---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 254c–1"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "254c–1"
heading: "Grants for health services for Pacific Islanders"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/254c-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part D — Primary Health Care"
  - "Subpart i — health centers"
---

# §254c–1. Grants for health services for Pacific Islanders

- (a) **Grants—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (hereafter in this section referred to as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)”) shall provide grants to, or enter into contracts with, public or private [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) that have demonstrated experience in serving the health needs of Pacific Islanders living in the Territory of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, the Territory of Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) of Micronesia.
- (b) **Use of grants or contracts—** Grants or contracts made or entered into under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be used, among other items—
  - (1) to continue, as a priority, the medical officer training [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in Pohnpei, Federated [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) of Micronesia;
  - (2) to improve the quality and availability of health and mental health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and systems, with an emphasis therein on preventive health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and health promotion [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), including improved health data systems;
  - (3) to improve the quality and availability of health manpower, including [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to train new and upgrade the skills of existing health professionals by—
    - (A) establishing dental officer, dental assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse clinical specialist training [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
    - (B) providing technical training of new auxiliary health workers;
    - (C) upgrading the training of currently employed health personnel in special areas of need;
    - (D) developing long-term plans for meeting health profession needs;
    - (E) developing or improving [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for faculty enhancement or post-doctoral training; and
    - (F) providing innovative health professions training initiatives (including scholarships) targeted toward ensuring that residents of the Pacific Basin attend and graduate from recognized health professional [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
  - (4) to improve the quality of health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), including laboratory, x-ray, and pharmacy, provided in ambulatory and inpatient settings through quality assurance, standard setting, and other culturally appropriate means;
  - (5) to improve facility and equipment [repair](/usc/42/300j–21.md?p=4) and maintenance systems;
  - (6) to improve alcohol, [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) abuse, and mental health prevention and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) and systems;
  - (7) to improve local and regional health planning systems; and
  - (8) to improve basic local public health systems, with particular attention to primary care and [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to those most in need.

  No funds under [subsection (b)](#b) shall be used for capital [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7).

- (c) **Advisory Council—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) shall establish a “Pacific Health [Advisory Council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1)” which shall consist of 12 members and shall include—
  - (1) the [Directors](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Health Departments for the entities identified in [subsection (a)](#a); and
  - (2) 6 members, including a representative of the Rehabilitation [Hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) of the Pacific, representing organizations in the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) of Hawaii actively involved in the provision of health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) or technical assistance to the entities identified in [subsection (a)](#a). The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall solicit the advice of the Governor of the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) of Hawaii in appointing the 5 Council members in addition to the representative of the Rehabilitation [Hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) of the Pacific from the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) of Hawaii.

  The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall be responsible for providing sufficient staff support to the Council.

- (d) **Advisory Council functions—** The Council shall meet at least annually to—
  - (1) recommend priority areas of need for funding by the Public Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) under this section; and
  - (2) review progress in addressing priority areas and make recommendations to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for needed [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) modifications.
- (e) **Omitted—**
- (f) **Authorization of appropriation—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1993.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–527, § 10, Nov. 6, 1990, 104 Stat. 2333.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Disadvantaged Minority Health Improvement Act of 1990, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

Subsec. (e) of this section, which required the Secretary, in consultation with the Council, to annually prepare and submit to appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the expenditure of funds authorized to be appropriated under this section, with any recommendations of the Secretary, terminated, effective May 15, 2000, pursuant to section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also, page 95 of House Document No. 103–7.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Termination of Advisory Councils

Advisory councils established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a council established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such council is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a council established by Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See sections 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.