---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300hh–15"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300hh–15"
heading: "Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300hh-15"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXVI — National All-Hazards Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies"
  - "Part B — All-Hazards Emergency Preparedness and Response"
---

# §300hh–15. Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps

- (a) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2006, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in collaboration with [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and tribal officials, shall build on [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and tribal [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in existence on December 19, 2006, to establish and maintain a Medical Reserve Corps (referred to in this section as the “Corps”) to provide for an adequate supply of volunteers in the case of a Federal, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or tribal public health emergency. The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may appoint a [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) to head the Corps and oversee the activities of the Corps chapters that exist at the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, Tribal, and territorial levels.
- (b) **State, local, and tribal coordination—** The Corps shall be established using existing [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and tribal teams and shall not alter such teams.
- (c) **Composition—** The Corps shall be composed of individuals who—
  - (1)
    - (A) are health professionals who have appropriate professional training and expertise as determined appropriate by the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Corps; or
    - (B) are non-health professionals who have an interest in serving in an auxiliary or support capacity to facilitate access to health [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7) in a public health emergency;
  - (2) are certified in accordance with the certification [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) developed under [subsection (d)](#d);
  - (3) are geographically diverse in residence;
  - (4) have registered and carry out training exercises with a local chapter of the Medical Reserve Corps; and
  - (5) indicate whether they are willing to be deployed outside the area in which they reside in the event of a public health emergency.
- (d) **Certification; drills—**
  - (1) **Certification—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5), in collaboration with [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and tribal officials, shall establish a process for the periodic certification of individuals who volunteer for the Corps, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), which shall include the completion by each individual of the core training [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) developed under [section 247d–6 of this title](/usc/42/247d–6.md), as required by the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5). Such certification shall not supercede [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) licensing or credentialing requirements.
  - (2) **Drills—** In conjunction with the core training [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) referred to in [paragraph (1)](#d-1), and in order to facilitate the integration of trained volunteers into the health care system at the local level, Corps members shall engage in periodic training exercises to be carried out at the local level. Such training exercises shall, as appropriate and applicable, incorporate the needs of at-risk individuals in the event of a public health emergency.
- (e) **Deployment—** During a public health emergency, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall have the authority to activate and deploy willing members of the Corps to areas of need, taking into consideration the public health and medical expertise required, with the concurrence of the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, or tribal officials from the area where the members reside.
- (f) **Expenses and transportation—** While engaged in performing duties as a member of the Corps pursuant to an assignment by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) (including periods of travel to facilitate such assignment), members of the Corps who are not otherwise employed by the Federal Government shall be allowed travel or transportation expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence.
- (g) **Identification—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in cooperation and consultation with the [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), shall develop a Medical Reserve Corps Identification Card that describes the licensure and certification information of Corps members, as well as other identifying information determined necessary by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c).
- (h) **Intermittent disaster-response personnel—**
  - (1) **In general—** For the purpose of assisting the Corps in carrying out duties under this section, during a public health emergency, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may appoint selected individuals to serve as intermittent personnel of such Corps in accordance with applicable civil [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) laws and [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d). In all other cases, members of the Corps are subject to the laws of the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) in which the activities of the Corps are undertaken.
  - (2) **Applicable protections—** Subsections (c)(2), (d), and (e) of [section 300hh–11 of this title](/usc/42/300hh–11.md) shall apply to an individual appointed under [paragraph (1)](#h-1) in the same manner as such subsections apply to an individual appointed under [section 300hh–11(c) of this title](/usc/42/300hh–11.md?p=c).
  - (3) **Limitation—** [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and tribal officials shall have no authority to designate a member of the Corps as Federal intermittent [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2)-response personnel, but may request the [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) of such members.
- (i) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, $11,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2813, as added Pub. L. 109–417, title III, § 303(a), Dec. 19, 2006, 120 Stat. 2856; amended Pub. L. 113–5, title II, § 203(b)(2), Mar. 13, 2013, 127 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 116–22, title III, § 301(b), June 24, 2019, 133 Stat. 932.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2019—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–22, § 301(b)(1), substituted “The Secretary may appoint a Director to head the Corps and oversee the activities of the Corps chapters that exist at the State, local, Tribal, and territorial levels.” for “The Corps shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary and shall oversee the activities of the Corps chapters that exist at the State, local, and tribal levels.”

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 116–22, § 301(b)(2), substituted “2019 through 2023” for “2014 through 2018”.

2013—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 113–5, § 203(b)(2)(A), inserted at end “Such training exercises shall, as appropriate and applicable, incorporate the needs of at-risk individuals in the event of a public health emergency.”

Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 113–5, § 203(b)(2)(B), substituted “$11,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018” for “$22,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011”.