[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11391-S11401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH REVITALIZATION ACT OF 1996
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 583, S. 1897.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1897) to amend the Public Health Service Act to
revise and extend certain programs relating to the National
Institutes of Health, and for other purposes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate
consideration of the bill?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
bill which has been reported from the Committee on Labor and Human
Resources, with amendments; as follows:
(The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in
italic.)
S. 1897
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES; AND TABLE OF CONTENTS
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National
Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1996''.
(b) References.--Whenever in this Act an amendment is
expressed in terms of an amendment to a section or other
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a
section or other provision of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
(c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; references; and table of contents.
TITLE I--PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Sec. 101. Director's discretionary fund.
Sec. 102. Children's vaccine initiative.
TITLE II--PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES
Sec. 201. Research on osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and related bone
disorders.
Sec. 202. National Human Genome Research Institute.
Sec. 203. Increased amount of grant and other awards.
Sec. 204. Meetings of advisory committees and councils.
Sec. 205. Elimination or modification of reports.
TITLE III--SPECIFIC INSTITUTES AND CENTERS
Subtitle A--National Cancer Institute
Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 302. DES study.
Subtitle B--National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
Sec. 311. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C--National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Sec. 321. Research and research training regarding tuberculosis.
[[Page S11392]]
Sec. 322. Terry Beirn community-based aids research initiative.
Subtitle D--National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Sec. 331. Research centers for contraception and infertility.
Subtitle E--National Institute on Aging
Sec. 341. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle F--National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Sec. 351. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 352. National alcohol research center.
Subtitle G--National Institute on Drug Abuse
Sec. 361. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 362. Medication development program.
Sec. 363. Drug abuse research centers.
Subtitle H--National Institute of Mental Health
Sec. 371. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle I--National Center for Research Resources
Sec. 381. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 382. General clinical research centers.
Sec. 383. Enhancement awards.
Sec. 384. Waiver of limitations.
Subtitle J--National Library of Medicine
Sec. 391. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 392. Increasing the cap on grant amounts.
TITLE IV--AWARDS AND TRAINING
Sec. 401. Medical scientist training program.
Sec. 402. Raise in maximum level of loan repayments.
Sec. 403. General loan repayment program.
Sec. 404. Clinical research assistance.
TITLE V--RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO AIDS
Sec. 501. Comprehensive plan for expenditure of AIDS appropriations.
Sec. 502. Emergency AIDS discretionary fund.
TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Subtitle A--Authority of the Director of NIH
Sec. 601. Authority of the director of NIH.
Subtitle B--Office of Rare Disease Research
Sec. 611. Establishment of office for rare disease research.
Subtitle C--Certain Reauthorizations
Sec. 621. National research service awards.
Sec. 622. National Foundation for Biomedical Research.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 631. Establishment of national fund for health research.
Sec. 632. Definition of clinical research.
Sec. 633. Senior Biomedical Research Service.
Sec. 634. Establishment of a pediatric research initiative.
Sec. 635. Diabetes research.
Sec. 636. Parkinson's research.
Subtitle E--Repeals and Conforming Amendments
Sec. 641. Repeals and conforming amendments.
TITLE I--PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
SEC. 101. DIRECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND.
Section 402(i)(3) (42 U.S.C. 282(i)(3)) is amended by
striking ``$25,000,000'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
SEC. 102. CHILDREN'S VACCINE INITIATIVE.
Section 404B(c) (42 U.S.C. 283d(c)) is amended by striking
``$20,000,000'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
TITLE II--PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES
SEC. 201. RESEARCH ON OSTEOPOROSIS, PAGET'S DISEASE, AND
RELATED BONE DISORDERS.
Section 409A(d) (42 U.S.C. 284e(d)) is amended by striking
``$40,000,000'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
SEC. 202. NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
(a) In General.--Part C of title IV (42 U.S.C. 285 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new
subpart:
``Subpart 18--National Human Genome Research Institute
``SEC. 464Z. PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTE.
``(a) In General.--The general purpose of the National
Human Genome Research Institute is to characterize the
structure and function of the human genome, including the
mapping and sequencing of individual genes. Such purpose
includes--
``(1) planning and coordinating the research goal of the
genome project;
``(2) reviewing and funding research proposals;
``(3) conducting and supporting research training;
``(4) coordinating international genome research;
``(5) communicating advances in genome science to the
public;
``(6) reviewing and funding proposals to address the
ethical, legal, and social issues associated with the genome
project (including legal issues regarding patents); and
``(7) planning and administering intramural, collaborative,
and field research to study human genetic disease.
``(b) Research.--The Director of the Institute may conduct
and support research training--
``(1) for which fellowship support is not provided under
section 487; and
``(2) that is not residency training of physicians or other
health professionals.
``(c) Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), of
the amounts appropriated to carry out subsection (a) for a
fiscal year, the Director of the Institute shall make
available not less than 5 percent of amounts made available
for extramural research for carrying out paragraph (6) of
such subsection.
``(2) Nonapplication.--With respect to providing funds
under subsection (a)(6) for proposals to address the ethical
issues associated with the genome project, paragraph (1)
shall not apply for a fiscal year if the Director of the
Institute certifies to the Committee on Commerce of the
House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Labor
and Human Resources of the Senate, that the Director has
determined that an insufficient number of such proposals
meet the applicable requirements of sections 491 and 492.
``(d) Transfer.--
``(1) In general.--There are transferred to the National
Human Genome Research Institute all functions which the
National Center for Human Genome Research exercised before
the date of enactment of this subpart, including all related
functions of any officer or employee of the National Center
for Human Genome Research. The personnel employed in
connection with, and the assets, liabilities, contracts,
property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations,
authorizations, allocations, and other funds employed, used,
held, arising from, available to, or to be made available in
connection with the functions transferred under this
subsection shall be transferred to the National Human Genome
Research Institute.
``(2) Legal documents.--All orders, determinations, rules,
regulations, permits, agreements, grants, contracts,
certificates, licenses, regulations, privileges, and other
administrative actions which have been issued, made, granted,
or allowed to become effective in the performance of
functions which are transferred under this subsection shall
continue in effect according to their terms until
modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or revoked in
accordance with law.
``(3) References.--References in any other Federal law,
Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of
authority, or any document of or relating to the National
Center for Human Genome Research shall be deemed to refer to
the National Human Genome Research Institute.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, such
sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1997
through 1999.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section 401(b) (42 U.S.C. 281(b)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end thereof the
following new subparagraph:
``(R) The National Human Genome Research Institute.''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking subparagraph (D); and
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (D).
(2) Subpart 3 of part E of title IV (42 U.S.C. 287c et
seq.) is repealed.
SEC. 203. INCREASED AMOUNT OF GRANT AND OTHER AWARDS.
Section 405(b)(2)(B) (42 U.S.C. 284(b)(2)(B) is amended--
(1) in clause (i), by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting
``$100,000''; and
(2) in clause (ii), by striking ``$50,000'' and inserting
``$100,000''.
SEC. 204. MEETINGS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS.
(a) In General.--Section 406 (42 U.S.C. 284a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e), by striking ``, but at least three
times each fiscal year''; and
(2) in subsection (h)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (iv), by adding ``and'' after the semicolon;
(ii) in clause (v), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
period; and
(iii) by striking clause (vi); and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, except'' and all
that follows through ``year''.
(b) President's Cancer Panel.--Section 415(a)(3) (42 U.S.C.
285a-4(a)(3)) is amended by striking ``, but not less often
than four times a year''.
(c) Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Interagency Coordinating Committees.--Section 429(b) (42
U.S.C. 285c-3(b)) is amended by striking ``, but not less
often than four times a year''.
(d) Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases Interagency Coordinating Committees.--Section 439(b)
(42 U.S.C. 285d-4(b)) is amended by striking ``, but not less
often than four times a year''.
(e) Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Interagency Coordinating Committees.--Section 464E(d) (42
U.S.C. 285m-5(d)) is amended by striking ``, but not less
often than four times a year''.
(f) Institute of Nursing Research Advisory Council.--
Section 464X(e) (42 U.S.C. 285q-2(e)) is amended by striking
``, but at least three times each fiscal year''.
(g) Center for Research Resources Advisory Council.--
Section 480(e) (42 U.S.C. 287a(e)) is amended by striking ``,
but at least three times each fiscal year''.
