[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1878 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1878

To establish programs to address the health care needs of residents of 
     the United States-Mexico Border Area, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            December 20 (legislative day, December 18), 2001

Mrs. Hutchison (for herself and Mr. Bingaman) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish programs to address the health care needs of residents of 
     the United States-Mexico Border Area, 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 ``United States/Mexico Border Health 
Improvement Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States-Mexico Border Area is the area 
        located in the United States within 100 kilometers of the 
        border between the United States and Mexico.
            (2) In the United States, the United States-Mexico Border 
        Area encompasses 46 counties in California, Arizona, New 
        Mexico, and Texas.
            (3) Presently, the United States-Mexico Border Area is 
        experiencing explosive population growth. In the United States, 
        this region currently has 11,500,000 residents. However, this 
        number is expected to exceed 22,000,000 by the year 2025. The 
        population of the region in Mexico is growing at an ever faster 
        rate. In total, the population of the communities in both 
        countries is expected to double between the years 2020 and 
        2025.
            (4) With 11,500,000 residents and a 2,000-mile expanse, the 
        United States-Mexico Border Area has the population and size of 
        a State of the United States. If the region was such a State, 
        it would rank--
                    (A) last in access to health care;
                    (B) second in death rates (due to hepatitis);
                    (C) third in deaths related to diabetes;
                    (D) first in the number of tuberculosis cases;
                    (E) first in schoolchildren living in poverty; and
                    (F) last in per capita income.
            (5) In addition to the specific health problems listed in 
        paragraph (5), hundreds of thousands of Area residents also 
        each day face increased health risks due to being exposed to 
        the polluted water, soil, and air of the region.
            (6) Every county in the United States-Mexico Border Area in 
        the United States has at least a partial health professional 
        shortage area designation. Twenty-five percent of such counties 
        have severe shortages and lack adequate primary care 
        physicians. The shortage of dentists is also severe in many 
        Area localities.
            (7) According to GAO, the United States-Mexico Border Area 
        contains hundreds of colonias. Colonias are substandard 
        developments that typically lack running water, sewerage 
        systems, and electricity. Many of the residents of colonias are 
        migrant farmworker families.
            (8) Due to the poor living conditions in the colonias, the 
        United States-Mexico Border Area has a much higher rate of 
        waterborne infectious diseases. The occurrence of hepatitis A, 
        for example, is 3 times the national rate, and the occurrence 
        of salmonella and shigella dysentery occur is 2 to 4 times the 
        national rate.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) United states-mexico border area.--The term ``United 
        States-Mexico Border Area'' means the area located in the 
        United States within 100 kilometers of the border between the 
        United States and Mexico.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 4. OFFICE OF BORDER HEALTH.

    (a) In General.--There is established within the Department of 
Health and Human Services an Office of Border Health (referred to in 
this section as the ``Office'').
    (b) Director.--The Secretary shall appoint a Director of the Office 
to administer and oversee the functions of such Office.
    (c) Authority.--In overseeing the Office, the Secretary, acting 
through the Director--
            (1) shall be responsible for the overall direction of the 
        Office and for the establishment and implementation of general 
        policies respecting the management and operation of programs 
        and activities of the Office;
            (2) shall establish programs and activities to study and 
        monitor border health service delivery in general, the 
        coordination of Federal and State and Federal and local border 
        health activities, the health education available for border 
        residents, existing outreach for residents and the success of 
        such outreach, health service activities, particularly 
        prevention, and early intervention activities, and any other 
        activity that the Secretary determines is appropriate to 
        improve the health of United States-Mexico Border Area 
        residents, including the health of Native American tribes 
        located within the primary Area;
            (3) shall review Federal public health programs and 
        identify opportunities for collaboration with other Federal, 
        State, and local efforts to address border health issues;
            (4) shall coordinate activities with the United States-
        Mexico Border Health Commission and State offices;
            (5) shall award grants to States, local governments, 
        nonprofit organizations, or other eligible entities as 
        determined by the Secretary, in the United States-Mexico border 
area to address priorities and recommendations established by--
                    (A) the United States-Mexico Border Health 
                Commission on a binational basis, including the Healthy 
                Border 2010 Program Objectives; and
                    (B) the Director, to improve the health of border 
                region residents;
            (6) shall award grants to programs that seek to improve the 
        health care of Area residents, with priority given to 
        applicants such as the Health Resources and Services 
        Administration and other applicants that seek to provide 
        telemedicine and telehealth services; and
            (7) shall collaborate with appropriate counterparts in 
        Mexico to coordinate actions and programs to improve health for 
        residents of the United States-Mexico border area.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report describing Federal health programs' 
limitations in addressing United States-Mexico Border Area health 
concerns and recommending solutions to better address such concerns.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 5. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER AREA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
entities as determined by the Secretary to establish environmental 
health hazard programs for the United States-Mexico Border Area.
    (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that propose to establish and 
carry out programs that address environmental health hazards in the 
United States-Mexico Border Area for pregnant women and children.
    (c) Duties.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this 
section, shall use funds received through such grant to--
            (1) establish an environmental health program that 
        addresses health hazards along the United States-Mexico Border 
        Area;
            (2) identify and eliminate environmental health hazards;
            (3) coordinate its program with any environmental health 
        programs, if applicable, administered by the Environmental 
        Protection Agency, the National Institute of Environmental 
        Health Sciences, the International Consortium for the 
        Environment (ICE), other relevant Federal, State, and local 
        agencies, and nongovernmental organizations;
            (4) recruit and train health professionals and 
        environmental health specialists to identify and address 
        environmental health hazards in the United States-Mexico Border 
        Area; or
            (5) support State and local public health, food safety, and 
        building inspection agencies to reduce environmental health 
        hazards, including hazards existing in or around private 
        residences in the United States-Mexico Border Area.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 6. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

