42 U.S.C. § 247c — Sexually transmitted diseases; prevention

Page 222 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 247c nology, and the Administrator of the Adminis- tration for Community Living, may award grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to public or nonprofit private entities, including minority serving institutions (defined, for pur- poses of this subsection, as institutions and pro- grams described in section 1063b(e)(1) of title 20 and institutions described in section 1067q(a) of title 20), to— (1) identify or facilitate the development of best practices to support improved health out- comes for underserved populations; (2) provide technical assistance, training, and evaluation assistance to award recipients under subsection (a); (3) disseminate best practices, including to award recipients under subsection (a); and (4) leverage, establish, or operate regional centers to develop, evaluate, and disseminate effective strategies on factors related to health outcomes, including supporting re- search and training related to such strategies. (e) Award periods The Secretary shall issue awards under this section for periods of not more than 5 years and may issue extensions of such award periods for an additional period of up to 3 years. (f) Report Not later than September 30, 2026, the Sec- retary shall submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that in- cludes information on activities funded under this section. Such report shall include a descrip- tion of— (1) changes in the capacity of public health entities to address factors related to health outcomes in communities, including any ap- plicable platforms or networks developed or utilized to coordinate health and related so- cial services and any changes in workforce ca- pacity or capabilities; (2) improvements in health outcomes and in reducing health disparities in medically un- derserved communities; (3) activities conducted to support consider- ation of factors related to health outcomes in preparing for, and responding to, public health emergencies, through outreach, education, and other relevant activities; (4) communities and populations served by recipients of awards under subsection (a); (5) activities supported under subsection (e); and (6) other relevant activities and outcomes, as determined by the Secretary. (g) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. Of the amounts appro- priated under this subsection for a fiscal year, 5 percent shall be reserved for awards under sub- section (a) to Indian Tribes and Tribal organiza- tions (as such terms are defined in section 5304 of title 25), urban Indian organizations (as de- fined in section 1603 of title 25), and Tribal health departments. (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 317V, as added Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title II, § 2201(a)(1), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5727.) § 247c. Sexually transmitted diseases; prevention and control projects and programs (a) Technical assistance to public and nonprofit private entities and scientific institutions The Secretary may provide technical assist- ance to appropriate public and nonprofit private entities and to scientific institutions for their research in, and training and public health pro- grams for, the prevention and control of sexu- ally transmitted diseases. (b) Research, demonstration, and public informa- tion and education projects The Secretary may make grants to States, po- litical subdivisions of States, and any other pub- lic and nonprofit private entity for— (1) research into the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases; (2) demonstration projects for the preven- tion and control of sexually transmitted dis- eases; (3) public information and education pro- grams for the prevention and control of such diseases; and (4) education, training, and clinical skills improvement activities in the prevention and control of such diseases for health profes- sionals (including allied health personnel). (c) Project grants to States The Secretary is also authorized to make proj- ect grants to States and, in consultation with the State health authority, to political subdivi- sions of States, for— (1) sexually transmitted diseases surveil- lance activities, including the reporting, screening, and followup of diagnostic tests for, and diagnosed cases of, sexually transmitted diseases; (2) casefinding and case followup activities respecting sexually transmitted diseases, in- cluding contact tracing of infectious cases of sexually transmitted diseases and routine testing, including laboratory tests and fol- lowup systems; (3) interstate epidemiologic referral and fol- lowup activities respecting sexually trans- mitted diseases; and (4) such special studies or demonstrations to evaluate or test sexually transmitted diseases prevention and control strategies and activi- ties as may be prescribed by the Secretary. (d) Grants for innovative, interdisciplinary ap- proaches The Secretary may make grants to States and political subdivisions of States for the develop- ment, implementation, and evaluation of inno- vative, interdisciplinary approaches to the pre- vention and control of sexually transmitted dis- eases. (e) Authorization of appropriations; terms and conditions; payments; recordkeeping; audit; grant reduction; information disclosure (1) For the purpose of making grants under subsections (b) through (d), there are authorized to be appropriated $85,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998. (2) Each recipient of a grant under this section shall keep such records as the Secretary shall Page 223 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 247c prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by such recipient of the proceeds of such grant, the total cost of the project or undertaking in connection with which such grant was given or used, and the amount of that