[[Page S11393]]
(h) Application of FACA.--Part B of title IV (42 U.S.C. 284
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the
following new section:
``SEC. 409B. APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.
``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
Ap. 2) shall not apply to a scientific or technical peer
review group, established under this title.''.
SEC. 205. ELIMINATION OR MODIFICATION OF REPORTS.
(a) Public Health Service Act Reports.--The following
provisions of the Public Health Service Act are repealed:
(1) Section 403 (42 U.S.C. 283) relating to the biennial
report of the Director of the National Institutes of Health
to Congress and the President.
(2) Subsection (c) of section 439 (42 U.S.C. 285d-4(c))
relating to the annual report of the Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal Diseases Interagency Coordinating Committee
and the annual report of the Skin Diseases Interagency
Coordinating Committee.
(3) Subsection (j) of section 442 (42 U.S.C. 285d-7(j))
relating to the annual report of the National Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Board.
(4) Subsection (b) of section 494A (42 U.S.C. 289c-1(b))
relating to the annual report of the Secretary of Health and
Human Services on health services research relating to
alcohol abuse and alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental health.
(5) Subsection (b) of section 503 (42 U.S.C. 290aa-2(b))
relating to the triennial report of the Secretary of Health
and Human Services to Congress.
(b) Report on Disease Prevention.--Section 402(f)(3) (42
U.S.C. 282(f)(3)) is amended by striking ``annually'' and
inserting ``biennially''.
(c) Reports of the Coordinating Committees on Digestive
Diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, and Kidney, Urologic and
Hematologic Diseases.--Section 429 (42 U.S.C. 285c-3) is
amended by striking subsection (c).
(d) Report of the Task Force on Aging Research.--Section
304 of the Home Health Care and Alzheimer's Disease
Amendments of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 242q-3) is repealed.
(e) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Research.--Section 1122
(42 U.S.C. 300c-12) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking the subsection designation and heading; and
(B) by striking ``of the type'' and all that follows
through ``adequate,'' and insert ``, such amounts each year
as will be adequate for research which relates generally to
sudden infant death syndrome, including high-risk pregnancy
and high-risk infancy research which directly relates to
sudden infant death syndrome, and to the relationship of the
high-risk pregnancy and high-risk infancy research to sudden
infant death syndrome,''; and
(2) by striking subsections (b) and (c).
(f) U.S.-Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program.--
Subsection (h) of section 5 of the International Health
Research Act of 1960 is repealed.
(g) Bioengineering Research.--Not later than 6 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services, acting through the Director of the
National Institutes of Health, shall prepare and submit to
the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Commerce of the House of
Representatives, a report containing specific plans and
timeframes on how the Director will implement the findings
and recommendations of the report to Congress entitled
``Support for Bioengineering Research'' (submitted in
August of 1995 in accordance with section 1912 of the
National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993
(42 U.S.C. 282 note)).
[g] (h) Conforming Amendments.--Title IV is amended--
(1) in section 404C(c) (42 U.S.C. 283e(c)), by striking
``included'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``made available to the committee established under
subsection (e) and included in the official minutes of the
committee'';
(2) in section 404E(d)(3)(B) (42 U.S.C. 283g(d)(3)(B)), by
striking ``for inclusion in the biennial report under section
403'';
(3) in section 406(g) (42 U.S.C. 284a(g))--
(A) by striking ``for inclusion in the biennial report made
under section 407'' and inserting ``as it may determine
appropriate''; and
(B) by striking the second sentence;
(4) in section 407 (42 U.S.C. 284b)--
(A) in the section heading, to read as follows:
``reports''; and
(B) by striking ``shall prepare for inclusion in the
biennial report made under section 403 a biennial'' and
inserting ``may prepare a'';
(5) in section 416(b) (42 U.S.C. 285a-5(b)) by striking
``407'' and inserting ``402(f)(3)'';
(6) in section 417 (42 U.S.C. 285a-6), by striking
subsection (e);
(7) in section 423(b) (42 U.S.C. 285b-6(b)), by striking
``407'' and inserting ``402(f)(3)'';
(8) by striking section 433 (42 U.S.C. 285c-7);
(9) in section 451(b) (42 U.S.C. 285g-3(b)), by striking
``407'' and inserting ``402(f)(3)'';
(10) in section 452(d) (42 U.S.C. 285g-4(d))--
(A) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``(A) Not'' and
inserting ``Not''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(B) in the last sentence of paragraph (4), by striking
``contained'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``transmitted to the Director of NIH.'';
(11) in section 464I(b) (42 U.S.C. 285n-1(b)), by striking
``407'' and inserting ``402(f)(3)'';
(12) in section 464M(b) (42 U.S.C. 285o-1)(b)), by striking
``407'' and inserting ``402(f)(3)'';
(13) in section 464S(b) (42 U.S.C. 285p-1(b)), by striking
``407'' and inserting ``402(f)(3)'';
(14) in section 464X(g) (42 U.S.C. 285q-2(g)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``for inclusion in the biennial report made
under section 464Y'' and inserting ``as it may determine
appropriate''; and
(B) by striking the second sentence;
(15) in section 464Y (42 U.S.C. 285q-3)--
(A) in the section heading, to read as follows:
``reports''; and
(B) by striking ``shall prepare for inclusion in the
biennial report made under section 403 a biennial'' and
inserting ``may prepare a'';
(16) in section 480(g) (42 U.S.C. 287a(g))--
(A) by striking ``for inclusion in the biennial report made
under section 481'' and inserting ``as it may determine
appropriate''; and
(B) by striking the second sentence;
(17) in section 481 (42 U.S.C. 287a-1)--
(A) in the section heading, to read as follows:
``reports''; and
(B) by striking ``shall prepare for inclusion in the
biennial report made under section 403 a biennial'' and
inserting ``may prepare a'';
(18) in section 486(d)(5)(B) (42 U.S.C. 287d(d)(5)(B)), by
striking ``for inclusion in the report required in section
403'';
(19) in section 486B (42 U.S.C. 287d-2) by striking
subsection (b) and inserting the following new subsection:
``(b) Submission.--The Director of the Office shall submit
each report prepared under subsection (a) to the Director of
NIH.''; and
(20) in section 492B(f) (42 U.S.C. 289a-2(f)), by striking
``for inclusion'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``and the Director of NIH.''.
TITLE III--SPECIFIC INSTITUTES AND CENTERS
Subtitle A--National Cancer Institute
SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 417B (42 U.S.C. 286a-8) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$2,728,000,000'' and
all that follows through the period and inserting
``$3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 and 1999.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the first sentence of subparagraph (A), by striking
``$225,000,000'' and all that follows through the first
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''; and
(ii) in the first sentence of subparagraph (B), by striking
``$100,000,000'' and all that follows through the first
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''; and
(B) in the first sentence of paragraph (2), by striking
``$75,000,000'' and all that follows through the first period
and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''; and
(3) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by striking
``$72,000,000'' and all that follows through the first period
and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
SEC. 302. DES STUDY.
Section 403A(e) (42 U.S.C. 283a(e)) is amended by striking
``1996'' and inserting ``1999''.
Subtitle B--National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
SEC. 311. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 425 (42 U.S.C. 285b-8) is amended by striking
``$1,500,000,000'' and all that follows through the period
and inserting ``$1,600,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such
sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998
and 1999.''.
Subtitle C--National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
SEC. 321. RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING REGARDING
TUBERCULOSIS.
Subpart 6 of part C of title IV is amended in the first
section 447(b) (42 U.S.C. 285f-2(b)) by striking
``$50,000,000'' and all that follows through the first period
1998'' and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
SEC. 322. TERRY BEIRN COMMUNITY-BASED AIDS RESEARCH
INITIATIVE.
Section 2313(e) (42 U.S.C. 300cc-13(e)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``1996'' and inserting
``1999''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``1996'' and inserting
``1999''.
Subtitle D--National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
SEC. 331. RESEARCH CENTERS FOR CONTRACEPTION AND INFERTILITY.
Section 452A(g) (42 U.S.C. 285g-5(g)) is amended by
striking ``$30,000,000'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for
each of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
Subtitle E--National Institute on Aging
SEC. 341. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 445I (42 U.S.C. 285e-11) is amended by striking
``$500,000,000'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``$550,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 and
1999.''.
