(a) In General.--There is in the Department a Chief Medical
Officer, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate.
(b) Qualifications.--The individual appointed as Chief
Medical Officer shall possess a demonstrated ability in and
knowledge of medicine and public health.
(c) Responsibilities.--The Chief Medical Officer shall have
the primary responsibility within the Department for medical
issues related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and
other man-made disasters, including--
(1) serving as the principal advisor to the
Secretary and the Administrator on medical and public
health issues;
(2) coordinating the biodefense activities of the
Department;
(3) ensuring internal and external coordination of
all medical preparedness and response activities of the
Department, including training, exercises, and
equipment support;
(4) serving as the Department's primary point of
contact with the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Defense, the Department of Health and
Human Services, the Department of Transportation, the
Department of Veterans Affairs, and other Federal
departments or agencies, on medical and public health
issues;
(5) serving as the Department's primary point of
contact for State, local, and tribal governments, the
medical community, and others within and outside the
Department, with respect to medical and public health
matters;
(6) discharging, in coordination with the Under
Secretary for Science and Technology, the
responsibilities of the Department related to Project
Bioshield; and
(7) performing such other duties relating to such
responsibilities as the Secretary may require.