(1)

in the section heading, by adding at the end the following: ; medical surge program; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e) Medical surge program

(1)

The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall carry out a program of record known as the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program to—

(A)

support locations that the Secretary of Defense selects under paragraph (3)(B); and

(B)

enhance the interoperability and medical surge capability and capacity of the National Disaster Medical System in response to a declaration or other action described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of paragraph (4).

(2)

(A)

The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Institute for Defense Health Cooperation at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (or such successor center), shall oversee the management, staffing, and deployment of the Program, in coordination with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Director of the Defense Health Agency, and, for purposes of ensuring that the Program is carried out in a manner that is consistent with paragraph (6), the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(B)

In carrying out subparagraph (A) during a contingency operation, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Program provides support, acting through the Defense Health Agency serving as a combat support agency, to the relevant combatant command.

(C)

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure the program is administrated in coordination with the military departments, the Joint Staff, the Defense Health Agency, and the Department of Health and Human Services through semiannual coordination meetings and quarterly updates. On an annual basis, one such meeting shall include the participation of partners specified in paragraph (3)(A).

(D)

In carrying out the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall maintain requirements for staffing, specialized training, research, and education, regarding patient regulation, movement, definitive care, and other matters the Secretary determines critical to sustaining the health of members of the armed forces.

(3)

(A)

In carrying out the Program, the Secretary of Defense shall establish partnerships at locations selected under subparagraph (B) with public, private, and nonprofit health care organizations, health care institutions, health care entities, academic medical centers of institutions of higher education, and hospitals that the Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services determine—

(i)

are critical in mobilizing a civilian medical response in support of a wartime contingency or other catastrophic event in the United States; and

(ii)

have demonstrated technical proficiency in critical national security domains, including high-consequence infectious disease and special pathogen preparedness, and matters relating to defense, containment, management, care, and transportation.

(B)

The Secretary of Defense shall select not fewer than eight locations that are operationally relevant to the missions of the Department of Defense under the National Disaster Medical System and are aeromedical or other transport hubs or logistics centers in the United States for partnerships under subparagraph (A). The Secretary may select more than eight locations, including locations outside of the continental United States, if the Secretary determines such additional locations cover areas of strategic and operational relevance to the Department.

(4)

The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that the partnerships under paragraph (3)(A) allow for civilian medical personnel to quickly and effectively mobilize direct support to military medical treatment facilities and provide support to other requirements of the military health system pursuant to the following:

(A)

A declaration of a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.).

(B)

A public health emergency declared under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).

(C)

A declaration of war by Congress.

(D)

A contingency operation.

(E)

The President’s exercise of executive powers under the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).

(F)

Any other emergency or major disaster as declared by the President.

(5)

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on the status, readiness, and operational capabilities of the Program. Each report shall include an assessment of personnel readiness, resource availability, interagency coordination efforts, and recommendations for continued improvements to the Program.

(6)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the Secretary of Defense to control, direct, limit, or otherwise affect the authorities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to the leadership and administration of the National Disaster Medical System, public health and medical preparedness and response, staffing levels, or resource allocation.

(7)

In this subsection:

(A)

The term institution of higher education means a four-year institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))).

(B)

The term National Disaster Medical System means the system established under section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh–11).

(C)

The term Program means the Military-Civilian Medical Surge Program established under paragraph (1).