---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 284a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "284a"
heading: "Advisory councils"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/284a"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III — National Research Institutes"
  - "Part B — General Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes"
---

# §284a. Advisory councils

- (a) **Establishment; acceptance of conditional gifts; functions—**
  - (1) Except as provided in [subsection (h)](#h), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall appoint an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) for each national research institute which (A) shall advise, assist, consult with, and make recommendations to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) and the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of such institute on matters related to the activities carried out by and through the institute and the policies respecting such activities, and (B) shall carry out the special functions prescribed by part C.
  - (2) Each [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) for a national research institute may recommend to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) acceptance, in accordance with [section 238 of this title](/usc/42/238.md), of conditional gifts for study, investigation, or research respecting the diseases, disorders, or other aspect of human health with respect to which the institute was established, for the acquisition of grounds, or for the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7), equipping, or maintenance of facilities for the institute.
  - (3) Each [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) for a national research institute—
    - (A)
      - (i) may on the basis of the materials provided under [section 289a(b)(2) of this title](/usc/42/289a.md?p=b-2) respecting research conducted at the institute, make recommendations to the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the institute respecting such research,
      - (ii) may review applications for grants and cooperative agreements for research or training and for which [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) approval is required under [section 284(b)(2) of this title](/usc/42/284.md?p=b-2) and recommend for approval applications for [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) which show promise of making valuable contributions to human knowledge, and
      - (iii) may review any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement proposed to be made or entered into by the institute;
    - (B) may collect, by correspondence or by personal investigation, information as to studies which are being carried on in the United States or any other country as to the diseases, disorders, or other aspect of human health with respect to which the institute was established and with the approval of the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the institute make available such information through appropriate publications for the benefit of public and private health entities and health professions personnel and scientists and for the information of the general public; and
    - (C) may appoint subcommittees and convene workshops and conferences.
- (b) **Membership; compensation—**
  - (1) Each [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) shall consist of ex officio members and not more than eighteen members appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c). The ex officio members shall be nonvoting members.
  - (2) The ex officio members of an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) shall consist of—
    - (A) the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of NIH, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the national research institute for which the council is established, the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Chief Dental [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Defense for Health Affairs (or the designees of such officers), and
    - (B) such additional officers or [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) of the United States as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) determines necessary for the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) to effectively carry out its functions.
  - (3) The members of an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) who are not ex officio members shall be appointed as follows:
    - (A) Two-thirds of the members shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) from among the leading representatives of the health and scientific disciplines (including not less than two individuals who are leaders in the fields of public health and the behavioral or social sciences) relevant to the activities of the national research institute for which the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) is established.
    - (B) One-third of the members shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) from the general public and shall include leaders in fields of public policy, law, health policy, economics, and management.
  - (4) Members of an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) who are officers or [employees](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) of the United States shall not receive any compensation for [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) on the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1). The other members of an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) shall receive, for each day (including traveltime) they are engaged in the performance of the functions of the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1), compensation at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate in effect for grade GS–18 of the General Schedule.
- (c) **Term of office; reappointment; vacancy—** The term of office of an appointed member of an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) is four years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of such term and the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall make appointments to an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the members do not all expire in the same year. A member may serve after the expiration of the member’s term for 180 days after the date of such expiration. A member who has been appointed for a term of four years may not be reappointed to an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) before two years from the date of expiration of such term of office. If a vacancy occurs in the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) among the appointed members, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy within 90 days from the date the vacancy occurs.
- (d) **Chairman; term of office—** The chairman of an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) shall be selected by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) from among the appointed members, except that the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may select the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the national research institute for which the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) is established to be the chairman of the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1). The term of office of the chairman shall be two years.
- (e) **Meetings—** The [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) shall meet at the call of the chairman or upon the request of the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the national research institute for which it was established, but at least three times each fiscal year. The location of the meetings of each [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) is subject to the approval of the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the national research institute for which the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) was established.
- (f) **Appointment of executive secretary; training and orientation for new members—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the national research institute for which an [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) is established shall designate a member of the staff of the institute to serve as the executive [secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1). The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of such institute shall make available to the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) such staff, information, and other assistance as it may require to carry out its functions. The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of such institute shall provide orientation and training for new members of the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) to provide them with such information and training as may be appropriate for their effective participation in the functions of the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1).
- (g) **Comments and recommendations for inclusion in biennial report; additional reports—** Each [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) may prepare, for inclusion in the biennial report made under [section 284b](/usc/42/284b.md)[^1] of this title, (1) comments respecting the activities of the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) in the fiscal years respecting which the report is prepared, (2) comments on the progress of the national research institute for which it was established in meeting its objectives, and (3) recommendations respecting the future directions and [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and policy emphasis of the institute. Each [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) may prepare such additional reports as it may determine appropriate.
- (h) **Advisory councils in existence; application of section to National Cancer Advisory Board and advisory council to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute—**
  - (1) Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#h-2), this section does not terminate the membership of any [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) for a national research institute which was in existence on November 20, 1985. After November 20, 1985—
    - (A) the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall make appointments to each such [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) in such a manner as to bring about as soon as practicable the composition for such council prescribed by this section;
    - (B) each [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) shall organize itself in accordance with this section and exercise the functions prescribed by this section; and
    - (C) the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of each national research institute shall perform for such [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) the functions prescribed by this section.
  - (2)
    - (A) The National Cancer Advisory Board shall be the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) for the National Cancer Institute. This section applies to the National Cancer Advisory Board, except that—
      - (i) appointments to such Board shall be made by the President;
      - (ii) the term of office of an appointed member shall be 6 years;
      - (iii) of the members appointed to the Board—
        - (I) not less than 5 members shall be individuals knowledgeable in environmental carcinogenesis (including carcinogenesis involving occupational and dietary factors); and
        - (II) not less than one member shall be an individual knowledgeable in pediatric oncology;
      - (iv) the chairman of the Board shall be selected by the President from the appointed members and shall serve as chairman for a term of two years;
      - (v) the ex officio members of the Board shall be nonvoting members and shall be the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of NIH, the Under [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Labor, the Commissioner of the Food and [Drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) Administration, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Defense for Health Affairs, and the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Office of Science of the Department of Energy (or the designees of such officers); and
      - (vi) the Board shall meet at least four times each fiscal year.
    - (B) This section applies to the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, except that the [advisory council](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=1) shall meet at least four times each fiscal year.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, § 406, as added Pub. L. 99–158, § 2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 828; amended Pub. L. 100–607, title I, § 117, Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3053; Pub. L. 101–381, title I, § 102(1), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 585; Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(e)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1985; Pub. L. 103–43, title II, § 210(a), title XX, §§ 2008(b)(1), 2010(b)(2), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 149, 210, 214; Pub. L. 105–245, title III, § 309(b)(2)(C), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1853; Pub. L. 115–180, title I, § 111, June 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 1386.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 284b of this title, referred to in subsec. (g), was repealed by Pub. L. 109–482, title I, § 104(b)(1)(C), Jan. 15, 2007, 120 Stat. 3693.

