[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1554 Received in Senate (RDS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 1554


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             December 9 (legislative day, December 8), 2006

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
     To enhance and further research into paralysis and to improve 
    rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with 
   paralysis and other physical disabilities, 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 ``Christopher and Dana Reeve Quality 
of Life for Persons with Paralysis Act''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PERSONS WITH PARALYSIS 
              AND OTHER PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in 
this Act referred to as the ``Secretary''), acting through the Director 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may study the unique 
health challenges associated with paralysis and other physical 
disabilities and carry out projects and interventions to improve the 
quality of life and long-term health status of persons with paralysis 
and other physical disabilities. The Secretary may carry out such 
projects directly and through awards of grants or contracts.
    (b) Certain Activities.--Activities under subsection (a) may 
include--
            (1) the development of a national paralysis and physical 
        disability quality-of-life action plan, to promote health and 
        wellness in order to enhance full participation, independent 
        living, self-sufficiency, and equality of opportunity in 
        partnership with voluntary health agencies focused on paralysis 
        and other physical disabilities, to be carried out in 
        coordination with the State-based Comprehensive Paralysis and 
        Other Physical Disability Quality of Life Program of the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
            (2) support for programs to disseminate information 
        involving care and rehabilitation options and quality-of-life 
        grant programs supportive of community-based programs and 
        support systems for persons with paralysis and other physical 
        disabilities;
            (3) in collaboration with other centers and national 
        voluntary health agencies, the establishment of a hospital-
        based registry, and the conduct of relevant population-based 
        research, on motor disability (including paralysis); and
            (4) the development of comprehensive, unique, and 
        innovative programs, services, and demonstrations within 
        existing State-based disability and health programs of the 
        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which are designed 
        to support and advance quality-of-life programs for persons 
        living with paralysis and other physical disabilities focusing 
        on--
                    (A) caregiver education;
                    (B) physical activity;
                    (C) education and awareness programs for health 
                care providers;
                    (D) prevention of secondary complications;
                    (E) home- and community-based interventions;
                    (F) coordination of services and removal of 
                barriers that prevent full participation and 
                integration into the community; and
                    (G) recognition of the unique needs of underserved 
                populations.
    (c) Grants.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary may 
award grants in accordance with the following:
            (1) To State and local health and disability agencies for 
        the purpose of--
                    (A) establishing paralysis registries for the 
                support of relevant population-based research;
                    (B) developing comprehensive paralysis and other 
                physical disability action plans and activities focused 
                on the items listed in subsection (b)(4);
                    (C) assisting State-based programs in establishing 
                and implementing partnerships and collaborations that 
                maximize the input and support of people with paralysis 
                and other physical disabilities and their constituent 
                organizations;
                    (D) coordinating paralysis and physical disability 
                activities with existing State-based disability and 
                health programs;
                    (E) providing education and training opportunities 
                and programs for health professionals and allied 
                caregivers; and
                    (F) developing, testing, evaluating, and 
                replicating effective intervention programs to maintain 
                or improve health and quality of life.
            (2) To nonprofit private health and disability 
        organizations for the purpose of--
                    (A) disseminating information to the public;
                    (B) improving access to services for persons living 
                with paralysis and other physical disabilities and 
                their caregivers;
                    (C) testing model intervention programs to improve 
                health and quality of life; and
                    (D) coordinating existing services with State-based 
                disability and health programs.
    (d) Coordination of Activities.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
activities under this section are coordinated as appropriate with other 
activities of the Public Health Service.
    (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than December 1, 2007, the 
Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report describing the results 
of the study under subsection (a) and, as applicable, the national plan 
developed under subsection (b)(1).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated in the 
aggregate $25,000,000 for the fiscal years 2007 through 2010.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) as science and research have advanced, so too has the 
        need to increase strategic planning across the National 
        Institutes of Health to identify research that is important to 
        the advancement of biomedical science; and
            (2) research involving collaboration among the national 
        research institutes and national centers of the National 
        Institutes of Health is crucial for advancing research on 
        paralysis and thereby improving rehabilitation and the quality 
        of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical 
        disabilities.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 9 (legislative 
      day, December 8), 2006.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.