[[Page S11394]]
Subtitle F--National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
SEC. 351. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 464H(d)(1) (42 U.S.C. 285n(d)(1)) is amended by
striking ``300,000,000'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``$330,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
1998 and 1999.''.
SEC. 352. NATIONAL ALCOHOL RESEARCH CENTER.
Section 464J(b) (42 U.S.C. 285n-2(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(b) The'' and inserting ``(b)(1) The'';
(2) by striking the third sentence; and
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following new
paragraph:
``(2) As used in paragraph (1), the terms `construction'
and `cost of construction' include--
``(A) the construction of new buildings, the expansion of
existing buildings, and the acquisition, remodeling,
replacement, renovation, major repair (to the extent
permitted by regulations), or alteration of existing
buildings, including architects' fees, but not including the
cost of the acquisition of land or offsite improvements; and
``(B) the initial equipping of new buildings and of the
expanded, remodeled, repaired, renovated, or altered part of
existing buildings; except that
such term shall not include the construction or cost of
construction of so much of any facility as is used or is to
be used for sectarian instruction or as a place for religious
worship.''.
Subtitle G--National Institute on Drug Abuse
SEC. 361. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 464L(d)(1) (42 U.S.C. 285o(d)(1)) is amended by
striking ``$440,000,000'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``$480,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
1998 and 1999.''.
SEC. 362. MEDICATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
Section 464P(e) (42 U.S.C. 285o-4(e)) is amended by
striking ``$85,000,000'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999''.
SEC. 363. DRUG ABUSE RESEARCH CENTERS.
Section 464N(b) (42 U.S.C. 285o-2(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(b) The'' and inserting ``(b)(1) The'';
(2) by striking the last sentence; and
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following new
paragraph:
``(2) As used in paragraph (1), the terms `construction'
and `cost of construction' include--
``(A) the construction of new buildings, the expansion of
existing buildings, and the acquisition, remodeling,
replacement, renovation, major repair (to the extent
permitted by regulations), or alteration of existing
buildings, including architects' fees, but not including the
cost of the acquisition of land or offsite improvements; and
``(B) the initial equipping of new buildings and of the
expanded, remodeled, repaired, renovated, or altered part of
existing buildings; except that
such term does not include the construction or cost of
construction of so much of any facility as is used or is to
be used for sectarian instruction or as a place for religious
worship.''.
Subtitle H--National Institute of Mental Health
SEC. 371. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 464R(f)(1) (42 U.S.C. 285p(f)(1)) is amended by
striking ``$675,000,000'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``$750,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
1998 and 1999.''.
Subtitle I--National Center for Research Resources
SEC. 381. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) General Authorization.--Section 481A(h) (42 U.S.C.
287a-2(h)) is amended by striking ``$150,000,000'' and all
that follows through the period and inserting ``such sums as
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1997 through
1999.''.
(b) Reservation for Construction of Regional Centers.--
Section 481B(a) (42 U.S.C. 287a-3(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``shall'' and inserting ``may'';
(2) by striking ``1994 through 1996'' and inserting ``1997
through 1999''; and
(3) by striking ``$5,000,000'' and inserting ``such sums as
may be necessary for each such fiscal year''.
SEC. 382. GENERAL CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTERS.
Part B of title IV (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.), as amended by
section 205(h), is further amended by adding at the end
thereof the following new section:
``SEC. 409C. GENERAL CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTERS.
``(a) Grants.--The Director of the National Center for
Research Resources shall award grants for the establishment
of general clinical research centers to provide the
infrastructure for clinical research including clinical
research training and career enhancement. Such centers shall
support clinical studies and career development in all
settings of the hospital or academic medical center involved.
``(b) Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Director of NIH shall expand the activities of the general
clinical research centers through the increased use of
telecommunications and telemedicine initiatives.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to make grants under subsection
(a), such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal
years 1996 and 1999.''.
SEC. 383. ENHANCEMENT AWARDS.
Part B of title IV (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.), as amended by
sections 205(h) and 382, is further amended by adding at the
end thereof the following new section:
``SEC. 409D. ENHANCEMENT AWARDS.
``(a) Clinical Research Career Enhancement Award.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of the National Center for
Research Resources shall make grants (to be referred to as
`clinical research career enhancement awards') to support
individual careers in clinical research.
``(2) Applications.--An application for a grant under this
subsection shall be submitted by an individual scientist at
such time as the Director may require.
``(3) Limitations.--The amount of a grant under this
subsection shall not exceed $130,000 per year per grant.
Grants shall be for terms of 5 years. The Director shall
award not more than 20 grants in the first fiscal year in
which grants are awarded under this subsection. The total
number of grants awarded under this subsection for the first
and second fiscal years in which grants such are awarded
shall not exceed 40 grants.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to make grants under paragraph
(1), such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal
years 1997 through 1999.
``(b) Innovative Medical Science Award.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of the National Center for
Research Resources shall make grants (to be referred to as
`innovative medical science awards') to support individual
clinical research projects.
``(2) Applications.--An application for a grant under this
subsection shall be submitted by an individual scientist at
such time as the Director requires.
``(3) Limitations.--The amount of a grant under this
subsection shall not exceed $100,000 per year per grant.
``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to make grants under paragraph
(1), such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal
years 1997 through 1999.
``(c) Peer Review.--The Director of NIH, in cooperation
with the Director of the National Center for Research
Resources, shall establish peer review mechanisms to evaluate
applications for clinical research fellowships, clinical
research career enhancement awards, and innovative medical
science award programs. Such review mechanisms shall include
individuals who are exceptionally qualified to appraise the
merits of potential clinical research trainees.''.
SEC. 384. WAIVER OF LIMITATIONS.
Section 481A (42 U.S.C. 287a-2) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking ``9'' and
inserting ``12'';
(2) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``50'' and inserting
``40''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``40'' and inserting
``30''; and
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``for applicants meeting
the conditions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
subsection (c)''; and
(3) in subsection (h), by striking $150,000,000'' and all
that follows through ``1996'' and inserting ``such sums as
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1997 through
1999''.
Subtitle J--National Library of Medicine
SEC. 391. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 468(a) (42 U.S.C. 286a-2(a)) is amended by striking
``$150,000,000'' and all that follows through the period and
inserting ``$160,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 and
1999.''.
SEC. 392. INCREASING THE CAP ON GRANT AMOUNTS.
Section 474(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 286b-5(b)(2)) is amended by
striking ``$1,000,000'' and inserting ``$1,250,000''.
TITLE IV--AWARDS AND TRAINING
SEC. 401. MEDICAL SCIENTIST TRAINING PROGRAM.
(a) Expansion of Program.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Director of the National Institutes of
Health, shall expand the Medical Scientist Training Program
to include fields that will contribute to training clinical
investigators in the skills of performing patient-oriented
clinical research.
(b) Designation of Slots.--In carrying out subsection (a),
the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall
designate a specific percentage of positions under the
Medical Scientist Training Program for use with respect to
the pursuit of a Ph.D. degree in the disciplines of
economics, epidemiology, public health, bioengineering,
biostatistics and bioethics, and other fields determined
appropriate by the Director.
SEC. 402. RAISE IN MAXIMUM LEVEL OF LOAN REPAYMENTS.
(a) Repayment Programs With Respect to AIDS.--Section 487A
(42 U.S.C. 288-1) is amended--
[[Page S11395]]
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$20,000'' and
inserting ``$35,000''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``1996'' and inserting
``1999''.
(b) Repayment Programs With Respect to Contraception and
Infertility.--Section 487B(a) (42 U.S.C. 288-2(a)) is amended
by striking ``$20,000'' and inserting ``$35,000''.
(c) Repayment Programs With Respect to Research
Generally.--Section 487C(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 288-3(a)(1)) is
amended by striking ``$20,000'' and inserting ``$35,000''.
(d) Repayment Programs With Respect to Clinical Researchers
From Disadvantaged Backgrounds.--Section 487E(a) (42 U.S.C.
288-5(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$20,000'' and inserting
``$35,000''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``338C'' and inserting
``338B, 338C''.
SEC. 403. GENERAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.
