---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 254b–2"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "254b–2"
heading: "Community health centers and the National Health Service Corps Fund"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/254b-2"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart i — health centers"
---

# §254b–2. Community health centers and the National Health Service Corps Fund

- (a) **Purpose—** It is the purpose of this section to establish a Community Health Center Fund (referred to in this section as the “CHC Fund”), to be administered through the Office of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to provide for expanded and sustained national investment in community health centers under [section 254b of this title](/usc/42/254b.md) and the National Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Corps.
- (b) **Funding—** There is authorized to be appropriated, and there is appropriated, out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the CHC Fund—
  - (1) to be transferred to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to provide enhanced funding for the community health center [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under [section 254b of this title](/usc/42/254b.md)—
    - (A) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
    - (B) $1,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
    - (C) $1,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2013;
    - (D) $2,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;
    - (E) $3,600,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017;
    - (F) $3,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
    - (G) $4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023;
    - (H) $4,236,712,328 for fiscal year 2024;
    - (I) $4,295,287,671 for fiscal year 2025;
    - (J) $4,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
    - (K) $1,159,452,055 for the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026; and
  - (2) to be transferred to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to provide enhanced funding for the National Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Corps—
    - (A) $290,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
    - (B) $295,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
    - (C) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013;
    - (D) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;
    - (E) $310,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017;
    - (F) $310,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 and 2019;
    - (G) $310,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
    - (H) $310,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023;
    - (I) $341,208,605 for fiscal year 2024;
    - (J) $349,736,600 for fiscal year 2025;
    - (K) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
    - (L) $88,219,178 for the period beginning on October 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026.
- (c) **Construction—** There is authorized to be appropriated, and there is appropriated, out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $1,500,000,000 to be available for fiscal years 2011 through 2015 to be used by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) for the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) and renovation of community health centers.
- (d) **Use of fund—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) shall transfer amounts in the CHC Fund to accounts within the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to increase funding, over the fiscal year 2008 level, for community health centers and the National Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Corps.
- (e) **Availability—** Amounts appropriated under subsections [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) shall remain available until expended.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10503, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 1004; Pub. L. 111–152, title II, § 2303, Mar. 30, 2010, 124 Stat. 1083; Pub. L. 114–10, title II, § 221(a), Apr. 16, 2015, 129 Stat. 154; Pub. L. 115–96, div. C, title I, § 3101(a), (b), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2048; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title IX, § 50901(a), (c), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 282, 287; Pub. L. 116–59, div. B, title I, § 1101(a), (b), Sept. 27, 2019, 133 Stat. 1102; Pub. L. 116–69, div. B, title I, § 1101(a), (b), Nov. 21, 2019, 133 Stat. 1136; Pub. L. 116–94, div. N, title I, § 401(a), (b), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3113; Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3831(a), (b), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 433; Pub. L. 116–159, div. C, title I, § 2101(a), (b), Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 728; Pub. L. 116–215, div. B, title II, § 1201(a), (b), Dec. 11, 2020, 134 Stat. 1044; Pub. L. 116–260, div. BB, title III, § 301(a), (b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2922; Pub. L. 118–15, div. B, title III, § 2321(b), (c), Sept. 30, 2023, 137 Stat. 94, 95; Pub. L. 118–22, div. B, title II, § 201(b), (c), Nov. 17, 2023, 137 Stat. 119, 120; Pub. L. 118–35, div. B, title I, § 101(b), (c), Jan. 19, 2024, 138 Stat. 4; Pub. L. 118–42, div. G, title I, § 101(a), (b), Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 397; Pub. L. 118–158, div. C, title I, § 3101(a), (b), Dec. 21, 2024, 138 Stat. 1762; Pub. L. 119–4, div. B, title I, § 2101(a), (b), Mar. 15, 2025, 139 Stat. 40; Pub. L. 119–37, div. F, title I, § 6101(a), (b), Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 629; Pub. L. 119–75, div. J, title IV, § 6401, Feb. 3, 2026, 140 Stat. 686.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

2026—Subsec. (b)(1)(H) to (K). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6401(a), added subpars. (H) to (K) and struck out former subpars. (H) to (K) whcih read as follows: “

(H) $526,027,397 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, $690,410,959 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, $536,986,301 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $3,592,328,767 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2024;

“(I) $1,050,410,959 for the period beginning on January 1, 2025, and ending on March 31, 2025;

“(J) $2,135,835,616 for the period beginning on April 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2025; and

“(K) $1,423,890,411 for the period beginning on October 1, 2025, and ending on January 30, 2026; and”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(I) to (L). Pub. L. 119–75, § 6401(b), added subpars. (I) to (L) and struck out former subpars. (I) to (L) which read as follows:

“(I) $40,767,123 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, $53,506,849 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, $41,616,438 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $297,013,699 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2024;

“(J) $85,068,493 for the period beginning on January 1, 2025, and ending on March 31, 2025;

“(K) $172,972,603 for the period beginning on April 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2025; and

“(L) $115,315,068 for the period beginning on October 1, 2025, and ending on January 30, 2026.”

2025—Subsec. (b)(1)(J). Pub. L. 119–4, § 2101(a), added subpar. (J).

Subsec. (b)(1)(K). Pub. L. 119–37, § 6101(a), added subpar. (K).

Subsec. (b)(2)(K). Pub. L. 119–4, § 2101(b), added subpar. (K).

