Dear Fellow Officers,
For your situational awareness, yesterday U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (S.D.) and Doug Jones (Ala.) introduced the United States Public Health Service Modernization Act of 2019. Their bipartisan legislation would establish a Ready Reserve Corps within the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. This is an important first step, nearly 10 years in the making, and the result of diligent and dedicated work by HHS and Commissioned Corps Leadership, along with the support of professional associations. There is still a long way to go before the vision for a Ready Reserve is realized.
Commissioned Corps leadership will continue to monitor this legislation and will provide factual updates on any major developments.
Please remember that as officers it is not appropriate for you to comment on pending legislation.
Sincerely,
Brett P. Giroir, M.D.
ADM, U.S. Public Health Service
Assistant Secretary for Health
Senior Adviser, Immediate Office of the Secretary