1 An Act Relative to Quarantine, Chapter 31
1796 This is the first American quarantine law. It limited federal authority to simply aiding states with the execution of quarantine and health laws as the President of the United States may deem necessary.
2 An Act Respecting Quarantine and Health Laws, Chapter 12
1799 This is the second quarantine law issued by the United States during the Adams Administration. It provided greater authority for the federal government to aid states in the execution of quarantine. This law prohibited states from imposing duties on on imported tonnage. It required the revenue cutters to aid in the execution of quarantine laws.
3 An Act to reorganize the Marine Hospital Service and to provide for the relief o Sick and
Disabled Seamen, Chapter 169
1870 This law authorized the Marine Hospital service to collect fees to cover the costs associated with caring for seamen at the Marine Hospitals. It also authorized the Secretary of Treasury to appoint a Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital.
4 An Act to Provide Economy and Efficiency in the marine-hospital service, Chapter 156
1875 This law addresses the proper number of seamen required to navigate different classes of vehicles. Based on this schedule hospital dues are to be assigned to each licensed vessel.
5 An Act to Prevent the Introduction of Contagious or Infectious diseases into the United States, Chapter 66
1878 This law established the requirement that consular offices of the United States report any cases of disease in any foreign port or country or any vessel destined for the United States. The Supervising Surgeon General of the Marine Hospital Service is responsible for compiling the information received and notifying the proper state or municipal officers at the threatened port of destination of the vessel. This law also made it the responsibility of custom workers to enforce the quarantine regulations. Local quarantine officers can assume the powers of the federal quarantine system upon application.
6 An Act to Prevent the Introduction of Contagious or Infectious Diseases into the United States, Chapter 11
1879 This law required all vessels to obtain a bill of health from the American Consul in the port of embarkation before departure to the United States. The law also authorized the National Board of Health to aid state and municipal board of health in the execution and enforcement of rules and regulations to prevent the introduction of contagious and infectious disease. It also may enforce regulations when in the opinion of the National Board of Health, State regulations are inadequate or non-existent to prevent the introduction of disease. The National Board of Health is also responsible for establishing rules and regulations and compiling and issuing reports on public health based on information received from the medical officers in the consular offices overseas. The act had a sunset date of June 1, 1883.
7 An Act Granting Additional Quarantine Powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine-Hospital Service, Chapter 114
1893 This law reaffirmed the role of the U.S. Marine Hospital Service in enforcing quarantine and the need for bills of health from all vessels. It also authorized the USMHS to issue rules concerning the sanitary condition of vessels before their departure for America. It also included a controversial provision, allowing the President of the United States to prohibit immigration into the United States when such suspension of travel was in the interest of the public health. It also authorized the Treasury Department to acquire ownership of state and municipal quarantine stations. The National Board of Health law, established on March 3, 1879, was also repealed.
8 An Act to Amend an Act entitled "An Act to prohibit the coming of Chinese into the United States," approved May fifth eighteen hundred and ninety two, Chapter 14
1893 This law requires all Chinese to be registered with the United States if they have been in the United States since May 5, 1892. Those who do not register can be deported. Those who do not qualify are subject to deportation.
9 An Act to Amend section two of the Act Approved February fifteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety three, entitled "An Act granting additional quarantine powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine-Hospital Service, Chapter 300
1894 This law exempts foreign ports on or near the frontiers of the United States (i.e., Canada and Mexico) from the requirements of bills of health.
10 An Act to Amend "An Act granting additional quarantine powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine-Hospital Service" approved February fifteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety three, Chapter 836
1901 This law authorizes the Supervising Surgeon General to establish the boundaries of the quarantine grounds. It also authorizes him to impose fines for violating the quarantine laws and to impose costs for quarantine upon the vessel owners who fail to supply a bill of health at the port of destination within the United States.
11 An Act to further protect the public health and make more effective the national quarantine, Chapter 3433
1906 This law authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to establish quarantine stations at a group of islands known as the Dry Tortugas at the western end of Florida reef and such other locations along the shoreline of the United States (not to exceed for in the aggregate) that he deems necessary for detaining infected vessels in quarantine. It also authorizes the purchase and where necessary, the condemnation of land for the purposes of quarantine stations along the shoreline of the United States. The law also makes it a crime to enter a quarantine station in disregard of the quarantine rules and regulations. The law also authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to purchase existing quarantine stations whenever the proper authorities shall be ready to transfer the properties to the United States. The law provides $500,000 for these purposes.
12 An Act to Amend Section 2 of the Act approved February 15, 1893, entitled "An Act granting additional quarantine powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine Hospital Service, Chapter 146
1925 This law exempts foreign ports on or near the northern frontiers of the United States (i.e., Canada) from the requirements of bills of health and modified the 1894 law that dealt with that issue by also adding the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to establish regulations for such northern ports when it is expedient. The 1894 law enabled an exemption for any nearby ports (i.e. including Mexican ports) but this was removed from the 1925 law indicating that communicable diseases were an issue with vessels coming from Mexico.
