A prior section 291c, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VI, § 613, as added Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 958, § 2, 60 Stat. 1041, related to allotments to States, the determination of their amount, and the disposition of unexpended funds, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 88–443. See section 291(a), (b) and (d) of this title.

Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in a prior section 291e, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title VI, § 622, as added Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 958, § 2, 60 Stat. 1041; amended 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 1, §§ 5, 8, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053, 67 Stat. 631, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 88–443.

1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–296 struck out from cl. (1) provisions requiring that States give special consideration for projects for hospitals serving rural areas but inserted provisions making such preference optional with each State and added cls. (4) to (7).

1964—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 88–581 struck out cl. (4) relating to hospital facilities which “will include new or expanded facilities for nurse training”.

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Pub. L. 91–296, title I, § 110, June 30, 1970, 84 Stat. 339, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to applications approved under this subchapter after June 30, 1970.

Pub. L. 88–581, § 3(b), Sept. 4, 1964, 78 Stat. 919, provided that the amendments made by such section 3(b) [amending this section and sections 291o and 293c of this title] are effective with respect to applications for grants from appropriations for fiscal years beginning after June 30, 1965.

Office of Surgeon General abolished by section 3 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, eff. June 25, 1966, 31 F.R. 8855, 80 Stat. 1610, and functions thereof transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 1 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1966, set out as a note under section 202 of this title. Office of Surgeon General reestablished within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, see Notice of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Mar. 30, 1987, 52 F.R. 11754.