[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5339 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5339

To authorize increased funding for research at the National Institutes 
 of Health relating to Alzheimer's disease, to amend the Public Health 
 Service Act to authorize an education and outreach program to promote 
public awareness and risk reduction with respect to Alzheimer's disease 
    (with particular emphasis on education and outreach in Hispanic 
                 populations), and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 8, 2004

  Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of California (for herself, Mr. Menendez, Ms. 
    Loretta Sanchez of California, Mr. Acevedo-Vila, Mr. Reyes, Mr. 
 Grijalva, Mr. Serrano, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Hinojosa, 
Mr. Pastor, and Ms. Roybal-Allard) introduced the following bill; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize increased funding for research at the National Institutes 
 of Health relating to Alzheimer's disease, to amend the Public Health 
 Service Act to authorize an education and outreach program to promote 
public awareness and risk reduction with respect to Alzheimer's disease 
    (with particular emphasis on education and outreach in Hispanic 
                 populations), 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 ``Cure and Understanding through 
Research for Alzheimer's Act of 2004'' or the ``La Cura Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. NIH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

    (a) Doubling NIH Funding for Alzheimer's Disease Research.--For the 
purpose of conducting and supporting research on Alzheimer's disease at 
the National Institutes of Health (including related activities under 
subpart 5 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 285e et seq.)), there are authorized to be appropriated 
$1,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 and such sums as may be necessary 
for each subsequent fiscal year.
    (b) Research Activities.--In conducting research relating to 
Alzheimer's disease, the Director of the National Institutes of Health 
shall ensure sufficient resources for activities relating to 
Alzheimer's disease and Hispanic communities, including by--
            (1) increasing efforts in epidemiological work in Hispanic 
        subgroups;
            (2) allocating resources to the National Institute on Aging 
        Alzheimer's disease research centers and other academic centers 
        involved in Alzheimer 's disease research to increase 
        participation of Hispanics in research and clinical trials in 
        sufficient numbers to draw valid conclusions; and
            (3) conducting social, behavioral, and health services 
        research--
                    (A) to understand more fully the underlying reasons 
                that Hispanic individuals delay diagnosis and 
                underutilize services; and
                    (B) to identify culturally and linguistically 
                appropriate approaches for addressing such delays and 
                underutilization.
    (c) Education Activities.--The Director of the National Institutes 
of Health shall expand and intensify efforts of the Institutes--
            (1) to educate communities about the importance of research 
        relating to Alzheimer's disease; and
            (2) to respond effectively to cultural concerns about 
        participation in such research, especially with respect to 
        sensitive matters like the collection of brain tissue and 
        genetic information.

SEC. 3. INCREASED FUNDING FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE DEMONSTRATION GRANTS.

    Section 398B(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280c-
5(e)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and such'' and inserting ``such''; and
            (2) by inserting before the period at the end ``$25,000,000 
        for fiscal year 2005, and such sums as may be necessary for 
        each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009''.

SEC. 4. CDC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.

    Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317S the following:

``SEC. 317T. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

    ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are the following:
            ``(1) To reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease through 
        reduction of vascular risk factors.
            ``(2) To encourage early recognition and diagnosis of 
        dementia.
            ``(3) To train public health personnel to recognize, 
        assess, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer's disease in ways that 
        are culturally appropriate and supportive of families.
    ``(b) Education and Outreach.--To achieve the purposes of this 
section, the Secretary, acting through the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, in collaboration with State health departments and the 
Alzheimer's Association, shall conduct an aggressive, evidence-based 
education and outreach program to promote public awareness and risk 
reduction with respect to Alzheimer's disease.
    ``(c) Emphasis.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall 
give particular emphasis to education and outreach in Hispanic 
populations.''.
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