portion of the cost of the project or under- taking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit. (3) The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly au- thorized representatives, shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of the re- cipients of grants under this section that are pertinent to such grants. (4) The Secretary, at the request of a recipient of a grant under this section, may reduce such grant by the fair market value of any supplies or equipment furnished to such recipient and by the amount of pay, allowances, travel expenses, and any other costs in connection with the de- tail of an officer or employee of the United States to the recipient when the furnishing of such supplies or equipment or the detail of such an officer or employee is for the convenience of and at the request of such recipient and for the purpose of carrying out the program with re- spect to which the grant under this section is made. The amount by which any such grant is so reduced shall be available for payment by the Secretary of the costs incurred in furnishing the supplies, equipment, or personal services on which the reduction of such grant is based. (5) All information obtained in connection with the examination, care, or treatment of any individual under any program which is being carried out with a grant made under this section shall not, without such individual’s consent, be disclosed except as may be necessary to provide service to him or as may be required by a law of a state or political subdivision of a State. Infor- mation derived from any such program may be disclosed— (A) in summary, statistical, or other form; or (B) for clinical or research purposes; but only if the identity of the individuals diag- nosed or provided care or treatment under such program is not disclosed. (f) Consent of individuals Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any State or any political subdivision of a State to have a sexually transmitted diseases program which would require any person, who objects to any treatment provided under such a program, to be treated under such a program. (July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 318, as added Pub. L. 92–449, title II, § 203, Sept. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 751; amended Pub. L. 94–317, title II, § 203(b)–(i), June 23, 1976, 90 Stat. 704, 705; Pub. L. 94–484, title IX, § 905(b)(2), Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2325; Pub. L. 95–626, title II, § 204(b)(1), (c), (d), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3583; Pub. L. 96–32, § 6(j), July 10, 1979, 93 Stat. 84; Pub. L. 97–35, title IX, § 929, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 569; Pub. L. 98–555, § 3, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2854; Pub. L. 100–607, title III, § 311, Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3112; Pub. L. 103–183, title IV, § 401, Dec. 14, 1993, 107 Stat. 2236; Pub. L. 105–392, title IV, § 401(b)(2), (c), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3587.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 247c, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373 title III, § 318, as added Aug. 18, 1964, Pub. L. 88–443, § 2, 78 Stat. 447, related to grants for assisting in the areawide plan- ning of health and related facilities, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 89–749, § 6, Nov. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 1190 eff. July 1, 1967. AMENDMENTS 1998—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–392, § 401(b)(2), redesig- nated subsec. (e), relating to consent of individuals, as (f). Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 105–392, § 401(c), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 103–183, § 401(c)(3). See 1993 Amendment note below. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–392, § 401(b)(2), redesignated subsec. (e), relating to consent of individuals, as (f). 1993—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 103–183, § 401(c)(1), sub- stituted ‘‘; and’’ for ‘‘, and’’. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 103–183, § 401(c)(2), which di- rected the substitution of ‘‘; and’’ for ‘‘, and’’, could not be executed because ‘‘, and’’ did not appear. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–183, § 401(a)(2), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–183, § 401(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (d), relating to authorization of appropriations, etc., as (e). Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 103–183, § 401(b), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as fol- lows: ‘‘For the purpose of making grants under sub- sections (b) and (c) of this section there are authorized to be appropriated $45,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979, $51,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, $59,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, $40,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1982, $46,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1983, $50,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1984, $57,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1985, $62,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1986, $68,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1987, $78,000,000 for fiscal year 1989, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1990 and 1991. For grants under subsection (b) of this section in any fiscal year, the Secretary shall obli- gate not less than 10 per centum of the amount appro- priated for such fiscal year under the preceding sen- tence. Grants made under subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall be made on such terms and conditions as the Secretary finds necessary to carry out the purposes of such subsection, and payments under any such grants shall be made in advance or by way of reim- bursement and in such installments as the Secretary finds necessary.’’ Subsec. (e)(5). Pub. L. 103–183, § 401(c)(3), as amended by Pub. L. 105–392, § 401(c), substituted ‘‘form; or’’ for ‘‘form, or’’ in subpar. (A) and ‘‘purposes;’’ for ‘‘pur- poses,’’ in subpar. (B). 1988—Pub. L. 100–607, § 311(1), amended section catch- line. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–607, § 311(2), (3), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to acquired immune deficiency syn- drome. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 100–607, § 311(4), substituted ‘‘(b) and (c)’’ for ‘‘(b), (c), and (d)’’, struck out ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘1986,’’, and inserted ‘‘, $78,000,000 for fiscal year 1989, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fis- cal years 1990 and 1991’’ before period at end of first sen- tence; substituted ‘‘(b) or (c)’’ for ‘‘(b), (c), or (d)’’ in third sentence; and struck out at end ‘‘If the appropria- tions under the first sentence for fiscal year 1985 exceed $50,000,000, one-half of the amount in excess of $50,000,000 shall be made available for grants under sub- section (d) of this section; if the appropriations under the first sentence for fiscal year 1986 exceed $52,500,000, one-half of the amount in excess of $52,500,000 shall be made available for such grants; and if the appropria- Page 224 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 247c tions under the first sentence for fiscal year 1987 exceed $55,000,000, one-half of the amount in excess of $55,000,000 shall be made available for such grants.’’ Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 100–607, § 311(2), (3), struck out subsec. (f) which related to conditional limitation on use of funds and redesignated subsecs. (e) and (g) as (d) and (e), respectively. 1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–555, § 3(b)(1), substituted ‘‘research in, and training and public health programs for, the prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases’’ for ‘‘research, training, and public health pro- grams for the prevention and control of venereal dis- ease’’. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–555, § 3(b)(2), in amending sub- sec. (b) generally, designated existing provisions as pars. (1) to (3), added par. (4), and substituted references to sexually transmitted diseases for reference to vene- real disease. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–555, § 3(b)(3), (6)(A), substituted ‘‘sexually transmitted diseases’’ for ‘‘venereal disease’’ wherever appearing, struck out par. (4) relating to pro- fessional venereal disease education, training and clin- ical skills improvement activities, and redesignated par. (5) as (4). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–555, § 3(b)(5)(A), added subsec. (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–555, § 3(a), (b)(4), (5), redesig- nated subsec. (d) as (e), and in par. (1) of subsec. (e) as so redesignated, substituted ‘‘(b), (c), and (d)’’ for ‘‘(b) and (c)’’, inserted provisions authorizing appropriations for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1985, 1986, and 1987, sub- stituted ‘‘10 per centum’’ for ‘‘5 per centum’’, and in- serted provisions directing that one-half the excess of appropriations in fiscal years 1985, 1986, and 1987 over certain amounts be made available for grants under subsec. (d). Notwithstanding language of section 3(b)(5)(B)(ii) directing the substitution of ‘‘(b), (c), or (d)’’ for ‘‘(b) or (c)’’ in second sentence of subsec. (e)(1), the amendment was executed by making the substi- tution in third sentence of subsec. (e)(1) to reflect the probable intent of Congress because ‘‘(b) or (c)’’ did not appear in second sentence. Former subsec. (e) redesig- nated (f). Subsecs. (f), (g). Pub. L. 98–555, § 3(b)(5)(A), (6)(A), (C), redesignated subsecs. (e) and (f) as (f) and (g), respec- tively, in subsecs. (f) and (g) as so redesignated, sub- stituted ‘‘sexually transmitted diseases’’ for ‘‘venereal disease’’, and struck out former subsec. (g) which de- fined venereal disease. 1981—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 97–35 inserted provisions authorizing appropriations for fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1982, 1983, and 1984. 1979—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–32 amended directory language of Pub. L. 95–626, § 204(c)(2), and required no change in text. See 1978 Amendment note below. 1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–626, § 204(c)(2), as amend- ed by Pub. L. 96–32, substituted ‘‘research, demonstra- tions, and public information and education for the pre- vention and control of venereal disease’’ for ‘‘research, demonstrations, education, and training for the preven- tion and control of venereal disease’’, struck out ‘‘(1)’’ preceding provisions thus amended, and struck out par. (2) which authorized appropriation of $5,000,000 for fis- cal year 1976, $6,600,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $7,600,000 for fiscal year 1978 for purpose of carrying out this sub- section. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–626, § 204(d), struck out ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘(c)’’ at beginning of existing provisions, changed designations at beginning of each of the five clauses from ‘‘(A)’’, ‘‘(B)’’, ‘‘(C)’’, ‘‘(D)’’, and ‘‘(E)’’ to ‘‘(1)’’, ‘‘(2)’’, ‘‘(3)’’, ‘‘(4)’’, and ‘‘(5)’’, respectively, substituted ‘‘The Secretary is also authorized’’ for ‘‘The Secretary is authorized’’ in provisions preceding cl. (1) as redesig- nated, substituted ‘‘professional (including appropriate allied health personnel) venereal disease education, training and clinical skills improvement activities’’ for ‘‘professional and public venereal disease education ac- tivities’’ in cl. (4) as redesignated, and struck out former par. (2) which had authorized appropriations of $32,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, $41,500,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $43,500,000 for fiscal year 1978. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 95–626, § 204(c)(1), inserted pro- visions authorizing appropriations of $45,000,000 for fis- cal year ending Sept. 30, 1979, $51,500,000 for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1980, and $59,000,000 for fiscal year end- ing Sept. 30, 1981, for purpose of making grants under subsecs. (b) and (c) of this section, and inserted provi- sions directing Secretary to obligate not less than 5 per centum of amount appropriated for any fiscal year. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95–626, § 204(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f). Former subsec. (f), requiring that not to exceed 50 per centum of amounts appropriated for any fiscal year under subsecs. (b) and (c) of this section could be used by Secretary for grants for such fiscal year under section 247b of this title, was struck out. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 95–626, § 204(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (h) as (g). Former subsec. (g) redesignated (f). 1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(c), substituted ‘‘public and nonprofit private entities and to’’ for ‘‘pub- lic authorities and’’. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(i), inserted ‘‘edu- cation,’’ before ‘‘and training’’. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(b)(1), substituted provisions authorizing appropriations of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, $6,600,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $7,600,000 for fiscal year 1978, for provisions authorizing appropriations of $7,500,000 for fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and for each of the next two fiscal years. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–484, purported to amend former subsec. (c)(1) by defining ‘‘State’’ to include the North- ern Mariana Islands. Former subsec. (c) of this section had been previously repealed by section 203(f)(1) of Pub. L. 94–317. See par. below. Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(b)(2), (d), (e), (f)(1), (3), (8), redesig- nated subsec. (d) as (c), inserted, in par. (1)(B), ref- erence to routine testing, including laboratory tests and followup systems and substituted in par. (1)(E). ‘‘prevention and control strategies and activities’’ for ‘‘control’’ and, in par. (2), provisions authorizing appro- priations of $32,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, $41,500,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $43,500,000 for fiscal year 1978, for provisions authorizing appropriations of $30,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, and for each of the next two succeeding fiscal years. Former subsec. (c), which provided for authorization of appropriations to enable the Secretary to make grants to state health authorities to establish and maintain programs for di- agnosis and treatment of venereal disease was amended by striking out reference to dark-field microscope tech- niques for diagnosis of both gonorrhea an syphilis, and as so amended, was repealed. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(f)(2), (4), (5), (8), redes- ignated subsec. (e) as (d), substituted in par. (1) ‘‘or (c)’’ for ‘‘or (d)’’, struck out in par. (4) provisions relating to the amount of reduction of a grant under former sub- sec. (c) whereby such amount shall be deemed a part of the grant to the recipient of the grant and shall be deemed to have been paid to such recipient, and in- serted in par. (5) reference to requirement by law of a State or political subdivision of a state. Former subsec. (d) redesignated (c). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(f)(8), (g), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e) and substituted ‘‘247b(g)(2) of this title’’ for ‘‘247b(d)(4) of this title’’. Former subsec. (e) redesignated (d). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(f)(6), (8), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f) and substituted ‘‘and (c)’’ for ‘‘, (c), and (d)’’. Former subsec. (f) redesignated (e). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(f)(7), (8), redesignated subsec. (h) as (g) and struck out ‘‘treated or to have any child or ward of his’’ after ‘‘a program, to be’’. Former subsec. (g) redesignated (f). Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 94–317, § 203(h), added subsec. (h). Former subsec. (h) redesignated (g). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 105–392 deemed to have taken effect immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 103–183, Page 225 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 247c–1 see section 401(e) of Pub. L. 105–392, set out as a note under section 242m of this title. DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION ON ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME BY DIRECTOR OF CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL TO EVERY AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(h) [title II], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–256, 1329–365, provided: ‘‘That the Director shall cause to be distributed without necessary clear- ance of the content by any official, organization or of- fice, an AIDS mailer to every American household by June 30, 1988, as approved and funded by the Congress in Public Law 100–71 [July 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 391].’’ CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS Pub. L. 95–626, title II, § 204(a), Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3582, provided that: ‘‘The Congress finds and declares that— ‘‘(1) the number of reported cases of venereal dis- ease persists in epidemic proportions in the United States; ‘‘(2) the number of persons affected by venereal dis- ease and reported to public health authorities is only a fraction of those actually affected; ‘‘(3) the incidence of venereal disease continues to be particularly high among American youth, ages fif- teen to twenty-nine, and among populations in met- ropolitan areas; ‘‘(4) venereal disease accounts for severe permanent disabilities and sometimes death in newborns and causes reproductive dysfunction in women of child- bearing age; ‘‘(5) it is conservatively estimated that the public cost of health care for persons suffering from com- plications of venereal disease exceeds one-half billion dollars annually; ‘‘(6) the number of trained Federal venereal disease prevention and control personnel has fallen to a dan- gerously inadequate level; ‘‘(7) no vaccine for syphilis, gonorrhea, or any other venereal disease has yet been developed, nor does a blood test for the detection of asymptomatic gonor- rhea in women exist, nor are safe and effective thera- peutic agents available for some other venereal dis- eases; ‘‘(8) school health education programs, public infor- mation and awareness campaigns, mass diagnostic screening and case followup have all been found to be effective venereal disease prevention and control methodologies; ‘‘(9) skilled and knowledgeable health care pro- viders, informed and concerned individuals and ac- tive, well-coordinated voluntary groups are funda- mental to venereal disease prevention and control; ‘‘(10) biomedical research toward improved diag- nostic and therapeutic tools is of singular importance to the elimination of venereal disease; and ‘‘(11) an increasing number of sexually trans- missible diseases besides syphilis and gonorrhea have become a public health hazard.’’ Pub. L. 94–317, title II, § 203(a), June 23, 1976, 90 Stat. 703, provided that: ‘‘The Congress finds and declares that— ‘‘(1) the number of reported cases of venereal dis- ease continues in epidemic proportions in the United States; ‘‘(2) the number of patients with venereal disease reported to public health authorities is only a frac- tion of those actually infected; ‘‘(3) the incidence of venereal disease is particularly high in the 15–29-year age group, and in metropolitan areas; ‘‘(4) venereal disease accounts for needless deaths and leads to such severe disabilities as sterility, in- sanity, blindness, and crippling conditions; ‘‘(5) the number of cases of congenital syphilis, a preventable disease, tends to parallel the incidence of syphilis in adults; ‘‘(6) it is conservatively estimated that the public cost of care for persons suffering the complications of venereal disease exceed $80,000,000 annually; ‘‘(7) medical researchers have no successful vaccine for syphilis or gonorrhea, and have no blood test for the detection of gonorrhea among the large reservoir of asymptomatic females; ‘‘(8) school health education programs, public infor- mation and awareness campaigns, mass diagnostic screening and case followup activities have all been found to be effective disease intervention methodolo- gies; ‘‘(9) knowledgeable health providers and concerned individuals and groups are fundamental to venereal disease prevention and control; ‘‘(10) biomedical research leading to the develop- ment of vaccines for syphilis and gonorrhea is of sin- gular importance for the eventual eradication of these dreaded diseases; and ‘‘(11) a variety of other sexually transmitted dis- eases, in addition to syphilis and gonorrhea, have be- come of public health significance.’’ Pub. L. 92–449, title II, § 202, Sept. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 750, provided that: ‘‘(a) The Congress finds and declares that— ‘‘(1) the number or reported cases of venereal dis- ease has reached epidemic proportions in the United States; ‘‘(2) the number of patients with venereal disease reported to public health authorities is only a frac- tion of those treated by physicians; ‘‘(3) the incidence of venereal disease is particularly high among individuals in the 20–24 age group, and in metropolitan areas; ‘‘(4) venereal disease accounts for needless deaths and leads to such severe disabilities as sterility, in- sanity, blindness, and crippling conditions; ‘‘(5) the number of cases of congenital syphilis, a preventable disease, in infants under one year of age increased by 331⁄3 per centum between 1970 and 1971; ‘‘(6) health education programs in schools and through the mass media may prevent a substantial portion of the venereal disease problem; and ‘‘(7) medical authorities have no successful vaccine for syphilis or gonorrhea and no blood test for the de- tection of gonorrhea among the large reservoir of asymptomatic females. ‘‘(b) In order to preserve and protect the health and welfare of all citizens, it is the purpose of this Act [en- acting this section, amending sections 247b and 300 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 201 and 247b of this title] to establish a national program for the prevention and control of ve- nereal disease.’’ § 247c–1. Infertility and sexually transmitted dis- eases (a) In general The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may make grants to States, political subdivi- sions of States, and other public or nonprofit private entities for the purpose of carrying out the activities described in subsection (c) regard- ing any treatable sexually transmitted disease that can cause infertility in women if treatment is not received for the disease. (b) Authority regarding individual diseases With respect to diseases described in sub- section (a), the Secretary shall, in making a grant under such subsection, specify the par- ticular disease or diseases with respect to which the grant is to be made. The Secretary may not make the grant unless the applicant involved agrees to carry out this section only with re- spect to the disease or diseases so specified. (c) Authorized activities With respect to any sexually transmitted dis- ease described in subsection (a), the activities referred to in such subsection are—