[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1055 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1055

 To establish within the National Institutes of Health an agency to be 
   known as the National Center for Integral Medicine, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 13, 1997

  Mr. DeFazio (for himself, Mr. Filner, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Norton, Mr. 
 Moran of Virginia, Mr. Archer, Mr. Andrews, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. 
  Faleomavaega, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Green, Mr. Rush, Mr. McDermott, Mr. 
 Hinchey, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Foglietta) introduced the following bill; 
            which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish within the National Institutes of Health an agency to be 
   known as the National Center for Integral Medicine, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Center for Integral 
Medicine Establishment Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) From 60 to 90 percent of chronic diseases may be 
        largely prevented or treated by addressing lifestyle-related 
        issues and using medical interventions that stimulate and 
        support natural healing processes.
            (2) Behavioral, nutritional, preventive, and alternative 
        medical approaches to disease prevention and treatment that 
        emphasize these processes offer a possible solution to the 
        successful management of many of our most devastating and 
        costly chronic diseases.
            (3) Interventions to address chronic diseases must involve 
        the integration of these behavioral, nutritional, preventive, 
        and alternative medical practices into conventional medical 
        practices, including integration into health care delivery 
        systems in the United States.
            (4) Over \1/3\ of the American public and 80 percent of the 
        world's population make regular use of such practices.
            (5) These practices are not usually available in the 
        current conventional health care system nor evaluated in most 
        research institutions, yet are vital for the provision of 
        optimal health care.
            (6) A center is needed for the support and integration of 
        knowledge across all of the agencies of the National Institutes 
        of Health and across all medical research activities pertaining 
        to wellness and health research, rather than further 
        specialization of knowledge based on the division of disease 
        treatment categories.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR INTEGRAL MEDICINE.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in part A--
                    (A) in section 402, by striking subsection (f);
                    (B) by striking section 404A; and
                    (C) by striking section 404E; and
            (2) in part E, by amending subpart 4 to read as follows:

           ``Subpart 4--National Center for Integral Medicine

``SEC. 485C. PURPOSE OF CENTER.

    ``(a) In General.--The general purposes of the National Center for 
Integral Medicine (in this subpart referred to as the `Center') are--
            ``(1) the conduct and support of basic and applied research 
        (including clinical research), training, the dissemination of 
        health information, and other programs, including prevention 
        programs, with respect to identifying and evaluating 
        alternative medical treatment systems and disciplines, 
        alternative medical diagnostic systems and disciplines, and the 
        modalities of such treatment and diagnostic systems and 
        disciplines; and
            ``(2) carrying out the functions specified in sections 485D 
        through 485F (relating to disease prevention, behavioral and 
        social sciences research, and dietary supplements, 
        respectively).
The Center shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the 
Secretary. The Director of the Center shall report directly to the 
Director of NIH.
    ``(b) Advisory Council.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
council for the Center in accordance with section 406, except that the 
members of the advisory council who are not ex officio members shall 
include one or more practitioners from each of the disciplines and 
systems with which the Center is concerned, including each discipline 
and system in which accreditation, national certification, or a State 
license is available.
    ``(c) Complement to Conventional Medicine.--In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Director of the Center shall, as appropriate, 
promote the integration of alternative medical treatment and diagnostic 
systems and disciplines into the practice of conventional medicine as a 
complement to such medicine, including the integration of such systems 
and disciplines into health care delivery systems in the United States.
    ``(d) Certain Evaluation Factors.--In carrying out subsection (a) 
with respect to an alternative medical treatment system or discipline 
(including with respect to particular modalities), the Director of the 
Center shall consider the following factors:
            ``(1) The effectiveness of the system or discipline as a 
        treatment for the health condition involved, including 
        effectiveness with respect to acute cases and effectiveness 
        with respect to chronic cases (as applicable).
            ``(2) The safety of the system or discipline, including any 
        adverse effects associated with use of the system or 
        discipline.
            ``(3) The costs of the system or discipline.
            ``(4) The extent to which the system or discipline promotes 
        wellness and supports inherent healing processes.
            ``(5) Such other factors as the Director considers 
        appropriate.
            ``(6) A comparison of the system or discipline with 
        conventional treatments for the health condition, which 
        comparison shall be made in terms of the factors specified in 
        paragraphs (1) through (4) and such factors as the Director may 
        specify under paragraph (5).
    ``(e) Evaluation of Various Disciplines and Systems.--In carrying 
out subsection (a), the Director of the Center shall identify and 
evaluate alternative medical treatment and diagnostic modalities in 
each of the disciplines and systems with which the Center is concerned, 
including each discipline and system in which accreditation, national 
certification, or a State license is available. Disciplines or systems 
under the preceding sentence include acupuncture and Oriental medicine, 
homeopathic medicine, physical manipulation therapies, chiropractic, 
naturopathic medicine, midwifery, and such other systems and 
disciplines as the Director of the Center determines to be appropriate.
    ``(f) Certain Requirements.--The Director of the Center shall 
conduct or support the following activities with respect to alternative 
medical treatment and diagnostic systems and disciplines:
            ``(1) Research on outcomes.
            ``(2) Epidemiological activities.
            ``(3) Research training.
            ``(4) Health services research.
    ``(g) Data System; Information Clearinghouse.--
            ``(1) Data system.--The Director of the Center shall 
        establish a data system for the collection, storage, analysis, 
        and retrieval of data relating to alternative medical treatment 
        and diagnostic systems and disciplines.
            ``(2) Clearinghouse.--The Director of the Center shall 
        establish an information clearinghouse to facilitate and 
        enhance, through the effective dissemination of information, 
        knowledge and understanding of alternative medical treatment 
        and diagnostic systems and disciplines by health professionals, 
        patients, industry, and the public.
    ``(h) Research Centers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Center, after 
        consultation with the advisory council for the Center, may 
        provide support for the development and operation of centers to 
        conduct research and other activities described in subsection 
        (a)(1) with respect to alternative medical treatment and 
        diagnostic systems and disciplines.
            ``(2) Requirements.--Each center assisted under paragraph 
        (1) shall use the facilities of a single entity, or be formed 
        from a consortium of cooperating entities, and shall meet such 
        requirements as may be established by the Director of the 
        Center. Each such center shall--
                    ``(A) be established as an independent entity; or
                    ``(B) be established within or in affiliation with 
                an entity that conducts research or training described 
                in subsection (a)(1).
            ``(3) Duration of support.--Support of a center under 
        paragraph (1) may be for a period not exceeding 5 years. Such 
        period may be extended for one or more additional periods not 
        exceeding 5 years if the operations of such center have been 
        reviewed by an appropriate technical and scientific peer review 
        group established by the Director of the Center and if such 
        group has recommended to the Director that such period should 
        be extended.
    ``(i) Biennial Report.--The Director of the Center shall prepare 
biennial reports on the activities carried out or to be carried out by 
the Center, and shall submit each such report to the Director of NIH 
for inclusion in the biennial report under section 403.
    ``(j) Availability of Resources.--After consultation with the 
Director of the Center, the Director of NIH shall ensure that resources 
of the National Institutes of Health, including clinical facilities, 
are sufficiently available for activities of the Center.
    ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this subpart, there are authorized to be appropriated $198,000,000 
for fiscal year 1998, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
fiscal years 1999 through 2002. Amounts appropriated under this 
subsection for fiscal year 1998 are available for obligation through 
September 30, 2000. Amounts appropriated under this subsection for 
fiscal year 1999 are available for obligation through September 30, 
2000.