Subsec. (b)(2)(L). Pub. L. 119–37, § 6101(b), added subpar. (L).

2024—Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 118–158, § 3101(a)(2), substituted semicolon for “, $4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, $526,027,397 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, $690,410,959 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, $536,986,301 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $3,592,328,767 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2024; and”.

Pub. L. 118–42, § 101(a), substituted “$536,986,301 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $3,592,328,767 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2024” for “and $536,986,301 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024”.

Pub. L. 118–35, § 101(b), substituted “$690,410,959 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, and $536,986,301 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024” for “and $690,410,959 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(G) to (I). Pub. L. 118–158, § 3101(a)(1), (3), added subpars. (G) to (I).

Subsec. (b)(2)(I). Pub. L. 118–42, § 101(b), substituted “$41,616,438 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024, and $297,013,699 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on December 31, 2024” for “and $41,616,438 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024”.

Pub. L. 118–35, § 101(c), substituted “$53,506,849 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024, and $41,616,438 for the period beginning on January 20, 2024, and ending on March 8, 2024” for “and $53,506,849 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(J). Pub. L. 118–158, § 3101(b), added subpar. (J).

2023—Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 118–22, § 201(b), substituted “$526,027,397 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, and $690,410,959 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024” for “and $526,027,397 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023”.

Pub. L. 118–15, § 2321(b), substituted “, $4,000,000,000” for “and $4,000,000,000” and inserted “, and $526,027,397 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023” before the semicolon.

Subsec. (b)(2)(I). Pub. L. 118–22, § 201(c), substituted “$40,767,123 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023, and $53,506,849 for the period beginning on November 18, 2023, and ending on January 19, 2024” for “$40,767,123 for the period beginning on October 1, 2023, and ending on November 17, 2023”.

Pub. L. 118–15, § 2321(c), added subpar. (I).

2020—Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 116–260, § 301(a), substituted “and $4,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023” for “, $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and $865,753,425 for the period beginning on October 1, 2020, and ending on December 18, 2020”.

Pub. L. 116–215, § 1201(a), substituted “$865,753,425” for “$789,041,096” and “December 18, 2020” for “December 11, 2020”.

Pub. L. 116–159, § 2101(a), substituted “$789,041,096” for “$668,493,151” and “December 11, 2020” for “November 30, 2020”.

Pub. L. 116–136, § 3831(a), substituted “$4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and $668,493,151 for the period beginning on October 1, 2020, and ending on November 30, 2020” for “and $2,575,342,466 for the period beginning on October 1, 2019, and ending on May 22, 2020”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(G). Pub. L. 116–136, § 3831(b), added subpar. (G) and struck out former subpar. (G) which read as follows: “$199,589,041 for the period beginning on October 1, 2019, and ending on May 22, 2020.”

Subsec. (b)(2)(H). Pub. L. 116–260, § 301(b), substituted “$310,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023” for “$67,095,890 for the period beginning on October 1, 2020, and ending on December 18, 2020”.

Pub. L. 116–215, § 1201(b), substituted “$67,095,890” for ‘$61,150,685” and “December 18, 2020” for “December 11, 2020”.

Pub. L. 116–159, § 2101(b), substituted “$61,150,685” for “$51,808,219” and “December 11, 2020” for “November 30, 2020”.

Pub. L. 116–136, § 3831(b), added subpar. (H).

2019—Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 116–94, § 401(a), substituted “$2,575,342,466” for “$887,671,223” and “May 22, 2020” for “December 20, 2019”.

Pub. L. 116–69, § 1101(a), substituted “$887,671,223” for “$569,863,014” and “December 20, 2019” for “November 21, 2019”.

Pub. L. 116–59, § 1101(a), substituted “2018, $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, and $569,863,014 for the period beginning on October 1, 2019, and ending on November 21, 2019; and” for “2018 and $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2019.”

Subsec. (b)(2)(G). Pub. L. 116–94, § 401(b), substituted “$199,589,041” for “$68,794,521” and “May 22, 2020” for “December 20, 2019”.

Pub. L. 116–69, § 1101(a), substituted “$887,671,223” for “$569,863,014” and “December 20, 2019” for “November 21, 2019”.

Pub. L. 116–59, § 1101(b), added subpar. (G).

2018—Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50901(a), amended subpar. (F) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (F) read as follows: “$550,000,000 for the period of the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2018;”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(F). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50901(c), amended subpar. (F) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (F) read as follows: “$65,000,000 for period of the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2018.”

2017—Subsec. (b)(1)(F). Pub. L. 115–96, § 3101(a), added subpar. (F).

Subsec. (b)(2)(F). Pub. L. 115–96, § 3101(b), added subpar. (F).

2015—Subsec. (b)(1)(E), (2)(E). Pub. L. 114–10 substituted “for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2017” for “for fiscal year 2015”.

2010—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 111–152, § 2303(1), substituted “1,000,000,000” for “700,000,000”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 111–152, § 2303(2), substituted “1,200,000,000” for “800,000,000”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 111–152, § 2303(3), substituted “1,500,000,000” for “1,000,000,000”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(D). Pub. L. 111–152, § 2303(4), substituted “2,200,000,000” for “1,600,000,000”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(E). Pub. L. 111–152, § 2303(5), substituted “3,600,000,000” for “2,900,000,000”.