Part G of title IV (42 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 487E, the following new section:
``SEC. 487F. GENERAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director of NIH, shall carry out a program of entering into
agreements with appropriately qualified health professionals
under which such health professionals agree to conduct
research with respect to the areas identified under paragraph
(2) in consideration of the Federal Government agreeing to
repay, for each year of such service, not more than $35,000
of the principal and interest of the educational loans of
such health professionals.
``(2) Research areas.--In carrying out the program under
paragraph (1), the Director of NIH shall annually identify
areas of research for which loan repayments made be awarded
under paragraph (1).
``(3) Term of agreement.--A loan repayment agreement under
paragraph (1) shall be for a minimum of two years.
``(b) Applicability of Certain Provisions.--With respect to
the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
established in subpart III of part D of title III, the
provisions of such subpart shall, except as inconsistent with
subsection (a) of this section, apply to the program
established in such subsection (a) in the same manner and to
the same extent as such provisions apply to the National
Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program established in
such subpart.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of
carrying out this section, there are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
SEC. 404. CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANCE.
(a) National Research Service Awards.--Section 487(a)(1)(C)
(42 U.S.C. 288(a)(1)(C)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``50 such'' and inserting ``100 such''; and
(2) by striking ``1996'' and inserting ``1999''.
(b) Loan Repayment Program.--Section 487E (42 U.S.C. 288-5)
is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``from
disadvantaged backgrounds'';
(2) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``who are from
disadvantaged backgrounds'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``Amounts'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--Amounts''; and
(B) by adding at the end thereof the following new
paragraph:
``(2) Disadvantaged backgrounds set-aside.--In carrying out
this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than
50 percent of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year are
used for contracts involving those appropriately qualified
health professionals who are from disadvantaged
backgrounds.''; and
(4) by adding at the end thereof the following new
subsections:
``(c) Clinical Research Training Position.--A position
shall be considered a clinical research training position
under subsection (a)(1) if such position involves an
individual serving in a general clinical research center or
other organizations and institutions determined to be
appropriate by the Director of NIH, or a physician receiving
a clinical research career enhancement award or NIH
intramural research fellowship.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such
sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year.''.
TITLE V--RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO AIDS
SEC. 501. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR EXPENDITURE OF AIDS
APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 2353(d)(1) (42 U.S.C. 300cc-40b(d)(1)) is amended
by striking ``through 1996'' and inserting ``through 1999''.
SEC. 502. EMERGENCY AIDS DISCRETIONARY FUND.
Section 2356(g)(1) (42 U.S.C. 300cc-43(g)(1)) is amended by
striking ``$100,000,000'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999''.
TITLE VI--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Subtitle A--Authority of the Director of NIH
SEC. 601. AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF NIH.
Section 402(b) (42 U.S.C. 282(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' at the end
thereof;
(2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting
a semicolon; and
(3) by adding after paragraph (12), the following new
paragraphs:
``(13) may conduct and support research training--
``(A) for which fellowship support is not provided under
section 487; and
``(B) which does not consist of residency training of
physicians or other health professionals; and
``(14) may appoint physicians, dentists, and other health
care professionals, subject to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, relating to appointments and
classifications in the competitive service, and may
compensate such professionals subject to the provisions of
chapter 74 of title 38, United States Code.''.
Subtitle B--Office of Rare Disease Research
SEC. 611. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE FOR RARE DISEASE RESEARCH.
Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof
the following new section:
``SEC. 404F. OFFICE FOR RARE DISEASE RESEARCH.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the
Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health
an office to be known as the Office for Rare Disease Research
(in this section referred to as the `Office'). The Office
shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the
Director of the National Institutes of Health.
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Office is to promote and
coordinate the conduct of research on rare diseases through a
strategic research plan and to establish and manage a rare
disease research clinical database.
``(c) Advisory Council.--The Secretary shall establish an
advisory council for the purpose of providing advice to the
director of the Office concerning carrying out the strategic
research plan and other duties under this section. Section
222 shall apply to such council to the same extent and in the
same manner as such section applies to committees or councils
established under such section.
``(d) Duties.--In carrying out subsection (b), the director
of the Office shall--
``(1) develop a comprehensive plan for the conduct and
support of research on rare diseases;
``(2) coordinate and disseminate information among the
institutes and the public on rare diseases;
``(3) support research training and encourage the
participation of a diversity of individuals in the conduct of
rare disease research;
``(4) identify projects or research on rare diseases that
should be conducted or supported by the National Institutes
of Health;
``(5) develop and maintain a central database on current
government sponsored clinical research projects for rare
diseases;
``(6) determine the need for registries of research
subjects and epidemiological studies of rare disease
populations; and
``(7) prepare biennial reports on the activities carried
out or to be carried out by the Office and submit such
reports to the Secretary and the Congress.''.
Subtitle C--Certain Reauthorizations
SEC. 621. NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS.
Section 487(d) (42 U.S.C. 288(d)) is amended by striking
``$400,000,000'' and all that follows through the first
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
SEC. 622. NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.
Section 499(m)(1) (42 U.S.C. 290b(m)(1)) is amended by
striking ``an aggregate'' and all that follows through the
period and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary for each
of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999.''.
Subtitle D--Miscellaneous Provisions
SEC. 631. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FUND FOR HEALTH RESEARCH.
Part A of title IV (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.), as amended by
section 611, is further amended by adding at the end thereof
the following new section:
``SEC. 404G. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL FUND FOR HEALTH
RESEARCH.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury
of the United States a fund, to be known as the `National
Fund for Health Research' (hereafter in this section referred
to as the `Fund'), consisting of such amounts as are
transferred to the Fund and any interest earned on investment
of amounts in the Fund.
``(b) Obligations From Fund.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to the provisions of paragraph
(2), with respect to the amounts made available in the Fund
in a fiscal year, the Secretary shall distribute all of such
amounts during any fiscal year to research institutes and
centers of the National Institutes of Health in the same
proportion to the total amount received under this section,
as the amount of annual appropriations under appropriations
Acts for each member institute and centers for the fiscal
year bears to the total amount of appropriations under
appropriations Acts for all research institutes and centers
of the National Institutes of Health for the fiscal year.
``(2) Trigger and release of monies.--No expenditure shall
be made under paragraph (1) during any fiscal year in which
the annual amount appropriated for the National Institutes of
Health is less than the amount so appropriated for the prior
fiscal year.''.
[[Page S11396]]
SEC. 632. DEFINITION OF CLINICAL RESEARCH.
Part A of title [V] IV (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) as amended
by sections 611 and 631, is further amended by adding at the
end thereof the following new section:
``SEC. 404H. DEFINITION OF CLINICAL RESEARCH.
``As used in this title, the term `clinical research' means
patient oriented clinical research conducted with human
subjects, or research on the causes and consequences of
disease in human populations, or on material of human origin
(such as tissue specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which
an investigator or colleague directly interacts with human
subjects in an outpatient or inpatient setting to clarify a
problem in human physiology, pathophysiology, or disease,
epidemiologic or behavioral studies, outcomes research, or
health services research.''.
SEC. 633. SENIOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
Section 228 (42 U.S.C. 237) is amended by adding at the end
thereof the following new subsection:
``(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary shall be treated as a non-profit entity for the
purposes of making contributions to the retirement systems of
appointees under this section in a manner that will permit
such appointees to continue to be fully covered under the
retirement systems that such appointees were members of
immediately prior to their appointment under this section.''.
SEC. 634. ESTABLISHMENT OF A PEDIATRIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE.
Part A of title IV (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.), as amended by
sections 611, 631, and 632, is further amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``SEC. 404I. PEDIATRIC RESEARCH INITIATIVE
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish within
the Office of the Director of NIH a Pediatric Research
Initiative (hereafter in this section referred to as the
`Initiative'). The Initiative shall be headed by the Director
of NIH.
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Initiative is to provide
funds to enable the Director of NIH to encourage--
``(1) increased support for pediatric biomedical research
within the National Institutes of Health to ensure that the
expanding opportunities for advancement in scientific
investigations and care for children are realized;
``(2) enhanced collaborative efforts among the Institutes
to support multidisciplinary research in the areas that the
Director deems most promising;
``(3) increased support for pediatric outcomes and medical
effectiveness research to demonstrate how to improve the
quality of children's health care while reducing cost;
``(4) the development of adequate pediatric clinical trials
and pediatric use information to promote the safer and more
effective use of prescription drugs in the pediatric
population; and
``(5) recognition of the special attention pediatric
research deserves.
