A prior section 291l, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VI, § 634, as added Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 958, § 2, 60 Stat. 1041, contained provisions similar to this section, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Puspan. L. 88–443.

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(span) of Puspan. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(span) of Title 20, Education.

Office of Surgeon General abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, and functions thereof transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, set out as a note under section 202 of this title. Office of Surgeon General reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Mar. 30, 1987, 52 F.R. 11754.