---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 274f–4"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "274f–4"
heading: "Report relating to organ donation and the recovery, preservation, and transportation of organs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/274f-4"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part H — Organ Transplants"
---

# §274f–4. Report relating to organ donation and the recovery, preservation, and transportation of organs

- (a) **In general—** Not later than December 31, 2005, and every 2 years thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the activities of the Department carried out pursuant to this part, including an evaluation describing the extent to which the activities have affected the rate of [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation and recovery.
- (b) **Requirements—** To the extent practicable, each report submitted under [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) evaluate the effectiveness of activities, identify effective activities, and disseminate such findings with respect to [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation and recovery;
  - (2) assess [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation and recovery activities that are recently completed, ongoing, or planned; and
  - (3) evaluate progress on the implementation of the plan required under [subsection (c)(5)](#c-5).
- (c) **Initial report requirements—** The initial report under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include the following:
  - (1) An evaluation of the [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) of [organ procurement organizations](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=2), [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), other countries, and other appropriate organizations including an examination across all populations, including those with low [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation rates, of—
    - (A) existing barriers to [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation; and
    - (B) the most effective donation and recovery [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19).
  - (2) An evaluation of living donation [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) and procedures. Such evaluation shall include an assessment of issues relating to informed consent and the health risks associated with living donation (including possible reduction of long-term effects).
  - (3) An evaluation of—
    - (A) federally supported or conducted [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation efforts and policies, as well as federally supported or conducted basic, clinical, and [health services research](/usc/42/284d.md?p=a) (including research on preservation techniques and [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) rejection and compatibility); and
    - (B) the coordination of such efforts across relevant [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) within the Department and throughout the Federal Government.
  - (4) An evaluation of the costs and benefits of [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) donor registries, including the status of existing [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) donor registries, the effect of [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) donor registries on [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation rates, issues relating to consent, and recommendations regarding improving the effectiveness of [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) donor registries in increasing overall [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation rates.
  - (5) A plan to improve federally supported or conducted [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation and recovery activities, including, when appropriate, the establishment of baselines and benchmarks to measure overall outcomes of these [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4). Such plan shall provide for the ongoing coordination of federally supported or conducted [organ](/usc/42/274i–4.md?p=1) donation and research activities.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 377D, as added Pub. L. 108–216, § 6, Apr. 5, 2004, 118 Stat. 588.)