[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2157 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2157

 To provide for uterine fibroid research and education, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 2003

Mrs. Jones of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for uterine fibroid research and education, 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 ``Uterine Fibroid Research and 
Education Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The development of uterine fibroids is a common and 
        significant health problem, affecting women of all ages, racial 
        backgrounds, and socioeconomic levels.
            (2) It has been estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of 
        women of reproductive age have uterine fibroids, though not all 
        have been diagnosed. Studies indicate the prevalence could be 
        much higher.
            (3) Symptomatic uterine fibroids can cause heavy bleeding, 
        pain, and reproductive problems, including infertility. There 
        is no known cause of uterine fibroids.
            (4) Uterine fibroids are the most common indication for 
        hysterectomy, accounting for approximately one-third of 
        hysterectomies, or 200,000 procedures annually.
            (5) African American women are 2 to 3 times more likely to 
        develop uterine fibroids than women of other racial groups.
            (6) The estimated annual charges for inpatient care for 
        uterine fibroids totaled more than $2,000,000,000 in 1997.
            (7) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found a 
        ``remarkable lack of high quality evidence supporting the 
        effectiveness of most interventions for symptomatic fibroids''.

SEC. 3. RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO UTERINE FIBROIDS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health 
(in this section referred to as the ``Director of NIH'') shall expand, 
intensify, and coordinate programs for the conduct and support of 
research with respect to uterine fibroids.
    (b) Administration.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall carry out this 
        section through the appropriate institutes, offices, and 
        centers, including the National Institute of Child Health and 
        Human Development, the National Institute of Environmental 
        Health Sciences, the Office of Research on Women's Health, the 
        National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and 
        any other agencies that the Director of NIH determines to be 
        appropriate.
            (2) Coordination of activities.--The Office of Research on 
        Women's Health shall coordinate activities under paragraph (1) 
        among the institutes, offices, and centers of the National 
        Institutes of Health.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 
for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

SEC. 4. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION WITH RESPECT TO UTERINE FIBROIDS.

    (a) Uterine Fibroids Public Education Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
        (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), acting 
        through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, shall develop and disseminate to the public 
        information regarding uterine fibroids, including information 
        on--
                    (A) the incidence and prevalence of uterine 
                fibroids;
                    (B) the elevated risk for minority women; and
                    (C) the availability, as medically appropriate, of 
                a range of treatment options for symptomatic uterine 
                fibroids.
            (2) Dissemination.--The Secretary may disseminate 
        information under paragraph (1) directly, or through 
        arrangements with nonprofit organizations, consumer groups, 
        institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), Federal, 
        State, or local agencies, or the media.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of 
        carrying out this subsection, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
        fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
    (b) Uterine Fibroids Information Program for Health Care 
Providers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
        Administration, shall develop and disseminate to health care 
        providers information on uterine fibroids, including 
        information on the elevated risk for minority women and the 
        range of available options for the treatment of symptomatic 
        uterine fibroids.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of 
        carrying out this subsection, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
        fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
    (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``minority'', with respect to women, means women who are members of 
racial or ethnic minority groups within the meaning of section 1707 of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-6).
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