‘‘(D) provide recommendations to the Secretary on poli- cies and procedures to complete the steps described in this paragraph in a manner that is consistent with section 2802.’’; and 

‘‘(8) SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND BIOSURVEILLANCE AS A NATIONAL SECURITY PRIORITY.—The Secretary, on a periodic basis as applicable and appropriate, shall meet with the Director of National Intelligence to inform the development and capabilities of the nationwide public health situational awareness and biosurveillance network.’’; 

(5) in subsection (d)— 

‘‘(D) an implementation plan that may include measur- able steps to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (1).’’; and 

(C) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the fol- lowing: 

‘‘(5) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may provide technical assistance to States, localities, Tribes, and territories or a consortium of States, localities, Tribes, and territories receiving an award under this subsection regarding interoper- ability and the technical standards set forth by the Secretary.’’; 

(6) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections (i) and (j), respectively; and 

(7) by inserting after subsection (e) the following: 

‘‘(f) PERSONNEL AUTHORITIES.— 

‘‘(1) SPECIALLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.—In addition to any other personnel authorities, to carry out subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary may— 

‘‘(A) appoint highly qualified individuals to scientific or professional positions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not to exceed 30 such employees at any time (specific to positions authorized by this subsection), with expertise in capabilities relevant to biosurveillance and situational awareness, such as experts in informatics and data analytics (including experts in prediction, mod- eling, or forecasting), and other related scientific or tech- nical fields; and 

‘‘(B) compensate individuals appointed under subpara- graph (A) in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions in which individuals appointed under 

(II) by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(iv) by adding at the end the following: 

(H) by adding at the end the following: 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

(i) by inserting ‘‘environmental health agencies,’’ after ‘‘public health agencies,’’; and 

(ii) by inserting ‘‘immunization programs,’’ after ‘‘poison control centers,’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(iii) by adding after subparagraph (C) the fol- lowing: 

Recommenda- tions. 