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 115–180 substituted “appointed to the Board—” for “appointed to the Board”, inserted subcl. (I) designation before “not less than”, substituted “5 members” for “five members”, inserted “and” at end, and added subcl. (II).

1998—Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(v). Pub. L. 105–245 substituted “Science of the Department of Energy” for “Energy Research of the Department of Energy”.

1993—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–43, § 2010(b)(2), substituted “section 238” for “section 300aaa”.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–43, § 2008(b)(1)(A), substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–43, § 210(a), substituted “for 180 days after the date of such expiration” for “until a successor has taken office”.

Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(v). Pub. L. 103–43, § 2008(b)(1)(B), substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1992—Subsecs. (b)(2)(A), (h)(2)(A)(v). Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director”.

1990—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101–381 made technical amendment to reference to section 300aaa of this title to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.

1988—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–607, § 117(a), inserted at end “The ex officio members shall be nonvoting members.”

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 100–607, § 117(b), inserted “not less than two individuals who are leaders in the fields of” after “(including”.

Subsec. (h)(2)(A)(v). Pub. L. 100–607, § 117(c), inserted “shall be nonvoting members and” after “Board” and substituted “the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, and the Director of the Office of Energy Research of the Department of Energy” for “and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs”.

### 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 the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See sections 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Pub. L. 93–641, § 6, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2275, set out as a note under section 217a of this title, provided that an advisory committee established pursuant to the Public Health Service Act shall terminate at such time as may be specifically prescribed by an Act of Congress enacted after Jan. 4, 1975.

### References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.