``SEC. 485D. OFFICE OF DISEASE PREVENTION.

    ``(a) In General.--There is established within the Center an office 
to be known as the Office of Disease Prevention (in this section 
referred to as the `Office'). The Office shall be headed by a director, 
who shall be appointed by the Director of the Center. The Director of 
the Center shall carry out the functions specified in this section 
acting through the Director of the Office.
    ``(b) Duties.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Office shall promote 
        the disease prevention research programs of the national 
        research institutes, and shall provide for the coordination of 
        such programs among the national research institutes and 
        between the national research institutes and other public and 
        private entities, including elementary, secondary, and 
        postsecondary schools.
            ``(2) Certain duties.--The Director of the Office shall--
                    ``(A) annually review the efficacy of existing 
                policies and techniques used by the national research 
                institutes to disseminate the results of disease 
                prevention and behavioral research programs; and
                    ``(B) recommend, coordinate, and oversee the 
                modification or reconstruction of such policies and 
                techniques to ensure maximum dissemination, using 
                advanced technologies to the maximum extent 
                practicable, of research results to such entities.
    ``(c) Biennial Report.--The Director of the Office shall prepare 
biennial reports on the activities carried out or to be carried out by 
the Office, and shall submit each such report to the Director of the 
Center for inclusion in the biennial report under section 485C(i). Each 
such report shall include--
            ``(1) a summary of the Director's review of existing 
        dissemination policies and techniques together with a detailed 
        statement concerning any modification or restructuring, or 
        recommendations for modification or restructuring, of such 
        policies and techniques; and
            ``(2) a detailed statement of the expenditures made for the 
        prevention and dissemination activities reported on and the 
        personnel used in connection with such activities.

``SEC. 485E. OFFICE OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH.

    ``(a) In General.--There is established within the Center an office 
to be known as the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research 
(in this section referred to as the `Office'). The Office shall be 
headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Director of the 
Center. The Director of the Center shall carry out the functions 
specified in this section acting through the Director of the Office.
    ``(b) Duties.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to research on the 
        relationship between human behavior and the development, 
        treatment, and prevention of medical conditions, the Director 
        of the Office shall--
                    ``(A) coordinate research conducted or supported by 
                the agencies of the National Institutes of Health; and
                    ``(B) identify projects of behavioral and social 
                sciences research that should be conducted or supported 
                by the national research institutes, and develop such 
                projects in cooperation with such institutes.
            ``(2) Certain duties.--Research authorized under paragraph 
        (1) includes research on teen pregnancy, infant mortality, 
        violent behavior, suicide, and homelessness. Such research does 
        not include neurobiological research, or research in which the 
        behavior of an organism is observed for the purpose of 
        determining activity at the cellular or molecular level.
    ``(c) Biennial Report.--The Director of the Office shall prepare 
biennial reports on the activities carried out or to be carried out by 
the Office, and shall submit each such report to the Director of the 
Center for inclusion in the biennial report under section 485C(i).

