LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

May 2003

Bills directly related to NHLBI-supported research areas

Pulmonary Hypertension Research Act of 2003 (H.R. 1316)
Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Act (H.R. 892)
Women's Autoimmune Diseases Research and Prevention Act (H.R. 370)
Men's Health Act of 2003 (H.R. 1734)
Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003 (H.R. 1736 and S. 874)

Bills related to therapeutic cloning and somatic cell nuclear transfer technology

Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 (H.R. 534 and S. 245)
Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2003 (S. 303)
Human Cloning Research Prohibition Act (H.R. 916)
Human Cloning Prevention Act of 2003 (H.R. 938)

Resolutions and other bills of interest

Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Improvement Act (S. 314)
Donor Outreach, Network, and Timely Exchange (DONATE) Act (S. 376)
Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2002 (H.R. 918)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month (H. Con. Res. 6)
Healthy Lifestyles and Private Insurance Companies (H. Con. Res. 34)
National Donor Day (H. Con. Res. 45)
Physical Activity and Children (H. Con. Res. 76)
Human Genome Month and DNA Day (S. Con. Res. 10 and H. Con. Res. 110)
Scleroderma (S. Con. Res. 33 and H. Con. Res. 30)
National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week (S. Res. 98)

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Bills directly related to NHLBI-supported research areas

Pulmonary Hypertension Research Act of 2003 (H.R. 1316)

Introduced by: Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 3/18/03
Summary: Would require the NHLBI to develop

centers of excellence dedicated to research on pulmonary hypertension and education of scientists, health professionals, and public members interested in pulmonary hypertension.
a clearinghouse to disseminate information about pulmonary hypertension to health professionals, patients, industry, and the public.
a system for collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and dissemination of data derived from patient populations with pulmonary hypertension.

Diamond-Blackfan Anemia Act (H.R. 892)

Introduced by: Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 2/25/03
Summary:Would require the Director of the NIH, in coordination with the NHLBI and the NIH Office of Rare Diseases, to

hold a workshop to evaluate the state of research on Diamond-Blackfan anemia and develop a comprehensive plan for conducting and supporting such research.
conduct or support research on the pathophysiology of Diamond-Blackfan anemia, the relationship between Diamond-Blackfan anemia and cancer, and improved treatments and a cure for Diamond-Blackfan anemia.
facilitate the expansion, maintenance, and use of the Diamond-Blackfan anemia national registry.

Women's Autoimmune Diseases Research and Prevention Act (H.R. 370)

Introduced by: Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 1/27/03
Summary: Would require the NIH Autoimmune Diseases Coordinating Committee (coordinated by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) to expand, intensify, and further coordinate research on autoimmune diseases in women.

Men's Health Act of 2003 (H.R. 1734)

Introduced by: Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-CA)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 4/10/03
Summary: Would require the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to establish an Office of Men's Health within the DHHS.

Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003 (H.R. 1736 and S. 874)

Introduced by: Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Sen. James Talent (R-MO)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Senate Committee on Finance
Date: 4/10/03
Summary: Would amend 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 with sickle cell disease.

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Bills related to therapeutic cloning and somatic cell nuclear transfer technology

Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 (H.R. 534 and S. 245)

H.R. 534: The House voted 241 to 155 in favor of H.R. 534 (2/27/03).
S. 245: Introduced by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and referred to the Senate Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions (1/29/03).
Summary: Would prohibit both reproductive and therapeutic cloning and would impose a criminal penalty of up to 10 years for violation of bill provisions.

A less restrictive substitute measure (H.R. 801), which would have prohibited reproductive cloning only, failed in the House by a vote of 231 to 174.

Human Cloning Ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2003 (S. 303)

Introduced by: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Referred to: Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Date: 2/5/03
Summary: Would prohibit reproductive cloning, but specifically would permit therapeutic cloning as long as certain ethical requirements were met.

Human Cloning Research Prohibition Act (H.R. 916)

Introduced by: Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
Referred to: House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Science
Date: 2/25/03
Summary: Would prohibit expenditure of Federal funds to conduct or support "any project of research that includes the use of human somatic cell nuclear transfer technology to produce an oocyte that is undergoing cell division toward development of a fetus."

Human Cloning Prevention Act of 2003 (H.R. 938)

Introduced by: Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 2/26/03
Summary: Would prohibit any Federal agency from making any grant, contract, or other payment to any entity that "within the past year has engaged in human cloning." The phrase "human cloning" is defined to include somatic cell nuclear transfer technology for the purpose of deriving stem cells.

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Resolutions and other bills of interest

Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Improvement Act (S. 314)

Introduced by: Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Latest Action: Reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions.
Date: 2/13/03
Summary: Would require the Director of NIH to transfer $500,000 to the Foundation yearly.

Donor Outreach, Network, and Timely Exchange (DONATE) Act (S. 376)

Introduced by: Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Referred to: Senate Committee on Health Education, Labor and Pensions
Date: 2/13/03
Summary: Would amend the Public Health Service Act to promote organ donation and facilitate interstate linkage and 24-hour access to State donor registries.

Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2002 (H.R. 918)

Introduced by: Rep. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Referred to: House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Resources
Date: 2/26/03
Summary: 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.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month (H. Con. Res. 6)

Introduced by: Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
Referred to: House Committee on Government Reform
Date: 1/7/03
Summary: Would support the goals and ideals of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month.

Healthy Lifestyles and Private Insurance Companies (H. Con. Res. 34)

Introduced by: Rep. Karen McCarthy (D-MO)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 2/12/03
Summary: Would express the sense of the Congress that private health insurance companies should promote healthy lifestyles.

National Donor Day (H. Con. Res. 45)

Introduced by: Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 2/13/03
Summary: Would emphasize the importance of organ, tissue, bone marrow, and blood donation and would support National Donor Day (February 14).

Physical Activity and Children (H. Con. Res. 76)

Introduced by: Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH)
Referred to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Date: 2/27/03
Summary: Would encourage parents to promote healthy weight and increased physical activity to their children.

Human Genome Month and DNA Day (S. Con. Res. 10 and H. Con. Res. 110)

S. Con. Res. 10: Passed by unanimous consent (2/27/03).
H. Con. Res. 110: Ordered to be reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (4/30/03).
Summary: Would designate April 2003 as Human Genome Month and April 25, 2003, as DNA Day.

Scleroderma (S. Con. Res. 33 and H. Con. Res. 30)

S. Con. Res. 33: Introduced by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and referred to the Senate HELP Committee (4/7/03).
H. Con. Res. 30: Introduced by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (2/5/03).
Summary: Would encourage the NIH to continue its leadership role in scleroderma research.

National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week (S. Res. 98)

Introduced by: Sen. Ben Campbell (R-CO)
Referred to: Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Date: 3/26/03
Summary: Would express the sense of the Senate that the President should designate the week of October 12-18, 2003, as National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week.

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Content last modified: 5/20/03
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