[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 76 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 514
112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                 S. 76

                          [Report No. 112-213]

 To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
   investigate and address cancer and disease clusters, including in 
                         infants and children.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 25 (legislative day, January 5), 2011

   Mrs. Boxer (for herself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Nelson of 
 Florida, Mr. Brown of Ohio, and Mr. Carper) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment 
                            and Public Works

                           September 19, 2012

               Reported by Mrs. Boxer, without amendment

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
   investigate and address cancer and disease clusters, including in 
                         infants and children.

    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 ``Strengthening Protections for 
Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) children are particularly at risk from environmental 
        pollutants or toxic substances for various reasons, including 
        because--
                    (A) the nervous, immune, digestive, and other 
                systems of children are still developing as the 
                children move though several stages of rapid growth and 
                development;
                    (B) exposure to environmental pollutants or toxic 
                substances can affect prenatal, infant, and childhood 
                growth and development;
                    (C) children may be less able to detoxify and 
                excrete toxins than adults;
                    (D) children eat proportionately more food, drink 
                more fluids, breathe more air, and play outside more, 
                which means children are more exposed to environmental 
                pollutants and toxic substances than adults;
                    (E) children are less able to protect themselves 
                from exposures to environmental pollutants or toxic 
                substances;
                    (F) the behavior of children exposes children to 
                different environmental pollutants and toxic substances 
                than adults;
                    (G) the natural curiosity and tendency of children 
                to explore leaves children open to health risks that 
                adults can more easily avoid; and
                    (H) the developing brains, reproductive systems, 
                and other organs of children are more susceptible to 
                permanent disruption that can result in health problems 
                during the lives of the children;
            (2) according to the Department of Health and Human 
        Services, birth defects are the leading cause of infant death 
        in the first year of life, accounting for about 20 percent of 
        infant deaths in 2006;
            (3) according to the American Cancer Society, cancer is the 
        second leading cause of death in children, exceeded only by 
        accidents;
            (4) according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention, an estimated 1 in 110 children in the United States 
        have an autism spectrum disorder;
            (5) scientific research on environmental, genetic, and 
        other influences that may affect environmental health is a 
        national priority;
            (6) Federal agencies should work to address serious 
        environmental health problems to better protect children and 
        other individuals in communities, both large and small, across 
        the United States; and
            (7) according to the National Academy of Sciences--
                    (A) it is in the national interest to place a 
                higher priority on the health of children;
                    (B) in the short term, that priority will result in 
                children whose health and quality of life is improved 
                and who are more ready and able to learn;
                    (C) children have important value in their own 
                right and are worthy of that type of societal 
                commitment;
                    (D) it is also in the national interest to optimize 
                the health of children because, in the long term--
                            (i) the continuing viability of society 
                        depends on a citizenry and a workforce that are 
                        properly equipped to be productive and 
                        committed to serving the country; and
                            (ii) failure to improve the health of 
                        children will have a substantial long-term 
                        consequence for the health of the adult 
                        population; and
                    (E) investing in the health of children is 
                necessary for all of the reasons described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (D) and is the right thing to 
                do.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to provide to the Administrator the authority to help 
        conduct investigations into the potential for environmental 
        pollutants or toxic substances to cause disease clusters;
            (2) to ensure that the Administrator has the authority to 
        undertake actions to help address existing and potential 
        environmental pollution and toxic substances that may 
        contribute to the creation of disease clusters; and
            (3) to enable the Administrator to integrate and work in 
        conjunction with other Federal, State, and local agencies, 
        institutions of higher education, and the public in 
        investigating and helping to address the possible causes of 
        disease clusters.

SEC. 4. GOALS.