13 Reorganization Plan No. 1
1939 The reorganization plan transferred the Public Health Service from the Department of Treasury to the Federal Security Agency effective July 1, 1939.
14 An Act to Consolidate and revise the laws relating to the Public Health Service and for other purposes, Chapter 373
1944 This law completely reorganized, consolidated and established the Public Health Service powers over quarantine, lepers, biological products, control of communicable disease (part G), quarantine stations, bills of health, and numerous other public health matters.
15 Executive Order 9708--Prevent the Introduction, transmission or spread of communicable diseases
1946 This executive order established a list of 25 communicable diseases that were subject to quarantine measures.
16 Executive Order 10532--Amendments to list of communicable diseases
1954 This executive order revised the list of communicable diseases issued by Harry Truman on March 26, 1946 to add Relapsing fever.
17 Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1957 and for other purposes
1957 This law addressed compensation for overtime working hours of the foreign quarantine service employees when such overtime rates applied.
18 Executive Order 11070--Amendments to list of quarantinable communicable diseases
1962 This executive order revised the list of communicable diseases issued by Dwight Eisenhower on May 28, 1954 to add Chickenpox and delete scarlet fever and streptococcic sore throat.
19 Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1966
1966 This law completely reorganized, consolidated and established the Public Health Service powers over quarantine, lepers, biological products, control of communicable disease (part G), quarantine stations, bills of health, and numerous other public health matters.
20 An Act to Amend the Public Health Service Act to provide authorization for grants for communicable disease control and vaccination assistance
1970 This law provides grants to states to address communicable disease control strategies with funding of $90 million for a two year period ending June 30, 1972.
21 Executive Order 12452--Revised list of quarantinable communicable diseases
1983 This executive order revised the list of communicable diseases to reduce the number of concern.
22 An Act to Amend various Provisions of the Public Health Service Act
1985 This law provides for care of those with Hansen's disease in Hawaii, with payments to the Hawaii Board of Health, at a rate comparable to the rates at the Hansen's Disease Center in Carville, Louisiana facility. Treatment is provided without charge.
23 Excutive Order 13295, Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
2003 This executive order revised the list of communicable disease to include SARS.
24 Executive Order 13375, Amendments to Executive Order 13295, Relating to Certain Influenza Viruses and Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
2005 This executive order revised the list of communicable disease to include influenza viruses.
25 An Act to Amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to Public Health Security and all hazards preparedness and response, and for other purposes
2006 This law provides for public health emergency planning and response in the event of a pandemic.
26 Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act of 2008
2008 This law mandates the development of new quarantine regulations to address the threat from tuberculosis
1796 This is the first American quarantine law. It limited federal authority to simply aiding states with the execution of quarantine and health laws as the President of the United States may deem necessary.
2 An Act Respecting Quarantine and Health Laws, Chapter 12
1799 This is the second quarantine law issued by the United States during the Adams Administration. It provided greater authority for the federal government to aid states in the execution of quarantine. This law prohibited states from imposing duties on on imported tonnage. It required the revenue cutters to aid in the execution of quarantine laws.
3 An Act to reorganize the Marine Hospital Service and to provide for the relief o Sick and
Disabled Seamen, Chapter 169
1870 This law authorized the Marine Hospital service to collect fees to cover the costs associated with caring for seamen at the Marine Hospitals. It also authorized the Secretary of Treasury to appoint a Supervising Surgeon of the Marine Hospital.
4 An Act to Provide Economy and Efficiency in the marine-hospital service, Chapter 156
1875 This law addresses the proper number of seamen required to navigate different classes of vehicles. Based on this schedule hospital dues are to be assigned to each licensed vessel.
5 An Act to Prevent the Introduction of Contagious or Infectious diseases into the United States, Chapter 66
1878 This law established the requirement that consular offices of the United States report any cases of disease in any foreign port or country or any vessel destined for the United States. The Supervising Surgeon General of the Marine Hospital Service is responsible for compiling the information received and notifying the proper state or municipal officers at the threatened port of destination of the vessel. This law also made it the responsibility of custom workers to enforce the quarantine regulations. Local quarantine officers can assume the powers of the federal quarantine system upon application.
6 An Act to Prevent the Introduction of Contagious or Infectious Diseases into the United States, Chapter 11
1879 This law required all vessels to obtain a bill of health from the American Consul in the port of embarkation before departure to the United States. The law also authorized the National Board of Health to aid state and municipal board of health in the execution and enforcement of rules and regulations to prevent the introduction of contagious and infectious disease. It also may enforce regulations when in the opinion of the National Board of Health, State regulations are inadequate or non-existent to prevent the introduction of disease. The National Board of Health is also responsible for establishing rules and regulations and compiling and issuing reports on public health based on information received from the medical officers in the consular offices overseas. The act had a sunset date of June 1, 1883.
7 An Act Granting Additional Quarantine Powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine-Hospital Service, Chapter 114
1893 This law reaffirmed the role of the U.S. Marine Hospital Service in enforcing quarantine and the need for bills of health from all vessels. It also authorized the USMHS to issue rules concerning the sanitary condition of vessels before their departure for America. It also included a controversial provision, allowing the President of the United States to prohibit immigration into the United States when such suspension of travel was in the interest of the public health. It also authorized the Treasury Department to acquire ownership of state and municipal quarantine stations. The National Board of Health law, established on March 3, 1879, was also repealed.
