II 111th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3479 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 10, 2010 Mrs. Hagan (for herself, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Landrieu) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to establish and implement a birth defects prevention, risk reduction, and public awareness program.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Birth Defects Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act of 2010.

2.

Birth defects prevention, risk reduction, and awareness

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish and implement a birth defects prevention and public awareness program, consisting of the activities described in subsections (c) and (d). (b)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)The term organization means an organization with a demonstrated ability to provide, and experience providing, specialized information on prenatal exposures and breastfeeding exposures with oversight by a licensed health care provider. (2)The term pregnancy and breastfeeding information services includes only— (A)information services to provide accurate, evidence-based, clinical information regarding maternal exposures during pregnancy that may be associated with birth defects or other health risks, such as exposures to medications, chemicals, infections, foodborne pathogens, illnesses, nutrition, or lifestyle factors; (B)information services to provide accurate, evidence-based, clinical information regarding maternal exposures during breastfeeding that may be associated with health risks to a breast-fed infant, such as exposures to medications, chemicals, infections, foodborne pathogens, illnesses, nutrition, or lifestyle factors; (C)the provision of accurate, evidence-based information weighing risks of exposures during breastfeeding against benefits of breastfeeding; and (D)the provision of information described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) through counselors, Web sites, fact sheets, telephonic or electronic communication, community outreach efforts, or other appropriate means. (3)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (c)

Nationwide media campaign

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct or support a nationwide media campaign to increase awareness among health care providers and at-risk populations about pregnancy and breastfeeding information services. (d)

Grants for pregnancy and breastfeeding information services

(1)

In general

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall award grants to organizations for any of the following: (A)

Information services

The provision of, or campaigns to increase awareness about, pregnancy and breastfeeding information services. (B)

Surveillance and research

The conduct or support of— (i)surveillance of, or research on— (I)maternal exposures that may influence the risk of birth defects, prematurity, or other adverse pregnancy outcomes; and (II)maternal exposures that may influence health risks to a breastfed infant; or (ii)networking to facilitate surveillance or research described in this subparagraph. (2)

Preference for certain organizations in certain states

The Secretary, in making any grant under this subsection, shall give preference to organizations, otherwise equally qualified, operating in States that have or had a pregnancy and breastfeeding information service in place on or after January 1, 2006. (3)

Matching funds

The Secretary may award a grant under this subsection only to an organization that agrees, with respect to the costs to be incurred in carrying out the grant activities, to make available (directly or through donations from public or private entities) non-Federal funds toward such costs in an amount that is not less than 25 percent of the amount of the grant. (4)

Coordination

The Secretary shall ensure that activities funded through a grant under this subsection are coordinated, to the maximum extent practicable, with other birth defects prevention and environmental health activities of the Federal Government, including with respect to pediatric environmental health specialty units and children’s environmental health centers. (e)

Evaluation

In furtherance of the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide for an evaluation of pregnancy and breastfeeding information services to identify efficient and effective models of— (1)providing information; (2)raising awareness and increasing knowledge about birth defects prevention measures; (3)modifying risk behaviors; or (4)other outcome measures as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (f)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this Act, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2013, $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2014, and $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.