    The goals of this Act are--
            (1) to protect and assist pregnant women, infants, 
        children, and other individuals who have been, are, or could be 
        harmed by, and become part of, a disease cluster;
            (2) to enhance Federal resources, expertise, outreach, 
        transparency, and accountability in responding to public and 
        State and local government inquiries about the potential causes 
        of a disease cluster;
            (3) to strengthen Federal analytical capacity and 
        coordination, including with State and local authorities, in 
        the investigation of the potential causes of disease clusters;
            (4) to develop multidisciplinary teams that undertake a 
        systematic, integrated approach to investigate and help address 
        the potential causes of disease clusters that State and local 
        officials cannot address or need assistance in addressing; and
            (5) to help facilitate the rapid investigation of potential 
        disease clusters and actions to address the potential causes of 
        disease clusters.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Agency.--The term ``Agency'' means the Environmental 
        Protection Agency.
            (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
            (4) Disease cluster.--The term ``disease cluster'' means--
                    (A) the occurrence of a greater-than-expected 
                number of cases of a particular disease within a group 
                of individuals, a geographical area, or a period of 
                time; or
                    (B) the occurrence of a particular disease in such 
                number of cases, or meeting such other criteria, as the 
                Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator 
                of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
                and the Director, may determine.
            (5) Environmental pollutants or toxic substances.--The term 
        ``environmental pollutants or toxic substances'' includes the 
        substances described in paragraph (7).
            (6) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' means--
                    (A) any department, agency, or other 
                instrumentality of the Federal Government;
                    (B) any independent agency or establishment of the 
                Federal Government (including any Government 
                corporation); and
                    (C) the Government Printing Office.
            (7) Potential causes of a disease cluster.--The term 
        ``potential causes of a disease cluster'' includes 
        environmental and public health factors that could increase the 
        possibility of disease clusters, including environmental 
        pollutants or toxic substances and sources of those pollutants 
        and substances, including--
                    (A) emissions of air pollutants that are regulated 
                under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.); and
                    (B) water pollutants that are regulated under the 
                Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et 
                seq.);
                    (C) a contaminant, as that term is defined in 
                section 1401 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 
                300f);
                    (D) a hazardous substance, as that term is defined 
                in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
                Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 
                9601);
                    (E) solid waste and hazardous waste, as those terms 
                are defined in section 1004 of the Solid Waste Disposal 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 6903);
                    (F) a chemical substance, as that term is defined 
                in section 3 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 
                U.S.C. 2602);
                    (G) a substance that is regulated under the 
                Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 
                1986 (42 U.S.C. 11001 et seq.); and
                    (H) any other form of environmental pollution or 
                toxic substance that is a known or potential cause of 
                an adverse health effect, including a developmental, 
                reproductive, neurotoxic, or carcinogenic effect.
            (8) Regional response center.--The term ``Regional Response 
        Center'' means a Regional Disease Cluster Information and 
        Response Center established under section 7.
            (9) Response team.--The term ``Response Team'' means a 
        Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Team 
        established under section 7.
            (10) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 6. GUIDELINES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF DISEASE 
              CLUSTERS.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
        the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
        Disease Registry, the Secretary, and the Director, shall 
        develop, publish, and periodically update guidelines that 
        describe a systematic, integrated approach that uses the best 
        available science to investigate--
                    (A) 1 or more suspected or potential disease 
                clusters;
                    (B) environmental pollutants or toxic substances 
                associated with 1 or more suspected or potential 
                disease clusters; or
                    (C) potential causes of 1 or more disease clusters.
            (2) Coordination.--The Administrator shall ensure that the 
        Office of Children's Health Protection, in consultation with 
        appropriate advisory committees, such as the Children's Health 
        Protection Advisory Committee, has a prominent role on behalf 
        of the Agency in developing and updating guidelines under 
        paragraph (1).
    (b) Requirements.--Guidelines developed under this section shall 
include--
            (1) definitions of key concepts and actions;
            (2) disease cluster identification and reporting protocols;
            (3) standardized methods of reviewing and categorizing 
        data, including from health surveillance systems and disease 
        cluster reports;
            (4) guidance for using, in a health-protective way, an 
        appropriate epidemiological, statistical, or other approach for 
        the circumstances of an investigation;
            (5) procedures for peer review of key documents by 
        individuals who have no direct or indirect conflict of 
        interest; and
            (6) a description of roles and responsibilities of the 
        Administrator and the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
        Substances and Disease Registry in conducting investigations 
        described in those guidelines, in accordance with this Act.
    (c) Timing.--
            (1) In general.--Draft guidelines developed under this 
        section shall be available for public review and comment for a 
        period of not less than 60 days.
            (2) Final guidelines.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
        with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
        Disease Registry, the Secretary, and the Director, shall 
        publish in the Federal Register final guidelines under this 
        section.

SEC. 7. ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF DISEASE 
              CLUSTERS.