8 An Act to Amend an Act entitled "An Act to prohibit the coming of Chinese into the United States," approved May fifth eighteen hundred and ninety two, Chapter 14
1893 This law requires all Chinese to be registered with the United States if they have been in the United States since May 5, 1892. Those who do not register can be deported. Those who do not qualify are subject to deportation.
9 An Act to Amend section two of the Act Approved February fifteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety three, entitled "An Act granting additional quarantine powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine-Hospital Service, Chapter 300
1894 This law exempts foreign ports on or near the frontiers of the United States (i.e., Canada and Mexico) from the requirements of bills of health.
10 An Act to Amend "An Act granting additional quarantine powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine-Hospital Service" approved February fifteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety three, Chapter 836
1901 This law authorizes the Supervising Surgeon General to establish the boundaries of the quarantine grounds. It also authorizes him to impose fines for violating the quarantine laws and to impose costs for quarantine upon the vessel owners who fail to supply a bill of health at the port of destination within the United States.
11 An Act to further protect the public health and make more effective the national quarantine, Chapter 3433
1906 This law authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to establish quarantine stations at a group of islands known as the Dry Tortugas at the western end of Florida reef and such other locations along the shoreline of the United States (not to exceed for in the aggregate) that he deems necessary for detaining infected vessels in quarantine. It also authorizes the purchase and where necessary, the condemnation of land for the purposes of quarantine stations along the shoreline of the United States. The law also makes it a crime to enter a quarantine station in disregard of the quarantine rules and regulations. The law also authorizes the Secretary of Treasury to purchase existing quarantine stations whenever the proper authorities shall be ready to transfer the properties to the United States. The law provides $500,000 for these purposes.
12 An Act to Amend Section 2 of the Act approved February 15, 1893, entitled "An Act granting additional quarantine powers and imposing additional duties upon the Marine Hospital Service, Chapter 146
1925 This law exempts foreign ports on or near the northern frontiers of the United States (i.e., Canada) from the requirements of bills of health and modified the 1894 law that dealt with that issue by also adding the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to establish regulations for such northern ports when it is expedient. The 1894 law enabled an exemption for any nearby ports (i.e. including Mexican ports) but this was removed from the 1925 law indicating that communicable diseases were an issue with vessels coming from Mexico.
13 Reorganization Plan No. 1
1939 The reorganization plan transferred the Public Health Service from the Department of Treasury to the Federal Security Agency effective July 1, 1939.
14 An Act to Consolidate and revise the laws relating to the Public Health Service and for other purposes, Chapter 373
1944 This law completely reorganized, consolidated and established the Public Health Service powers over quarantine, lepers, biological products, control of communicable disease (part G), quarantine stations, bills of health, and numerous other public health matters.
15 Executive Order 9708--Prevent the Introduction, transmission or spread of communicable diseases
1946 This executive order established a list of 25 communicable diseases that were subject to quarantine measures.
16 Executive Order 10532--Amendments to list of communicable diseases
1954 This executive order revised the list of communicable diseases issued by Harry Truman on March 26, 1946 to add Relapsing fever.
17 Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1957 and for other purposes
1957 This law addressed compensation for overtime working hours of the foreign quarantine service employees when such overtime rates applied.
18 Executive Order 11070--Amendments to list of quarantinable communicable diseases
1962 This executive order revised the list of communicable diseases issued by Dwight Eisenhower on May 28, 1954 to add Chickenpox and delete scarlet fever and streptococcic sore throat.
19 Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1966
1966 This law completely reorganized, consolidated and established the Public Health Service powers over quarantine, lepers, biological products, control of communicable disease (part G), quarantine stations, bills of health, and numerous other public health matters.
20 An Act to Amend the Public Health Service Act to provide authorization for grants for communicable disease control and vaccination assistance
1970 This law provides grants to states to address communicable disease control strategies with funding of $90 million for a two year period ending June 30, 1972.
21 Executive Order 12452--Revised list of quarantinable communicable diseases
1983 This executive order revised the list of communicable diseases to reduce the number of concern.
22 An Act to Amend various Provisions of the Public Health Service Act
1985 This law provides for care of those with Hansen's disease in Hawaii, with payments to the Hawaii Board of Health, at a rate comparable to the rates at the Hansen's Disease Center in Carville, Louisiana facility. Treatment is provided without charge.
23 Excutive Order 13295, Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
2003 This executive order revised the list of communicable disease to include SARS.
24 Executive Order 13375, Amendments to Executive Order 13295, Relating to Certain Influenza Viruses and Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
2005 This executive order revised the list of communicable disease to include influenza viruses.
25 An Act to Amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to Public Health Security and all hazards preparedness and response, and for other purposes
2006 This law provides for public health emergency planning and response in the event of a pandemic.
26 Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act of 2008
2008 This law mandates the development of new quarantine regulations to address the threat from tuberculosis