    Part D of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 330I. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER AREA GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
entities as determined by the Secretary to establish community health 
centers in medically underserved areas of the United States-Mexico 
Border Area.
    ``(b) Definitions.--The term ``United States-Mexico Border Area'' 
means the area located in the United States within 100 kilometers of 
the border between the United States and Mexico.
    ``(c) Duties.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this 
section shall establish and fund community health centers in medically 
underserved areas of the United States-Mexico Border Area, and as 
designated by the Secretary.
    ``(d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be 
necessary.''.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE CORPS.

    Subpart II of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254d et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 339. UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH SERVICE CORPS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a loan repayment 
program and recruit National Health Service Corps members to provide 
health services for United States-Mexico Border Area residents in 
exchange for participation in such program.
    ``(b) Preference.--In selecting Corps members to participate, the 
Secretary shall give preference to pediatricians and pediatric 
specialists who are fluent in English and Spanish, and to applicants 
who agree to serve along the United States-Mexico Border Health Area 
for at least 2 years.
    ``(c) Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a loan 
        repayment program described in subsection (a).
            ``(2) Contract.--Under such program, the Secretary shall 
        enter into written agreements with individuals selected by the 
        Secretary to provide the health services described in 
        subsection (a) in exchange for the Secretary providing payment 
        for the individual for the principal, interest, and related 
        expenses on government and commercial loans received by the 
        individual regarding the graduate or undergraduate education of 
        the individual (or both).
            ``(3) Payment for years served.--For every 2 years of 
        service that an individual contracts to serve under this 
        section the Secretary may pay for 1 year of educational 
        expenses, including tuition, living expenses, and any other 
        such reasonable educational expenses.
    ``(d) United States-Mexico Border Area.--The term ``United States-
Mexico Border Area'' means the area located in the United States within 
100 kilometers of the border between the United States and Mexico.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be 
necessary.''.

SEC. 8. PROMOTOR(A) GRANT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible entities to establish promotor(a) programs to recruit, train, 
and retain bilingual lay health advisers to provide culturally 
appropriate health education and other services for medically 
underserved populations in the United States-Mexico Border Area.
    (b) Definition.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a school of 
public health, an academic health sciences center, a Federally 
qualified health center, a public health agency, a border health 
office, or a border health education training center or any other 
entity determined by the Secretary that is located in or that serves 
the United States-Mexico Border Area.
    (c) Duties.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under this 
section shall, in addition to the duties described in subsection (a), 
develop bilingual promotor(a) and other border-specific health training 
programs.
    (d) Application.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under this 
section, shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 9. GRANTS FOR DISTANCE LEARNING.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to United 
States-Mexico Border Area State and local health agencies, community 
health centers, and other appropriate organizations to fully 
participate in the provider education distance learning/information 
dissemination network of the Health Services and Resources 
Administration.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 10. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry out a study to 
review agency activities regarding reducing the spread of HIV/Aids 
affecting the residents in the United States-Mexico Border Area.
    (b) Coordinations.--In carrying out such study, the Secretary shall 
coordinate activities with the appropriate Federal and State agencies 
and with appropriate agencies in Mexico to develop early intervention 
and treatment efforts to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 11. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry out a study to 
review agency activities regarding reducing the spread of tuberculosis, 
particularly multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, affecting the residents 
in the United States-Mexico Border Area.
    (b) Coordination.--In carrying out such study, the Secretary shall 
coordinate activities with the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
and other appropriate Federal and State agencies and with appropriate 
agencies in Mexico to develop diagnosis, detection, and early 
intervention and treatment efforts to curb the spread of tuberculosis, 
particularly multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 12. CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.