``(c) Duties.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Director
of NIH shall--
``(1) consult with the Institutes and other advisors as the
Director determines appropriate when considering the role of
the Institute for Child Health and Human Development;
``(2) have broad discretion in the allocation of any
Initiative assistance among the Institutes, among types of
grants, and between basic and clinical research so long as
the--
``(A) assistance is directly related to the illnesses and
diseases of children; and
``(B) assistance is extramural in nature; and
``(3) be responsible for the oversight of any newly
appropriated Initiative funds and be accountable with respect
to such funds to Congress and to the public.
``(d) Authorization.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $50,000,000 for
fiscal years 1997 through 1999.
``(e) Transfer of Funds.--The Director of NIH may transfer
amounts appropriated to any of the Institutes for a fiscal
year to the Initiative to carry out this section.''.
SEC. 635. DIABETES RESEARCH.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Diabetes is a serious health problem in America.
(2) More than 16,000,000 Americans suffer from diabetes.
(3) Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in
America, taking the lives of more than 169,000 people
annually.
(4) Diabetes disproportionately affects minority
populations, especially African-Americans, Hispanics, and
Native Americans.
(5) Diabetes is the leading cause of new blindness in
adults over age 30.
(6) Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure
requiring dialysis or transplantation, affecting more than
56,000 Americans each year.
(7) Diabetes is the leading cause of nontraumatic
amputations, affecting 54,000 Americans each year.
(8) The cost of treating diabetes and its complications are
staggering for our Nation.
(9) Diabetes accounted for health expenditures of
$105,000,000,000 in 1992.
(10) Diabetes accounts for over 14 percent of our Nation's
health care costs.
(11) Federal funds invested in diabetes research over the
last two decades has led to significant advances and,
according to leading scientists and endocrinologists, has
brought the United States to the threshold of revolutionary
discoveries which hold the potential to dramatically reduce
the economic and social burden of this disease.
(12) The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases supports, in addition to many other areas of
research, genetic research, islet cell transplantation
research, and prevention and treatment clinical trials
focusing on diabetes. Other research institutes within the
National Institutes of Health conduct diabetes-related
research focusing on its numerous complications, such as
heart disease, eye and kidney problems, amputations, and
diabetic neuropathy.
(b) Increased Funding Regarding Diabetes.--With respect to
the conduct and support of diabetes-related research by the
National Institutes of Health, there are authorized to be
appropriated for such purpose--
(1) for each of the fiscal years 1997 through 1999, an
amount equal to the amount appropriated for such purpose for
fiscal year 1996; and
(2) for the 3-fiscal year period beginning with fiscal year
1997, an additional amount equal to 25 percent of the amount
appropriated for such purpose for fiscal year 1996.
SEC. 636. PARKINSON'S RESEARCH.
Part B of title IV (42 U.S.C. 284 et seq.), as amended by
sections 204, 382 and 383, is further amended by adding at
the end the following section:
``parkinson's disease
``Sec. 409E. (a) In General.--The Director of NIH shall
establish a program for the conduct and support of research
and training with respect to Parkinson's disease.
``(b) Inter-institute Coordination.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall provide for
the coordination of the program established under subsection
(a) among all of the national research institutes conducting
Parkinson's research.
``(2) Conference.--Coordination under paragraph (1) shall
include the convening of a research planning conference not
less frequently than once every 2 years. Each such conference
shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Appropriations
and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on
Commerce of the House of Representatives a report concerning
the conference.
``(c) Morris K. Udall Research Centers.--
``(1) In general.--The Director of NIH shall award Core
Center Grants to encourage the development of innovative
multidisciplinary research and provide training concerning
Parkinson's. The Director shall award not more than 10 Core
Center Grants and designate each center funded under such
grants as a Morris K. Udall Center for Research on
Parkinson's Disease.
``(2) Requirements.--
``(A) In general.--With respect to Parkinson's, each center
assisted under this subsection shall--
``(i) use the facilities of a single institution or a
consortium of cooperating institutions, and meet such
qualifications as may be prescribed by the Director of the
NIH; and
``(ii) conduct basic and clinical research.
``(B) Discretionary requirements.--With respect to
Parkinson's, each center assisted under this subsection may--
``(i) conduct training programs for scientists and health
professionals;
``(ii) conduct programs to provide information and
continuing education to health professionals;
``(iii) conduct programs for the dissemination of
information to the public;
``(iv) develop and maintain, where appropriate, a brain
bank to collect specimens related to the research and
treatment of Parkinson's;
``(v) separately or in collaboration with other centers,
establish a nationwide data system derived from patient
populations with Parkinson's, and where possible, comparing
relevant data involving general populations;
``(vi) separately or in collaboration with other centers,
establish a Parkinson's Disease Information Clearinghouse to
facilitate and enhance knowledge and understanding of
Parkinson's disease; and
``(vii) separately or in collaboration with other centers,
establish a national education program that fosters a
national focus on Parkinson's and the care of those with
Parkinson's.
``(3) Stipends regarding training programs.--A center may
use funds provided under paragraph (1) to provide stipends
for scientists and health professionals enrolled in training
programs under paragraph (2)(B).
``(4) Duration of support.--Support of a center under this
subsection may be for a period not exceeding five years. Such
period may be extended by the Director of NIH for one or more
additional periods of not more than five years if the
operations of such center have been reviewed by an
appropriate technical and scientific peer review group
established by the Director and if such group has recommended
to the Director that such period should be extended.
``(d) Morris K. Udall Awards for Innovation in Parkinson's
Disease Research.--The Director of NIH shall establish a
grant program to support innovative proposals leading to
significant breakthroughs in Parkinson's research. Grants
under this subsection shall be available to support
outstanding neuroscientists and clinicians who bring
innovative ideas to bear on the understanding of the
pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of
carrying out this section, there are authorized to be
appropriated $80,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 and
1999.''.
Subtitle E--Repeals and Conforming Amendments
SEC. 641. REPEALS AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Renaming of Division of Research Resources.--Section
403(5) (42 U.S.C. 283(5)) is amended by striking ``Division
of Research Resources'' and inserting ``National Center for
Research Resources''.
(b) Renaming of National Center for Nursing Research.--
[[Page S11397]]
(1) Section 403(5) (42 U.S.C. 283(5)) is amended by
striking ``National Center for Nursing Research'' and
inserting ``National Institute of Nursing Research''.
(2) Section 408(a)(2) (42 U.S.C. 284c(a)(2)) is amended by
striking ``National Center for Nursing Research'' and
inserting ``National Institute of Nursing Research''.
(c) Renaming of Chief Medical Director for Veterans
Affairs.--
(1) Section 406 (42 U.S.C. 284a) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking ``Chief Medical
Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Chief
Dental Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs'' and
inserting ``Under Secretary for Health of the Department of
Veterans Affairs''; and
(B) in subsection (h)(2)(A)(v) by striking ``Chief Medical
Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs,'' and
inserting ``Under Secretary for Health of the Department of
Veterans Affairs''.
(2) Section 424(c)(3)(B)(x) (42 U.S.C. 285b-7(c)(3)(B)(x))
is amended by striking ``Chief Medical Director of the
Veterans' Administration'' and inserting ``Under Secretary
for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs''.
(3) Section 429(b) (42 U.S.C. 285c-3(b)) is amended by
striking ``Chief Medical Director of the Veterans'
Administration'' and inserting ``Under Secretary for Health
of the Department of Veterans Affairs''.
(4) Section 430(b)(2)(A)(i) (42 U.S.C. 285c-4(b)(2)(A)(i))
is amended by striking ``Chief Medical Director of the
Department of Veterans Affairs'' and inserting ``Under
Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs''.
(5) Section 439(b) (42 U.S.C. 285d-4(b)) is amended by
striking ``Chief Medical Director of the Department of
Veterans Affairs'' and inserting ``Under Secretary for Health
of the Department of Veterans Affairs''.
(6) Section 452(f)(3)(B)[(ix)](xi) (42 U.S.C. 285g-
4(f)(3)(B)[(ix)](xi)) is amended by striking ``Chief Medical
Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs'' and
inserting ``Under Secretary for Health of the Department of
Veterans Affairs''.