    (a) Establishment of Regional Disease Cluster Information and 
Response Centers and Teams.--
            (1) Establishment.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation 
                with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
                Substances and Disease Registry, the Secretary, and the 
                Director, and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall 
                establish and operate Regional Disease Cluster 
                Information and Response Centers and Regional Disease 
                Cluster Information and Response Teams.
                    (B) Principal responsibility.--The Administrator 
                shall be principally responsible for directing, 
                coordinating, and approving Federal efforts and 
                assistance authorized under this section.
            (2) Coordination.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator shall ensure 
                that the Office of Children's Health Protection, in 
                consultation with appropriate advisory committees, such 
                as the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee, 
                has a prominent role on behalf of the Agency in 
                establishing and operating the Regional Response 
                Centers and the Response Teams.
                    (B) Grants and cooperative agreements.--
                            (i) In general.--The Administrator shall 
                        provide support (including research, program 
                        implementation, and operational support 
                        activities) to individuals on Response Teams 
                        described in subsection (b) and Community 
                        Disease Cluster Advisory Committees described 
                        in subsection (c) through grants and 
                        cooperative agreements with institutions of 
                        higher education that have programs or 
                        individuals with demonstrated expertise in 
                        research, training, studies, and technical 
                        assistance.
                            (ii) Authorization of appropriations.--
                        There are authorized to be appropriated to 
                        carry out this subparagraph such sums as are 
                        necessary.
            (3) Timing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish at 
        least--
                    (A) 2 Regional Response Centers; and
                    (B) 2 Response Teams.
    (b) Response Teams.--
            (1) Membership.--Each Response Team shall include 
        individuals who--
                    (A) have expertise in epidemiology, toxicogenomics, 
                molecular biology, toxicology, pollution control 
                requirements, data analysis, environmental health and 
                disease surveillance, exposure assessment, pediatric 
                health, community outreach and involvement, and other 
                relevant fields; and
                    (B) have no direct or indirect conflict of 
                interest.
            (2) Leadership.--Each Response Team shall have--
                    (A) an individual who is the leader of the Response 
                Team and who reports to the Administrator, the 
                Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
                Disease Registry, and the Director; and
                    (B) an individual who has the skills or experience 
                necessary to carry out community outreach and 
                involvement activities, including--
                            (i) the establishment of Community Disease 
                        Cluster Advisory Committees under subsection 
                        (c); and
                            (ii) the facilitation of activities of 
                        those Committees.
            (3) Activities.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation 
                with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
                Substances and Disease Registry and the Director, shall 
                establish the scope of activities for Response Teams to 
                ensure that the activities are consistent with 
                achieving the goals of this Act.
                    (B) Requirements.--The activities of the Response 
                Teams shall include--
                            (i) making guidelines, protocols, data, and 
                        other relevant information and expertise 
                        available to State and local officials and the 
                        public to assist in efforts--
                                    (I) to investigate suspected or 
                                potential disease clusters, 
                                environmental pollutants or toxic 
                                substances associated with those 
                                disease clusters, and potential causes 
                                of disease clusters; and
                                    (II) to address potential causes of 
                                disease clusters;
                            (ii) responding rapidly to a petition 
                        described in subparagraph (C) from any person, 
                        including a State or local official, regarding 
                        the need--
                                    (I) to investigate suspected or 
                                potential disease clusters, 
                                environmental pollutants or toxic 
                                substances associated with those 
                                disease clusters, and potential causes 
                                of disease clusters; and
                                    (II) to address the potential 
                                causes of disease clusters;
                            (iii) providing the best available 
                        environmental sampling and laboratory equipment 
                        to collect, analyze, and interpret monitoring, 
                        health surveillance, and other relevant 
                        information at scales and timelines appropriate 
                        to an action;
                            (iv) involving community members, in 
                        accordance with established scientific methods 
                        and norms (including the preservation of the 
                        confidentiality of individuals), in--
                                    (I) investigations of suspected or 
                                potential disease clusters, 
                                environmental pollutants or toxic 
                                substances associated with those 
                                disease clusters, or potential causes 
                                of disease clusters, including 
                                through--
                                            (aa) environmental exposure 
                                        assessments;
                                            (bb) biomonitoring 
                                        activities; and
                                            (cc) community-based 
                                        participatory research 
                                        initiatives; and
                                    (II) other efforts to address the 
                                potential causes of disease clusters;
                            (v) working with State and local agencies--
                                    (I) to help make the use and 
                                management of integrated environmental 
                                health data consistent and timely; and
                                    (II) to fill data gaps; and
                            (vi) investigating suspected or potential 
                        disease clusters, environmental pollutants or 
                        toxic substances associated with those disease 
                        clusters, and potential causes of disease 
                        clusters, and addressing the potential causes 
                        of disease clusters that the Administrator 
                        determines State and local officials need 
                        assistance in investigating or addressing, or 
                        that the Administrator determines should be 
                        investigated or addressed.
                    (C) Petition.--
                            (i) In general.--Any person, including a 
                        State or local official, may submit a petition 
                        referred to in subparagraph (B)(ii) to the 
                        Administrator, the Administrator of the Agency 
                        for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and 
                        the Director that requests that a Response Team 
                        conduct an investigation or take other action 
                        to address the potential causes of disease 
                        clusters in accordance with this Act.
                            (ii) Requirements.--Each petition submitted 
                        under clause (i) shall clearly describe the 
                        basis for the requested investigation or 
                        action, including any data supporting the 
                        request.
                            (iii) Consideration.--The Administrator, in 
                        consultation with the Administrator of the 
                        Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
                        Registry and the Director, shall establish 
                        criteria for the consideration of petitions 
                        submitted under this section using health-
                        protective factors, including--
                                    (I) evidence of the release of 
                                environmental pollutants or toxic 
                                substances;
                                    (II) the locations in which there 
                                appear to be potentially significant 
                                health threats from the potential 
                                causes of disease clusters;
                                    (III) cases in which existing data 
