(a) Establishment of Office

There is established within the Office of the Secretary, an Office on Women’s Health (referred to in this section as the “Office”). The Office shall be headed by a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health who may report to the Secretary.

(b) Duties

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The Secretary, acting through the Office, with respect to the health concerns of women, shall—

(1) establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives within the Department of Health and Human Services and, as relevant and appropriate, coordinate with other appropriate offices on activities within the Department that relate to disease prevention, health promotion, service delivery, research, and public and health care professional education, for issues of particular concern to women throughout their lifespan; ¹

(2) provide expert advice and consultation to the Secretary concerning scientific, legal, ethical, and policy issues relating to women’s health;

(3) monitor the Department of Health and Human Services’ offices, agencies, and regional activities regarding women’s health and identify needs regarding the coordination of activities, including intramural and extramural multidisciplinary activities;

(4) establish a Department of Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women’s Health, which shall be chaired by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health and composed of senior level representatives from each of the agencies and offices of the Department of Health and Human Services;

(5) establish a National Women’s Health Information Center to—

(A) facilitate the exchange of information regarding matters relating to health information, health promotion, preventive health services, research advances, and education in the appropriate use of health care;

(B) facilitate access to such information;

(C) assist in the analysis of issues and problems relating to the matters described in this paragraph; and

(D) provide technical assistance with respect to the exchange of information (including facilitating the development of materials for such technical assistance);

(6) coordinate efforts to promote women’s health programs and policies with the private sector; and

(7) through publications and any other means appropriate, provide for the exchange of information between the Office and recipients of grants, contracts, and agreements under subsection (c), and between the Office and health professionals and the general public.

(c) Grants and contracts regarding duties

(1) Authority

In carrying out subsection (b), the Secretary may make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements, contracts, and interagency agreements with, public and private entities, agencies, and organizations.

(2) Evaluation and dissemination

The Secretary shall directly or through contracts with public and private entities, agencies, and organizations, provide for evaluations of projects carried out with financial assistance provided under paragraph (1) and for the dissemination of information developed as a result of such projects.

(d) Reports

Not later than 1 year after March 23, 2010, and every second year thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the activities carried out under this section during the period for which the report is being prepared.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014.