LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

October 2004

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Fiscal year (FY) 2005 appropriations bills

On September 9, 2004, the House of Representatives passed its version of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 2005 appropriations act (H.R. 2660). As requested in the President’s budget, the bill includes $2,963,953,000 for the NHLBI. This is an increase of 3.0 percent over the $2,878,691,000 that the NHLBI received in FY 2004.

The Senate version (S. 2810), which the appropriations committee approved on September 15, includes $2,985,900,000 for the NHLBI.

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Legislation related to cardiovascular, pulmonary, or hematologic diseases

Asthmatic Schoolchildren's Treatment and Health Management Act of 2004

Number: H.R. 2023
Latest action:Passed in the Senate on October 11. The bill has been forwarded to the President to be signed into law.
Highlights: Requires the Secretary, DHHS, when making grants to states for asthma-related activities, to give preference to states that require schools to allow students to self-administer medication to treat their asthma or anaphylaxis.

Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003

Number: The Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003 was included as an amendment to
H.R. 4520, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.
Latest action: Passed in the Senate on October 11. The bill has been forwarded to the President to be signed into law.
Highlights: Amends title XIX of the Social Security Act to include, as medical assistance under the Medicaid program, primary and secondary preventative medical strategies for children and adults who have sickle cell disease.

Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2004

Number: H.R. 918
Sponsor: Representative Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Latest action: Passed in the House on October 5.
Highlights: Would require the National Cancer Institute, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Indian Health Service to provide

• early detection of cancer and chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, for populations affected by health disparities.
• treatment and follow-up care services for those who have cancer or chronic diseases.

A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that private health insurance companies should take a proactive role in promoting healthy lifestyles, and for other purposes.

Number: H. Con. Res. 34
Sponsor: Representative Karen McCarthy (D-MO)
Latest action: Passed on October 5.
Highlights: By passing H. Con. Res. 34, the House of Representatives

• commended Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson for urging private health insurance companies to encourage people to become more active.
• urged private health insurance companies to
  • encourage people to adopt healthier and more active lifestyles.
  • provide discounted premiums to those who exercise regularly.
  • encourage screening to detect diseases that are easily treatable in their early stages.

A concurrent resolution recognizing community organization of public access defibrillation programs

Number: H. Con. Res. 250
Sponsor: Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH
Latest action: Passed on October 5.
Highlights: By passing H. Con. Res. 250, the House of Representatives

• acknowledged community activists, organizations, and municipal governments that have established public access defibrillation (PAD) programs.
• indicated its support for the continued implementation and expansion of PAD programs.

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Content last modified:10/20/2004
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[Legislative Update (September 2004)]
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