                                appear to be inadequate to fully assess 
                                the potential risks to public health; 
                                and
                                    (IV) such other factors as the 
                                Administrator determines are necessary.
                            (iv) Response.--Not later than 60 days 
                        after the date of receipt of a petition under 
                        clause (iii), the Administrator, in 
                        consultation with the Administrator of the 
                        Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
                        Registry and the Director, shall provide a 
                        written response that describes--
                                    (I) the investigation or actions 
                                that will be undertaken in response to 
                                the petition, including the timeline 
                                and basis for the investigation or 
                                actions; and
                                    (II) the reasons for any denial or 
                                deferral in providing such a response.
                            (v) Timing of issuance of criteria.--
                                    (I) In general.--The Administrator, 
                                in consultation with the Administrator 
                                of the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
                                Disease Registry and the Director, 
                                shall provide for public notice of 
                                draft criteria established under this 
                                subparagraph for a period of not less 
                                than 60 days.
                                    (II) Final criteria.--Not later 
                                than 1 year after the date of enactment 
                                of this Act, the Administrator, in 
                                consultation with the Administrator of 
                                the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
                                Disease Registry and the Director, 
                                shall publish in the Federal Register 
                                final criteria required under this 
                                subparagraph.
            (4) Use of publicly available reports.--Response Team 
        investigations and actions shall--
                    (A) include publicly available reports prepared by 
                the Response Team that contain statements of facts, 
                findings, and recommendations for actions, to the 
                extent appropriate; and
                    (B) be prepared in a manner that preserves the 
                confidentiality of individuals.
            (5) Transparency and accountability.--Response Team 
        activities shall include measures to ensure--
                    (A) transparency and accountability to potentially 
                affected individuals, State and local officials, the 
                public, and other persons and agencies, while 
                preserving the confidentiality of individuals;
                    (B) that consistent, accurate, and meaningful 
                information is provided to potentially affected 
                individuals, State and local officials, the public, and 
                other persons and agencies through the use of 
                comprehensive, community-based communications plans; 
                and
                    (C) accountability to meeting goals and timetables.
            (6) Database.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation 
                with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
                Substances and Disease Registry, the Secretary, and the 
                Director, shall compile and regularly update 
                information in a comprehensive electronic database 
                that--
                            (i) is publicly accessible through the 
                        Internet;
                            (ii) provides a centralized location for 
                        information relating to--
                                    (I) disease cluster reports and 
                                investigations;
                                    (II) environmental pollutants or 
                                toxic substances that are associated 
                                with suspected or potential disease 
                                clusters;
                                    (III) illnesses associated with 
                                suspected or potential disease 
                                clusters, including locally generated 
                                information;
                                    (IV) systematic tracking of 
                                environmental pollutants or toxic 
                                substances and illnesses associated 
                                with suspected or potential disease 
                                clusters;
                                    (V) actions to help address the 
                                potential causes of disease clusters; 
                                and
                                    (VI) any other information that the 
                                Administrator determines to be 
                                necessary; and
                            (iii) facilitates the rapid reporting and 
                        analysis of information described in clause 
                        (ii).
                    (B) Confidentiality.--A database described in 
                subparagraph (A) shall be maintained in a manner that 
                preserves the confidentiality of individuals.
    (c) Community Disease Cluster Advisory Committees.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish 
        Community Disease Cluster Advisory Committees to provide 
        oversight, guidance, and advice relating to--
                    (A) the investigation of suspected and potential 
                disease clusters;
                    (B) the investigation of environmental pollutants 
                or toxic substances associated with suspected or 
                potential disease clusters;
                    (C) the investigation of potential causes of 
                disease clusters;
                    (D) efforts to address the potential causes of 
                disease clusters; and
                    (E) the most effective means of ensuring outreach 
                to and involvement of community members.
            (2) Membership.--Membership on Community Disease Cluster 
        Advisory Committees shall be comprised of representatives that 
        include--
                    (A) individuals who are or may be impacted by a 
                suspected or potential disease cluster, and the 
                designee of such an individual who may participate with 
                or in the place of such an individual;
                    (B) State or local government health or 
                environmental agencies;
                    (C) at least 2 individuals, appointed by the 
                Administrator in consultation with the Administrator of 
                the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 
                and the Director, with demonstrated knowledge of the 
                activities described in paragraph (1); and
                    (D) other appropriate individuals, as determined by 
                the Administrator, in consultation with the 
                Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
                Disease Registry and the Director.
            (3) Prohibition.--No member of a Committee may have any 
        direct or indirect conflict of interest.
            (4) Technical assistance.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation 
                with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
                Substances and Disease Registry and the Director, may 
                make grants available to any group of individuals that 
                may be affected by a suspected or potential disease 
                cluster.
                    (B) Use of funds.--Grants made available under 
                subparagraph (A) may be used to facilitate active 
                involvement in all aspects of Committee activities and 
                to assist Committee members in obtaining technical 
                assistance in interpreting information with regard to--
                            (i) the investigation of--
                                    (I) suspected or potential disease 
                                clusters;
                                    (II) environmental pollutants or 
                                toxic substances that are associated 
                                with suspected or potential disease 
                                clusters; and
                                    (III) the potential causes of 
                                disease clusters;
                            (ii) addressing the potential causes of 
                        disease clusters;
                            (iii) understanding the health concerns 
                        associated with suspected or potential disease 
                        clusters; and
                            (iv) understanding other scientific and 
                        technical issues relating to the activities of 
                        a Regional Response Team and Community Disease 
                        Cluster Advisory Committee, including the 
                        potential need for and interpretation of any 
                        biomonitoring of individuals in the area.
    (d) Environmental Research and Analysis.--The Administrator, in 
consultation with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances 
and Disease Registry, the Secretary, and the Director, shall use 
available authorities and programs to compile, research, and analyze 
information generated by actions authorized under this section, 
including by--
            (1) using those authorities to test environmental 
        pollutants or toxic substances identified under subsection 
        (b)(6); and
            (2) incorporating environmental pollutants or toxic 
        substances identified under subsection (b)(6) in appropriate 
        national biomonitoring initiatives.

