PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 12, 2025
Public Health Improvement Act
This bill narrows the authority of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with respect to the control of communicable diseases and renewals of public health emergencies. It also limits the priorities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to solely communicable diseases.
Specifically, the bill removes HHS' discretion to take measures it deems necessary to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. It also narrows the objectives and priorities of the CDC by removing noncommunicable diseases, injuries, occupational and environmental hazards, and discretionary priorities from its strategic plan.
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Also, the bill removes the authority of HHS to renew a declaration of a public health emergency and instead requires Congress to issue a renewal.
The bill also limits the terms of the directors of the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to 12 years and requires members of the Advisory Committee to the Director of the CDC to be appointed by members of Congress and other officials (currently appointed by the director). Additionally, the bill transfers eight offices from the CDC to the NIH (e.g., the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).
People & committees
Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO] · R–MO
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Jan 6, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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