(7) Section 466(a)(1)(B) (42 U.S.C. 286a(a)(1)(B)) is
amended by striking ``Chief Medical Director of the
Department of Veterans Affairs'' and inserting ``Under
Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs''.
(8) Section 480(b)(2)(A) (42 U.S.C. 287a(b)(2)(A)) is
amended by striking ``Chief Medical Director of the
Department of Veterans Affairs'' and inserting ``Under
Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs''.
(b) Advisory Councils.--Section 406(h) (42 U.S.C. 284a(h))
is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (1); and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``(2)(A) The'' and inserting ``(1) The'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as paragraph (2); and
(C) by redesignating clauses (i) through (vi) of paragraph
(1) (as so redesignated) as subparagraphs (A) through (F),
respectively.
(c) Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders Advisory
Boards.--Section 430 (42 U.S.C. 285c-4) is repealed.
(d) National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases Advisory Board.--Section 442 (42 U.S.C. 285d-7) is
repealed.
(e) Research Centers Regarding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.--
Subpart 6 of part C of title IV (42 U.S.C. 285f et seq.) is
amended by redesignating the second section 447 (42 U.S.C.
285f-1) as section 447A.
(f) National Institute on Deafness Advisory Board.--Section
464D (42 U.S.C. 285m-4) is repealed.
(g) Biomedical and Behavioral Research Personnel Study.--
Section 489 (42 U.S.C. 288b) is amended--
(1) by striking subsections (b); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (b).
(h) National Commission on Alcoholism and Other Alcohol-
Related Problems.--Section 18 of the Comprehensive Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and
Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1979 (42 U.S.C. 4541 note)
is repealed.
(i) Advisory Council on Hazardous Substances Research and
Training.--Section 311(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C.
9660(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (5); and
(2) in the last sentence of paragraph (6), by striking
``the relevant Federal agencies referred to in subparagraph
(A) of paragraph (5)'' and inserting ``relevant Federal
agencies''.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee
amendments be agreed to en bloc.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee amendments were agreed to.
Amendment No. 5404
(Purpose: To provide for a substitute amendment)
Mr. LOTT. Senator Kassebaum has a substitute amendment at the desk. I
ask for its consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Lott], for Mrs.
Kassebaum, proposes an amendment numbered 5404.
Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be considered as
read.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under
``Amendments Submitted.'')
Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, I am extremely pleased that the Senate
is considering the National Institutes of Health [NIH].
All Americans can take great pride in the exceptional contributions
that the NIH has made. It has compiled an astonishing record of
biomedical research advances which have transformed all of our lives.
Vaccines against conditions which once crippled and killed are now
routine, and drugs hailed as miracles at their inception are as well
known as aspirin.
The NIH has spawned and nurtured a level of scientific creativity
which truly seems to have no bounds. Past successes against seemingly
insurmountable odds have inspired confidence and offered hope to those
who have nowhere else to turn. The legislation we are considering today
will help support and improve these critical efforts.
In addition to reauthorizing the important work of the two largest
institutes--the National Cancer Institute and the National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute--this bill attempts to strengthen the ability of
the NIH to respond to emerging issues in the biomedical research arena
and in the larger health care environment in which it operates.
Certainly, one of the biggest future frontiers is that of the human
genetic code. Among the recent discoveries is the BRCA-1 gene, a
genetic marker for a form of breast cancer. In recognition of the
significance of this area of inquiry, the bill authorizes the creation
of the National Human Genome Research Institute. The elevation of the
National Center for Genome Research to institute status will serve to
better focus NIH resources for this important work.
The bill also recognizes a need to invest in the education and
training of the next generation of clinical researchers--those
biomedical scientists who perform research that directly involves
patients. It provides for greater support for expert training of young
biomedical scientists who have elected the difficult, and frequently
less well-compensated, careers in scientific inquiry.
In addition, the bill makes substantial efforts to reduce excess and
often duplicative infrastructure that has grown up over time in the
NIH. It streamlines operations through steps such as eliminating
redundant committees and reports. Every dollar saved from unnecessary
administrative burdens is another dollar freed up for support of
biomedical research.
By the very nature of ever-expanding new knowledge, it seems there is
no end to the pressure on the limited resources for biomedical research
support. Accordingly, the bill establishes a framework under which
additional sources of funding could be tapped by creating a biomedical
research trust fund within the Treasury. This trust fund is a small,
but important, first step.
Academic health centers in the 21st century will be posed with an
unprecedented challenge: how to maintain their research mission in the
face of a fundamentally changed health care system. These changes are
the consequence of dramatic market shifts that are taking place in
health care in this country. Cost-competition has made it particularly
difficult for the continuation of many of these important institutions
that frequently care for the sickest as well as the poorest citizens of
our communities.
Although additional action may be required as ongoing studies offer a
better understanding of the ramifications of these changes, this bill
offers support for the 75 general clinical research centers that exist
in academic medical centers throughout the country.
Finally, this measure includes a significant initiative in the area
of Parkinson's disease research. Based on separate legislation with
broad bipartisan support in both the Senate and House, this initiative
is designed to expand and improve Parkinson's research efforts. It
establishes up to 20 Morris K.
[[Page S11398]]
Udall Centers for Research on Parkinson's disease and provides for
awards to neuroscientists and clinicians to support innovative
research.
This legislation offers hope to individuals with Parkinson's and
their families, who have worked long and hard to assure that greater
attention and emphasis is placed on pursuing promising research leads.
In fact, Mr. President, reauthorization of the important work of the
National Institutes of Health offers hope to us all. Moreover, it
reaffirms our commitment to approach the future frontiers of science
with the same enthusiasm and dedication which has characterized our
past. I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of the National
Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1996.
Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I am pleased to see that the Senate will
pass a bill today, S. 1879, that reauthorizes funding for the National
Institutes of Health [NIH]. The NIH is one of the few Federal
Government agencies that truly receives bipartisan support as it works
to respond to the challenges posed by the medical mysteries of our
times. I share the overwhelming support for the work generally being
done at, and funded by, the NIH with my constituents in New Hampshire
who have contacted me about this legislation.
The NIH is composed of 24 separate Institutes that conduct basic
biomedical research; our investment in the NIH represents over one-
third of the total nondefense research and development funding in the
Federal Government. Institutes like the National Center for Human
Genome Research, which has recently received a tremendous amount of
attention for its undertaking of mapping and sequencing human genes to
find the genetic bases for disease, continue to change the way we look
at science.
I think that we have to be aware, however, that each time the science
improves, a number of the factors come into play: How to update the
standard of ethics; how to manage the flow of information; how to
ensure that coordination is being optimized between Centers and
Institutes internally at the NIH; how to encourage public/private
partnership in the funding of these developments; and how to best
prioritize the Federal funding in relation to the pursuit of such
critical medical discoveries. Mr. President, I am not certain that, in
our role as the overseers of this important Federal agency, we have
been as attentive as we need to be to these issue in the
reauthorization process; and that is why I am especially pleased that
the decision was make to make this a 1-year reauthorization. I believe
we need to revisit a number of important items on the NIH agenda next
session, and I look forward to being involved in those efforts.
For example, the last NIH reauthorization included authority for a
foundation which NIH can use to raise funds. Its purposes was to
increase coordination with universities and the private sector and make
it possible to solicit funds for special projects. I remain uncertain
that the foundation is being utilized. It is time to recognize that
Federal dollars must function as a means to an end--the appropriations
we are able to provide to the NIH will never be enough. But before we
begin to craft new schemes to raise additional funds for the NIH, we
need to be sure that the mechanisms we have already put in place are
functioning as intended. Therefore, I believe the NIH must use their
authority to appropriately levy additional funds, to maximize their
available resources. In this way, a dedicated effort can be made to
increase the awareness of, involvement in, and contributions to our
premiere biomedical research facility, rather than continue to rely on
the limited taxpayer funds were able to appropriate to the Institutes.
In other areas, the NIH receives very high marks. Their support of
both intramural clinical research and extramural research funded
through grants and is conducted outside NIH, at such premiere
facilities as Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire,
demonstrates their understanding of the need to utilize every resource
we have in fighting the diseases which face Americans. I applaud the
NIH's efforts to ensure that funding is provided to scientists
conducting research beyond the NIH campus. Too often we see Federal
agencies adopt the attitude that they have a lock on the science they
practice; I believe our Government science administrators need to adopt
the attitude of openness and the spirit of cooperation demonstrated at
NIH toward their colleagues in academia and the private sector.