SEC. 8. FEDERAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act and annually thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation 
with the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry, the Secretary, and the Director, shall prepare a report that 
describes--
            (1) the status of activities under this Act to investigate 
        and address the suspected and potential causes of disease 
        clusters;
            (2) environmental pollutants or toxic substances that are 
        associated with suspected or potential disease clusters;
            (3) the potential causes of disease clusters; and
            (4) ways to address the potential causes of those disease 
        clusters.
    (b) Requirements.--The report shall include a description of--
            (1) outreach activities to State and local officials and 
        communities;
            (2) actions that the Administrator has taken to prioritize 
        the testing of environmental pollutants or toxic substances;
            (3) actions that the Administrator has taken to include 
        environmental pollutants or toxic substances identified under 
        section 7(b)(7) in appropriate national biomonitoring 
        initiatives;
            (4) actions that the Administrator is taking or plans to 
        take to address problems in implementing this Act;
            (5) actions that the Secretary is taking or plans to take 
        to address problems in implementing this Act;
            (6) actions that the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic 
        Substances and Disease Registry has undertaken or is 
        considering taking with respect to any disease clusters under 
        subparagraphs (D) and (E) of section 104(i)(1) of Comprehensive 
        Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 
        U.S.C. 9604(i)(1)) and other provisions of that section;
            (7) actions that the Director is taking or plans to take to 
        address problems in implementing this Act; and
            (8) other relevant information.
    (c) Submission and Availability.--The Administrator shall--
            (1) submit the report under this subsection to--
                    (A) the Committees on Environment and Public Works 
                and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
                Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives; and
            (2) make the report available to the public.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.

SEC. 10. EFFECT ON OTHER LAW.

    Nothing in this Act modifies, limits, or otherwise affects the 
application of, or obligation to comply with, any law, including any 
environmental or public health law.
                                                       Calendar No. 514

112th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                 S. 76

                          [Report No. 112-213]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to 
   investigate and address cancer and disease clusters, including in 
                         infants and children.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 19, 2012

                       Reported without amendment