After the post-9/11 anthrax attacks and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act, 42 U.S.C. §§247d-6d, 247d-6e, was enacted to bolster federal and state cooperation, and to garner necessary private resources, for a whole-of-nation response to public health crises. The Act placed significant authority in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to lead the response effort.