SEC. 485F. OFFICE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS.

    ``(a) In General.--There is established within the Center an office 
to be known as the Office of Dietary Supplements (in this section 
referred to as the `Office'). The Office shall be headed by a director, 
who shall be appointed by the Director of the Center. The Director of 
the Center shall carry out the functions specified in this section 
acting through the Director of the Office.
    ``(b) Duties.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Office shall--
                    ``(A) expand the activities of the national 
                research institutes with respect to the potential role 
                of dietary supplements as a significant part of the 
                efforts of the United States to improve health care; 
                and
                    ``(B) promote scientific study of the benefits of 
                dietary supplements in maintaining health and 
                preventing chronic disease and other health-related 
                conditions.
            ``(2) Certain duties.--The Director of the Office shall--
                    ``(A) conduct and coordinate scientific research 
                within the National Institutes of Health relating to 
                dietary supplements and the extent to which the use of 
                dietary supplements can limit or reduce the risk of 
                diseases such as heart disease, cancer, birth defects, 
                osteoporosis, cataracts, or prostatism;
                    ``(B) collect and compile the results of scientific 
                research relating to dietary supplements, including 
                scientific data from foreign sources or other offices 
                of the Center;
                    ``(C) serve as the principal advisor to the 
                Secretary and to the Assistant Secretary for Health and 
                provide advice to the Director of NIH, the Director of 
                the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the 
                Commissioner of Food and Drugs on issues relating to 
                dietary supplements including--
                            ``(i) dietary intake regulations;
                            ``(ii) the safety of dietary supplements;
                            ``(iii) claims characterizing the 
                        relationship between dietary supplements and 
                        the prevention of disease or other health-
                        related conditions;
                            ``(iv) claims characterizing the 
                        relationship between dietary supplements and 
                        the maintenance of health; and
                            ``(v) scientific issues arising in 
                        connection with the labeling and composition of 
                        dietary supplements;
                    ``(D) compile a database of scientific research on 
                dietary supplements and individual nutrients; and
                    ``(E) coordinate funding relating to dietary 
                supplements for the National Institutes of Health.
    ``(c) Biennial Report.--The Director of the Office shall prepare 
biennial reports on the activities carried out or to be carried out by 
the Office, and shall submit each such report to the Director of the 
Center for inclusion in the biennial report under section 485C(i).
    ``(d) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term `dietary 
supplement' has the meaning given such term in section 201(ff) of the 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.''.
    (b) Technical And Conforming Amendments.--Part A of title IV of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.), as amended by 
subsection (a) of this section, is amended--
            (1) in section 401(b)(2), by amending subparagraph (E) to 
        read as follows:
            ``(E) The National Center for Integral Medicine.'';
            (2) in section 402, by redesignating subsections (g) 
        through (k) as subsections (f) through (j), respectively; and
            (3) by redesignating sections 404B through 404D as sections 
        404A through 404C, respectively.

SEC. 4. SAVINGS PROVISIONS.

    All officers and employees employed in the Office of Alternative 
Medicine on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act 
(pursuant to section 404E of the Public Health Service Act, as in 
effect on such day) are transferred to the National Center for Integral 
Medicine, including the members and staff of the advisory council, and 
there are transferred to such Center all funds of such Office available 
on such day and all other legal rights and duties of such Office. With 
respect to the establishment of a designated Center office pursuant to 
the amendments made by section 3, such establishment shall be construed 
to constitute a transfer of the designated Center office to the 
National Center for Integral Medicine from the Office of the Director 
of the National Institutes of Health (in which the designated Center 
office was located pursuant to the relevant former section of the 
Public Health Service Act). A transfer referred to in the preceding 
provisions of this section does not affect the status of any of the 
officers or employees involved (except to the extent that the 
amendments made by section 3 affect the authority to make appointments 
to employment positions); does not affect the availability of the funds 
for the purposes for which the funds were appropriated (except that in 
the case of such National Center such purposes shall apply with respect 
to the National Center to the same extent and in the same manner as the 
purposes applied with respect to the Office of Alternative Medicine); 
and does affect any other legal rights and duties, which continue in 
effect in accordance with their terms. For purposes of this section: 
(1) The term ``designated Center office'' means each of the Office of 
Disease Prevention (as established in section 485D of the Public Health 
Service Act, as added by the amendments made by section 3 of this Act); 
the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (as established 
in section 485E of such Act, as so added); and the Office of Dietary 
Supplements (as established in section 485F of such Act, as so added). 
(2) The term ``relevant former section of the Public Health Service 
Act'', with respect to a designated Center office, means, in the case 
of the Office of Disease Prevention, section 402(f) of the Public 
Health Service Act as in effect on the day before the date of the 
enactment of this Act; in the case of the Office of Behavioral and 
Social Sciences Research, section 404A of such Act as in effect on such 
day; and in the case of the Office of Dietary Supplements, section 485C 
of such Act as in effect on such day.
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