health professionals and students enrolled in health professional
programs, to participate in health promotion activities and replicate
successful health promotion activities; and
`(v) monitor activities being conducted through the collection and evaluation
of data to determine if national health priorities are being addressed.
`(B) MEDIA CAMPAIGNS- The National Nurse for Public Health shall ensure
that media campaigns conducted under subsection (c)(4) include media campaigns
regarding the national health priorities.
`(C) EVALUATIONS- The National Nurse for Public Health shall, directly
or through awards of grants or contracts, evaluate the activities encouraged
by the National Nurse for Public Health and conducted by community-based,
nonprofit organizations to determine the extent to which such activities
have succeeded in carrying out national health priorities.
`(D) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION- The National Nurse for Public Health
shall disseminate information to governmental agencies, schools, and community-based,
nonprofit organizations interested in health promotion and improving public
health through community action.
`(e) Authorization of Appropriations- For carrying out this section, there
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of
fiscal years 2012 through 2016.'.
END
