107th Congress

Women's Health
H.R. 183/S. 720, H.R. 281, H.R. 326, H.R. 360, S. 261, H.R. 1672, H.R. 1784/S. 946, H.R. 1961/S. 961, H.R. 2317, H.R. 2380, H. Con. Res. 165, S. 1256, S. 24, S. 1398

Background

More than 40 bills have been introduced thus far in the 107th Congress that address various aspects of women's health. Fourteen of those pieces of legislation are of particular interest to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

H.R. 183/S. 720—Women's Health Environmental Research Centers Act of 2000

This legislation, introduced by Representative Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) and Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA), respectively, would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for grants to develop and operate research centers that conduct multidisciplinary research on environmental factors that may be related to the development of women's health conditions. The grants would be awarded by the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in consultation with the Director of the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH). The centers would conduct basic and clinical research; develop and conduct training programs and continuing education programs for physicians, scientists, nurses, and other health professionals; and educate the public. The centers would give priority to activities directed toward disease prevention. The bill would authorize $4 million to be appropriated for fiscal year (FY) 2001 and such sums as necessary for each of FYs 2002 through 2005.

H.R. 281—Taxpayers' Cancer Research Funding Act of 2001

H.R. 281, introduced by Representative Peter T. King (R-NY), would establish within the U.S. Department of the Treasury a trust fund to be known as the Breast and Prostate Cancer Research Fund. When filing an income tax return, individuals would be given the opportunity of designating $5 (or $10 in the case of a joint return) to be paid to the fund. The money in the fund would be made available for making research grants to a "qualified person selected by the National Cancer Institute," through the peer review process, to conduct research with respect to breast and prostate cancer. This money would be to supplement, not supplant, existing funds for breast and prostate cancer research.

H.R. 326—Ovarian Cancer Research and Information Amendments of 2001

H.R. 326, introduced by Representative Patsy T. Mink (D-HI), would amend Section 417B(b)(2) of the Public Health Service Act to authorize monies for research on ovarian cancer—$150 million for FY 2002 and such sums as may be necessary for FYs 2003 and 2004. This legislation stipulates that 50 percent of the monies would be for research involving treatment and clinical trials, and 50 percent would be for research that does not involve treatment and clinical trials. The Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) would be required to give priority to research on developing a test for the early detection of ovarian cancer; identifying precursor lesions and determining the manner in which benign conditions progress to malignant status; identifying the relationship between ovarian cancer and endometriosis; and ensuring that in clinical studies, appropriate counseling is provided to women who participate, including informing women that "subject to changes in the applicable facts," there may be a genetic basis to such cancer. In addition, H.R. 326 would amend the requirement that NCI conduct and support information and education programs on ovarian cancer to include language stating that such programs should focus on screening procedures, the possibility of a genetic basis for the cancer, factors that indicate a substantial risk for such cancer, and the various treatment options. Finally, this legislation would require that the membership of the National Cancer Advisory Board include one or more individuals who are at high risk for developing ovarian cancer.

H.R. 360—Robin Danielson Act

H.R. 360, introduced by Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), would amend Part F of Title IV of the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of NIH, in collaboration with the Director of the ORWH, to provide for the conduct or support of research to determine the extent to which the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and other additives in tampons and other feminine hygiene products poses any risk to the health of women or the health of their children. Reports on the research must be periodically submitted to Congress, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The reports also must be made available to the public. The bill also requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect, analyze, and make available data on toxic shock syndrome.

S. 261—Consumer Involvement in Breast Cancer Research Act

S. 261, introduced by Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), would require the Director of NCI, to the extent practicable, to provide for increased involvement of advocates in the NCI decisionmaking process regarding breast cancer research during FY 2001. The Director of NCI would be required to prepare a report describing the manner in which this requirement is carried out for inclusion in the Biennial Report of the Director of NIH.

H.R. 1672—Uterine Fibroids Research and Education Act of 2001

H.R. 1672, introduced by Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), would provide for an increase in funding for research on uterine fibroids through NIH, and provide for a program to provide information and education to the public on fibroids. In addition to other authorizations of appropriations that are available for the purpose of conducting and supporting such research, NIH is authorized to be appropriated $10 million for each of FYs 2002 through 2006.

H.R. 1784/S. 946—Women's Health Office Act of 2001

This legislation, introduced by Representative Constance A. Morella (R-MD) and Senator Snowe, would establish in statute women's health offices in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Food and Drug Administration. Under current law, only NIH and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have permanent authorizations for their offices on women's health.

H.R. 1961/S. 961—Breast Implant Research and Information Act

This legislation, introduced by Representative Roy D. Blunt (R-MO) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), would require NIH to 1) report to appropriate committees regarding breast implant research, 2) appoint an Institute-wide coordinator to coordinate breast implant research, 3) establish study sections if necessary, and 4) conduct or support breast implant research.

H.R. 2317—[Repeal of Sunset for Breast Cancer Stamp]

H.R. 2317, introduced by Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), would make permanent the provision of Title 39, United States Code, under which the United States Postal Service is authorized to issue a special postage stamp to help provide funding for breast cancer research. Seventy percent of the proceeds from the stamp go to NIH and the remainder to the U.S. Department of Defense.

H.R. 2380—Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act

H.R. 2380, introduced by Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), would provide for research on, and services for, individuals with postpartum depression and psychosis. The Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) would be required to expand and intensify research and related activities with respect to postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. NIMH would also be required to coordinate with other NIH Institutes and establish research programs to expand the understanding of, the causes of, and to find a cure for postpartum conditions. See "Melanie Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act."

H. Con. Res. 165—Expressing the Sense of the Congress That Continual Research and Education into the Cause and Cure for Fibroid Cancer Be Addressed

This resolution states that 1) the Congress recognizes the health and educational needs of women in the United States who may be suffering from fibroids, 2) it is the sense of the Congress that the medical community should explore alternatives to hysterectomies in greater detail so that women who choose to bear children in their lives may do so while eliminating recurring fibroids, and 3) Congress encourages women to pay greater attention to their reproductive health by making regular visits to their OB/GYNs and also encourages women and their physicians to know all safe options available for the prevention and cure of fibroids.

S. 1256—Breast Cancer Research Stamp Act of 2001

S. 1256, introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), would provide for the reauthorization of the breast cancer research special postage stamp. Specifically, S. 1256 would extend the authorization for the stamp until July 2008. It also exempts this stamp from any limitation relating to whether more than one semipostal stamp may be offered for sale at the same time.

S. 24—Health Care Assurance Act of 2001

S. 24, introduced by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), would establish a National Fund for Health Research in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Two percent of the fund would be distributed to the NIH Office of the Director each fiscal year to carry out the responsibilities of the Office of Research on Minority Health (now known as the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities), the Office of Research on Women's Health, the Office of Rare Disease Research, the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, the Office of Dietary Supplements, and the Office of Disease Prevention.

S. 1398—Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act of 2002

S. 1398, introduced by Senator Byron L. Dorgen (D-ND), includes a provision that would reauthorize the Breast Cancer Research Special Postage Stamp through July 29, 2008. This provision was included in Conference Report 107-253, which subsequently became Public Law 107-67 on November 12, 2001. See article "2002 Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act."

Status and Outlook

H.R. 183 was introduced on January 3, 2001, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. On February 7, 2001, the bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

S. 720 was introduced on April 5, 2001, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

H.R. 281 was introduced on January 30, 2001, and was jointly referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and on Ways and Means. On February 14, 2001, the bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

H.R. 326 was introduced on January 31, 2001, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. On February 14, 2001, the bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.