I am pleased to note that we have included a provision that has long
been championed by Senator Hatfield, who has demonstrated a devoted
dedication to supporting the research and vision of the NIH. It is a
program designed to ensure that young people are encouraged to enter
the field of basic clinical research by providing needed financial
assistance. It is the students of science who represent our hope for
the future, and I am hopeful that this program will provide them the
necessary support to take on a career in this critical field.
So I am pleased to offer my support for this legislation today,
realizing that several outstanding issues remain before us in relation
to this reauthorization. I am hopeful, Mr. President, that when we
return in 1997, we will turn to this legislation early in the opening
days of the 105th Congress, and make a bipartisan effort to further
improve this agency that offers so much to so many.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, two mornings ago I spoke with a friend of
mine in North Dakota named Olaf. He is 85 years old. He was to have
open heart surgery that morning to repair a leaky heart valve.
I mention this because I want to talk just for a moment today about
the reauthorization of the National Institutes of Health, which the
Senate has just unanimously approved, and I was thinking about Olaf.
When he underwent open heart surgery not too many hours ago at age 85,
I thought it was kind of an unusual thing, to have open heart surgery
at age 85. I asked some doctors about it, and they said this is not so
unusual anymore.
This reminds me of the breathtaking advances that we have seen in
medicine in recent years, many of which come as a result of the
dedicated research of the National Institutes of Health and researchers
from all around the country and the world who work on NIH-supported
projects.
There is a wonderful exhibit at the National Institutes of Health
that I encourage all those who visit Washington, DC, to go see. It is
an exhibit called, ``The Healing Garden.'' The healing garden is a
little garden exhibit showing the plants that researchers are now
discovering have remarkable uses in modern medicine.
A lot of people think of medicine these days as doing some research
to find some chemicals and compounds, putting these chemicals together
in a pill, and giving somebody this pill that represents some sort of
chemical response to an illness or disease. However, much of what we
now are understanding about today's medicine begins with trees and
shrubs and plants.
I just want to talk for a moment about what the healing garden at the
National Institutes of Health demonstrates. The reason I want to do
that is because we talk so often about what is wrong in Government, or
what this agency does that is inappropriate, or what these bureaucrats
do that is somehow improper. Today, I want everyone to know that there
are wonderful researchers down at the National Institutes of Health
doing extraordinary work in the field of medicine.
For instance, researchers at the National Institutes of Health,
working with the Department of Agriculture, have collected more than
60,000 plant samples from all over the world, and preserved and stored
them at National Institutes of Health facilities in Frederick, MD.
These samples are then distributed to researchers for testing. Let me
describe some of the testing.
Researchers have found that a tree that is commonly found in China,
and often known there by the name of ``The Tree of Joy'' or ``The Tree
of Love,'' is a source of a promising compound called CPT that works to
kill cancer cells. Various derivatives of this compound from the Tree
of Love in China are being tested in clinical trials right now at the
National Institutes of Health, involving patients with lung cancer,
ovarian cancer, breast cancer,
[[Page S11399]]
colon cancer, and leukemia. In the future, when these tests are
complete, we may very well call the ``Tree of Joy'' the ``Tree of
Life'' for cancer patients.
A researcher from Brigham Young University has consulted with
traditional healers in Samoa, and other regions of Polynesia, about the
local uses of medicinal plants. During the testing of these plants from
Polynesia here at the National Cancer Institute of the National
Institutes of Health, researchers have found that an extract of wood,
which the healers were using to treat Yellow Fever, has showed
significant promise in fighting the AIDS virus. This potential anti-
AIDS drug is now in preclinical development at the National Cancer
Institute at the NIH.
A plant found in Australia known as the Salt Bush has shown
significant promise in combating AIDS as well. A compound from the Salt
Bush from Australia is now also being studied in preclinical
development.
A NIH researcher recently discovered that an alkaloid from the skin
of an Ecuadorian poison frog may be a potent pain killer, 200 times
more powerful than morphine, and potentially nonaddictive as well.
I could go on and on, but finally, the last example I'll share today:
There is another poison from a frog that they have tested at the NIH
that is so incredibly powerful that the slightest contact with it by a
human being will stop the heart instantly. Researchers wondered then if
this incredibly powerful poison that can stop the human heart instantly
might also have wonderful powers that could be harnessed positively,
and they are now researching that.
If you go to the National Institutes of Health and ask them to tell
you about the healing garden, they will show you the exhibit that
demonstrates that much of what we have now discovered about medicine
involves the use of items living naturally all around us--plants,
shrubs, trees--in ways that some might have known to use them long ago
and that we are now learning how to use again to provide powerful
treatment opportunities for those in our world who are sick.
The reason, again, I wanted to mention this wonderful work being done
at NIH is my friend Olaf, who, as I said when I started, had open heart
surgery recently at age 85. Incidentally, Olaf had the ventilator tubes
removed 2 hours after the surgery and had all of the other tubes
removed by suppertime that evening, and at age 85, he is doing
wonderfully, I am told. He is a part of a health care system that
really does provide close to miracles for many, with divine help, I
might add. But these miracles come with a great deal of help from
researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
When I was at the National Institutes of Health, I also talked to the
researchers in cardiology. The research they are doing in the area of
heart disease is quite remarkable. What they are doing in the areas of
cancer treatment is extraordinary. What they are doing in the search
for AIDS treatments is really quite amazing. Arthritis, diabetes, the
list goes on.
I assume there are some who would call using Government money to pay
for the scientists and the researchers and the doctors, for the
clinical trials and for all of the basic and applied research that goes
on at the National Institutes of Health, spending. I think rather than
call it ``spending'' we ought to call it ``investment.'' The NIH is one
of the most remarkably productive investments our country has made.
At the turn of this century, if you were an American, you were
expected to live to perhaps age 47. The century is about to turn again,
and 100 years later, you can likely expect to live to nearly age 77, a
30-year increase in your lifespan in this century.
There are a lot of reasons for that: people are healthier, they take
better care of themselves, know more about nutrition. There are many
reasons for this significant increase in life expectancy but included
among those reasons are the breathtaking advances in health care.
At the root of those breathtaking advances in medical care is an
investment in something called the National Institutes of Health which
seldom gets the due it deserves here in this Congress. I just wanted to
stand up and say a kind word about some awfully dedicated public
servants all across this country; the doctors and nurses in the private
sector and so many others who participate in these clinical trials, but
especially about the folks here and around the country working for the
NIH who spend their days looking at an abstract plant garnered from a
region in China that might be called the ``Tree of Life,'' discovering
that this tree might contain the secret to curing a cancer. Or
researching a bush called the ``Salt Bush'' from Australia that might
have promise to cure AIDS.
Someone might say in a magazine article some day, ``You know, we pay
people to sit around and investigate ``Salt Bushes.'' Can you imagine
anything more wasteful than that? We are paying people to sit around
and cut up trees and ruminate about whether an obscure tree from China
might be helpful to somebody, can you imagine anything more wasteful
than that?"
I say, this is not wasteful at all. This is a wonderful, remarkable
investment, and I am pleased that the Congress will, once again,
reauthorize the National Institutes of Health for three more years. My
only wish is that it were a longer reauthorization.
Let me also say, I would be willing to support a modest increase in
the Federal tax on cigarettes, for example, if the money raised from
that tax were to go exclusively to boost the funding for more research
at the National Institutes of Health and for more investment in saving
people's lives in this country.
Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity to speak, and I yield
the floor.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, nurturing our biomedical research
infrastructure is one of the most important roles Government can serve,
and that is why S. 1897 is a significant piece of legislation.
I rise to express my support for the bill, and, in particular, to
thank the chairman, Senator Kassebaum, for her cooperation in
addressing the concerns that Senator Faircloth, Senator Harkin, and I
have expressed about the need to bolster the National Institutes of
Health's research efforts on pain management.
Pain is a condition that each of us experiences during our lifetime,
with millions suffering--perhaps needlessly.
After serious study of this issue, I have concluded there is
insufficient knowledge about the causes and treatments of pain, despite
its substantial impact on virtually every American. Inadequate
resources are dedicated to the development and evaluation of pain
treatment modalities, and there is an inadequate transfer of what
knowledge and information we have to health care professionals.
