I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6218 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 26, 2012 Ms. Buerkle (for herself, Mrs. Maloney, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Hanna, Mr. Rangel, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. Turner of New York, Ms. Chu, Mrs. Emerson, Mr. Marino, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide for the establishment of the Autoimmune Diseases Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Mary Colella Autoimmune Disease Awareness Act of 2012.

2.

Autoimmune Diseases Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee

(a)

Establishment

Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

320B.

Autoimmune Diseases Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a committee, to be known as the Autoimmune Diseases Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee (referred to in this section as the Coordinating Committee), for the purpose of formulating recommendations for the coordination of governmental and private programs and activities relating to autoimmune diseases. (b)

Composition

The Coordinating Committee shall be composed of the following members (or their designees): (1)The Assistant Secretary for Health, who shall serve as the Chair of the Coordinating Committee. (2)The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (3)The Commissioner of Food and Drugs. (4)The Director of the National Institutes of Health. (5)The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (6)The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration. (7)The Secretary of Education. (8)The Secretary of Defense. (9)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (10)The Commissioner of Social Security. (11)Such other Federal officials as the Secretary may designate or invite, as appropriate, to serve as members on the Coordinating Committee. (c)

Responsibilities

In furtherance of the purpose described in subsection (a), the Coordinating Committee shall— (1)develop criteria to be used in defining and identifying autoimmune diseases; (2)monitor Federal, State, and private activities with respect to autoimmune diseases; (3)make recommendations regarding any appropriate changes to such activities, including recommendations to the Director of NIH with respect to the strategic plan developed under paragraph (5); (4)make recommendations regarding public participation in decisions relating to autoimmune diseases; (5)develop and annually update a strategic plan for the coordination of governmental and private programs and activities relating to autoimmune diseases, including— (A)proposed budgetary requirements; (B)a summary of advances in autoimmune disease research related to causes, prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or rule out, intervention, and access to services and supports for individuals with an autoimmune disease; (C)an assessment of research that is being conducted on autoimmune diseases; (D)an assessment of the ability of health care providers to identify and diagnose autoimmune diseases properly; (E)an assessment of the quality of postgraduate continuing education programs on autoimmune diseases; and (F)recommendations on education and continuing education on autoimmune diseases for health care providers; and (6)on a biennial basis, submit to the Congress such strategic plan and any updates to such plan. (d)

Funding

(1)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $250,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016. (2)

Funding source

Funds for carrying out this section shall be derived exclusively from funds made available under section 241.

. (b)

Conforming change

Section 409E of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284i) is amended by striking subsection (b).