    The Secretary shall establish a targeted campaign of public 
education and awareness in the United States-Mexico Border Area that is 
culturally relevant to the residents of that Area.

SEC. 13. INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
eligible entities as determined by the Secretary to carry out 
intervention and treatment programs for diabetes.
    (b) Use of Funds.--An entity that receives a grant under this 
section shall use funds received through such grant to--
            (1) develop intervention programs oriented towards 
        increasing access to diabetes health care;
            (2) increase venues and opportunities for physical activity 
        and exercise in the border area;
            (3) address obesity as a risk factor for diabetes, 
        especially in juvenile populations;
            (4) improve health choices in school nutrition; and
            (5) develop diabetes networks and coalitions to encourage 
        communities to address diabetes risk factors.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 14. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention shall establish a National Border Health Databank (referred 
to in this section as the ``Databank'') to gather and retain data and 
other information on the health of United States-Mexico Border Area 
residents and on past, present, and emerging health issues in such 
Area.
    (b) Content.--The Databank shall include an Epidemiological 
Information System that shall be linked, where feasible, to all 
relevant State and local health agencies and other relevant national 
and international health organizations.
    (c) Availability of Data.--All information gathered and retained by 
the Databank shall, where practicable, be made available for the public 
via the Internet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall 
publish no less than quarterly a publication reporting on activities, 
studies, and trends regarding United States-Mexico Border Area health 
issues, including, the resources available from the Databank.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 15. CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL PREVENTION.

    (a) Program Authorized.--There is established within the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention a Border Health Surveillance Network 
(referred to in this section as the ``Network'').
    (b) Duties.--The Network shall--
            (1) carry out activities to develop and electronically link 
        the health surveillance, assessment, and response capabilities 
        of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and all 
        border State and local health agencies; and
            (2) award grants to State and local public health agencies, 
        medical schools, schools of public health, Border Health 
        Education Training Centers, or other entities as determined by 
        the Secretary located in or serving the United States-Mexico 
        Border Area for the development of border health epidemiology 
        training programs and to build upon the existing Health Alert 
        Network, the Information Network for Public Health Officials, 
the Border Infectious Disease Surveillance (``BIDS'') Project, and a 
Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance System.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 16. BORDER AREA BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING.

    Section 1501 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300k) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Special Consideration for Border Area Residents.--In making 
grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall set-aside certain 
funds described in give special consideration to any State that 
proposes to increase the number of United States-Mexico Border Area 
residents who are screened for breast and cervical cancer.''.

SEC. 17. GRANTS FOR BORDER AREA HEALTH TESTING.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention shall award grants to United States-Mexico Border Area 
State and local health agencies to upgrade public health laboratories 
and conduct rapid tests for disease organisms and toxic chemicals.
    (b) Coordination.--A State or local health agency that receives a 
grant under this section shall, to the extent possible, coordinate its 
activities carried out with funds received under this section with 
activities carried out under programs administered by the National 
Laboratory Training Network.
    (c) Application.--A State or local health agency desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Director at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
may reasonably require.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 18. HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish new, comprehensive 
guidelines for community- and family-oriented prevention and health 
promotion activities focused on Guidelines under The Healthy Border 
2010 Guidelines. The Director shall disseminate these guidelines in 
both English and Spanish to all United States-Mexico Border Area health 
professionals, utilizing all available tools, including the CDC 
Prevention Guidelines Database.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 19. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The General Accounting Office shall 
conduct a comprehensive study of Federal and Federal and State border 
health programs.
    (b) Content.--The study described in subsection (a) shall review 
border health care programs to determine the manner in which such 
programs may be improved. Such study shall also review any problematic 
limitations of medicare and medicaid programs in serving United States-
Mexico Border Area residents.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this section, the General Accounting Office shall prepare and submit to 
Congress a report describing the findings of the study described in 
subsection (a) and recommending certain courses of action to improve 
such border health care programs, with particular emphasis on 
recommendations for improving Federal and State and Federal and local 
coordinations. Such report shall also make recommendations for changes 
with regard to medicare and medicaid payment laws and policies for 
telemedicine and telehealth activities.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 20. AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY.