It may surprise many of my colleagues to know that despite the impact
of pain on our society, according to estimates NIH supplied to my
office, the agency spent less than $60 million of its $11 billion
appropriation on pain research last year, a number which, in fact, at
best equal to the previous year's level of $59.5 million. For acute
back pain, a condition which is estimated to affect 85 percent of the
population at one time or another, NIH reports it currently spends only
$2.5 million on research. An additional problem is that pain research
is spread across many of the Institutes, yet there is little
coordination of these research activities to make certain the resources
are used effectively.
In fact, a December 1995 Workshop on Selected Chronic Pain
Conditions: Clinical Spectrum, Frequency and Costs, held by the
National Institutes of Health concluded:
With respct to strategies for promoting research on chronic
pain, the participants noted that the NIH components
separately support pain research, but no organizational unit
integrates or coordinates this research.
They strongly urged that the NIH establish a formal NIH Office of
Pain Research, which would enable the NIH components to argue for pain
research as a priority.
As an aside, I note that this workshop was not initiated at NIH's own
behest, but rather, was held to comply with the 1993 NIH
reauthorization law.
Indeed, there is a recent history of congressional support for
enhancing the NIH's efforts on pain research. In the report accompany
the fiscal year 1997 appropriations for the NIH, Senator Specter was
very helpful by including the following language:
The Committee is pleased that pain research is becoming an
increasing part of the
[[Page S11400]]
NIH research agenda, and remains interested in the level of
its overall growth and the need for better coordination. Pain
is a major public health problem afflecting or disabling
nearly 50 million Americans. The Committee encourages the NIH
to quickly advance interdisciplanary coordination and support
of the complex issues involved in pain research, including
collaboration with chiropractic colleges and schools of
nursing. The Committee is aware of the 1995 NIH-sponsored
workshop on pain research, and requests the Director be
prepared to report on the implrementation of the workshop's
recommendations during the fiscal year 1998 budget hearing.
Earlier this year, Senators Harkin, Faircloth, Bennett, Inouye,
Thurmond, Pressler and I introduced S. 1955, to establish a pain center
at NIH. That legislation forms the basis of the provision included in
S. 1897. The provision that is included in S. 1897 today, however,
differs from our original bill in that it requires NIH to establish a
pain research consortium. The consortium, which will be comprised of
experts in pain management from both the public and private sectors,
will perform the advocacy and coordinating functions outlined in our
original bill.
Specifically, the pain research consortium will: provide a structure
for coordinating pain research activities; facilitate communications
among Federal and State governmental agencies and private sector
organizations concerned with pain; share information concerning pain-
related research; encourage the recruitment and retention of
individuals desiring to conduct pain research; avoid unnecessary
duplication of pain research efforts; and achieve a more efficient use
of Federal and private sector research funds.
The consortium will be composed of representatives from the NIH
Institutes, and practitioners of pain management, including
representatives from each of the following professions: physicians who
practice pain management, psychologists, physical medicine and
rehabilitation service representatives--including physical therapists
and occupational therapists, nurses, dentists, and chiropractors.
Finally, of course, patient advocacy organization representatives will
be an integral part of the consortium.
Mr. President, the Congress needs to go on record in support of a
stronger pain effort at the NIH. Today, we accomplish that goal. I urge
adoption the bill, which now includes the Faircloth/Hatch amendment to
establish a pain research consortium. I yield to my friend from North
Carolina, Senator Faircloth.
Mr. FAIRCLOTH. I thank the distinguished Senator from Utah for
yielding. I commend Senator Hatch and Senator Harkin for their success
in advancing the issue of pain research. I am absolutely convinced of
the merits of S. 1955, and I am committed to moving ahead with the idea
of establishing a formal entity at NIH to coordinate the current
research effort and give greater priority within the overall NIH budget
for research on back pain, cancer-related pain and the other focus
areas addressed in S. 1955.
I also thank Senator Kassebaum for working with us to take an
important step toward reaching our goal of increased emphasis on pain
research. During the mark-up of S. 1897, Senator Kassebaum pledged to
work with me to develop a provision relating to pain research. I
appreciate her efforts and those of her staff in accommodating our
concerns.
With regard to the consortium, I would like to clarify a point raised
by Senator Hatch. It is our intention that the consortium established
pursuant to S. 1897 shall include an equal number of representatives
from each group of pain management practitioners defined under
subparagraph (c)(4) of the section relating to the pain research
consortium.
Finally, it is my sincere hope and intention that during the 105th
Congress we will work again in a bipartisan manner toward establishing
a more permanent entity at NIH for pain research.
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of the National
Institutes of Health Revitalization Act. I support this bill for three
reasons. It puts new emphasis on research into Parkinson's disease, a
terribly debilitating and costly disease. It provides new incentives
for physicians to do clinical research. It streamlines the NIH and
makes it easier for NIH to do its job.
I want to thank Senator Kassebaum and her staff for their hard work
on this bill. NIH is a national treasure. I'm proud that it's located
in Maryland. I'm proud of its dedicated employees. Let's give them the
tools they need to perform their jobs effectively and efficiently.
Let's give hope to the American people that cures to dreaded diseases
and conditions are on the horizon.
This bill honors our dear colleague, former Congressman Morris K.
Udall. Mo was forced to retire from the House because of the disabling
effects of Parkinson's disease. It includes language that has wide
bipartisan support in both Chambers. The bill establishes up to 10
Morris K. Udall Centers for Research on Parkinson's Disease. It also
provides awards to outstanding scientists and clinicians who bring
innovative ideas to bear on Parkinson's research.
Great advances in brain research in the last few years create the
potential for major treatments of this disease, possibly in this
decade--the decade of the brain. Expanded focus on Parkinson's disease
will bring hope to the 50,000 Americans diagnosed with this
debilitating illness each year. And it will cut down on the estimated
$25 billion a year in health-related costs and lost productivity due to
Parkinson's.
The number of physician's entering careers in research is dwindling.
This trend concerns me. Physicians who practice in academic medical
centers face more pressure to bring in clinical revenue. They have less
time to conduct research. I don't like the discouraging picture this
paints for young investigators. Fewer and fewer physicians enter
careers in biomedical research. They simply can't afford it. And as a
nation, we can't afford it. We must provide incentives to our young
people to enter careers in biomedical research.
Clinical research leads to interventions and cures for diseases. It
improves the quality of life for many people. Obstacles to clinical
research slow progress in medicine. Patients are kept waiting longer
for the cure to their disease or condition. This bill helps turn this
around.
Seventy-five General Clinical Research Centers [GCRC's] are
authorized by this bill. I'm proud that three of these are located at
Johns Hopkins. The bill increases investment and incentives for the
education and training of the next generation of clinical researchers.
It establishes new awards programs for clinical investigators and also
recognizes the importance of basic medical research. It helps both
basic and clinical investigators pay for their training by raising the
loan repayment level.
The NIH has enjoyed significant support over the last few decades.
But we all know that the days of unlimited Federal funding are gone.
This bill recognizes that resources are dwindling. It reduces
administrative excess. It repeals duplicative advisory boards and
committees. Instead, it frees up money from these unecessary endeavors
for important research.
Finally, this bill reauthorizes institutes carrying out important
work in so many areas that affect our lives--cancer, heart, and aging
research to name just a few. Let's not miss this important opportunity
to pass this bill today. I urge my colleagues to vote for it.
Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to,
the bill be deemed read a third time and passed, the motion to
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to
the bill be placed at this point in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. DORGAN. Reserving the right to object, and I shall not object, is
this the reauthorization of the NIH?
Mr. LOTT. This is the reauthorization of the National Institutes of
Health.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the majority leader's
request? The Chair hears none, and it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 5404) was agreed to.
The bill (S. 1897), as amended, was deemed read for a third time and
passed, as follows:
[The bill was not available for printing. It will appear in a future
issue of the Record.]
[[Page S11401]]
Mr. LOTT. I do wish to thank all Senators who have been involved in
making this agreement possible--Senator Kassebaum, Senator Hatch. There
has been cooperation on the Democratic side of the aisle. We appreciate
it. It is the right thing to do. I am glad it has been accomplished.
I thank the Senator for yielding.
____________________