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HR 3447 110th Congress House Health Communication in medicine Congress Congressional oversight Congressional reporting requirements Consultants Department of Health and Human Services Dismissal of employees Economics and Public Finance Employee selection Executive reorganization Government Operations and Politics Government publicity Health education Nominations for office Physicians Presidential appointments Public health Public health personnel Removal of officials

Surgeon General Independence Act

Introduced: August 3, 2007 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 3, 2007
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Aug 3, 2007
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Aug 3, 2007
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Surgeon General Independence Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to add as requirements for appointment as Surgeon General that an individual be: (1) a licensed physician; and (2) nominated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Requires the Regular Corps to submit to the Secretary and the President a list of six qualified nominees to fill any vacancy in the Surgeon General position.

Prohibits an individual from serving more than three full terms as Surgeon General.

Allows the President to remove a Surgeon General during a term only for cause. Requires the Secretary to provide a written explanation of such a removal to the relevant congressional committees.

Directs the Surgeon General, under the supervision and direction of the Secretary, to administer the Office of the Surgeon General, the Regular Corps, and the Reserve Corps.

Requires the Surgeon General to submit to the President an annual budget estimate for the Office of the Surgeon General, after reasonable opportunity for comment (but without change) by the Secretary.

Gives the Surgeon General authority to hire and terminate employees of and consultants to the Office of the Surgeon General without obtaining approval or clearance.

Directs the Surgeon General to: (1) issue reports, calls to action, and other communications on matters of importance to the health of the American people; and (2) submit to Congress and make publicly available an annual report on the state of the nation's health. Gives the Secretary the exclusive authority to disapprove the issuance of a report, call to action, or other communication proposed by the Surgeon General.

What's happening now August 3, 2007

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3447: Surgeon General Independence Act. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-3447/
MLA
"H.R. 3447: Surgeon General Independence Act." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-3447/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3447, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-3447/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3447: Surgeon General Independence Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-HR-3447/)
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