    (a) In General.--The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality 
shall conduct a comprehensive study of border health needs, trends, and 
areas of needed improvement and shall utilize border academic 
institutes to carry out such study and share the results of such study 
with such institutes.
    (b) Content.--The study described in subsection (a) shall study the 
health needs of United States-Mexico Border Area residents and--
            (1) residents' access to health care services;
            (2) communicable disease control in the Area;
            (3) environmental problems in the Area that contribute to 
        health care problems;
            (4) health research being done on residents' health care 
        needs;
            (5) make recommendations regarding environmental 
        improvements that may be made to improve health conditions of 
        Area residents; and
            (6) make recommendations regarding long range plans to 
        improve the quality and availability of health care of Area 
        residents.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 21. GRANTS TO INCREASE RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
Division of Oral Health of the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, may make grants to Southwestern border States or localities 
for the purpose of increasing the resources available for community 
water fluoridation.
    (b) Use of Funds.--A State or locality shall use amounts provided 
under a grant under subsection (a)--
            (1) to purchase fluoridation equipment;
            (2) to train fluoridation engineers; or
            (3) to develop educational materials on the advantages of 
        fluoridation.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 22. COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
U.S. Mexico Border Health Commission and the Director of the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish a demonstration 
project that is designed to assist rural water systems in Texas, New 
Mexico, Arizona and California in successfully implementing the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention water fluoridation guidelines 
entitled ``Engineering and Administrative Recommendations for Water 
Fluoridation'' (referred to in this section as the ``EARWF'').
    (b) Requirements.--
            (1) Collaboration.--The Director of the U.S. Mexico Border 
        Health Commission shall collaborate with the Director of the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in developing the 
        project under subsection (a). Through such collaboration the 
        Directors shall ensure that technical assistance and training 
        are provided to sites located in each of the 4 States referred 
        to in subsection (a). The Director of the U.S. Mexico Border 
        Health Commission shall provide coordination and administrative 
        support to tribes under this section.
            (2) General use of funds.--Amounts made available under 
        this section shall be used to assist small water systems in 
        improving the effectiveness of water fluoridation and to meet 
        the recommendations of the EARWF.
            (3) Fluoridation specialists.--
                    (A) In general.--In carrying out this section, the 
                Secretary shall provide for the establishment of 
                fluoridation specialist engineering positions in each 
                of the Dental Clinical and Preventive Support Centers 
                through which technical assistance and training will be 
                provided to tribal water operators.
                    (B) CDC.--The Director of the Centers for Disease 
                Control and Prevention shall appoint individuals to 
                serve as the fluoridation specialists.
            (4) Implementation.--The project established under this 
        section shall be planned, implemented and evaluated over the 5-
        year period beginning on the date on which funds are 
        appropriated under this section and shall be designed to serve 
        as a model for improving the effectiveness of water 
        fluoridation systems of small rural communities.
    (c) Evaluation.--In conducting the ongoing evaluation as provided 
for in subsection (b)(4), the Secretary shall ensure that such 
evaluation includes--
            (1) the measurement of changes in water fluoridation 
        compliance levels resulting from assistance provided under this 
        section;
            (2) the identification of the administrative, technical and 
        operational challenges that are unique to the fluoridation of 
        small water systems;
            (3) the development of a practical model that may be easily 
        utilized by other tribal, State, county or local governments in 
        improving the quality of water fluoridation with emphasis on 
        small water systems; and
            (4) the measurement of any increased percentage of 
        Southwestern border residents who receive the benefits of 
        optimally fluoridated water.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 23. COMMUNITY-BASED DENTAL SEALANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration, may award grants to eligible entities determined by the 
Secretary to provide for the development of innovative programs 
utilizing mobile van units to carry out dental sealant activities to 
improve the access of children to sealants as well as for prevention 
and primary care.
    (b) Use of Funds.--An entity shall use amounts received under a 
grant under subsection (a) to provide funds to eligible community-based 
entities to make available a mobile van unit to provide children in 
second or sixth grade with access to dental care and dental sealant 
services. Such services may be provided by dental hygienists so long as 
a formalized plan for the referral of a child for treatment of dental 
problems is established.
    (c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive funds under this 
section an entity shall--
            (1) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at 
        such time, in such manner and containing such information as 
        the Secretary may require; and
            (2) be a community-based entity that is determined by the 
        Secretary to provide an appropriate entry point for children 
        into the dental care system and be located within 100 
        kilometers of the United States Mexico Border.
    (d) Coordination With Other Programs.--An entity that receives 
funds from a State under this section shall serve as an enrollment site 
for purposes of enabling individuals to enroll in the State plan under 
title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.) or in the 
State Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of such Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.

SEC. 24. UNITED STATES HISPANIC NUTRITION EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 
              CENTER.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a United States 
Hispanic Nutrition Education and Research Center (referred to in this 
section as the ``Center'') at a regional academic health center.
    (b) Purpose.--The general purpose of the Center shall be to 
undertake nutrition research and nutrition education activities that 
sustain and promote the health of United States Hispanics, particularly 
those United States Hispanics in the United States-Mexico Border Area. 
The Center shall serve as a national clearinghouse for research, and 
for data collection and information dissemination on nutrition in the 
United States Hispanic population. In addition, the Center shall serve 
as an educational resource on United States Hispanic nutrition for 
students, universities, and academic and research institutions 
throughout the United States.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, such sums as may be necessary.
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