[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 37 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2648-S2649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Bond):
  S. 484. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 
the establishment of a pediatric research initiative; to the Committee 
on Labor and Human Resources.


             THE PEDIATRICS RESEARCH INITIATIVE ACT OF 1997

  Mr. DeWINE.  Mr. President, I introduce legislation that will 
increase our Nation's investment in pediatric research.


                              THE PROBLEM

  Children under the age of 21 represent 30 percent of the population--
and yet, the NIH devotes only somewhere between 5 and 14 percent of its 
budget to their needs.
  Just as there has been a recognition in recent years that women and 
minorities have been neglected in research efforts nationwide, there's 
a growing consensus that children deserve more attention than they are 
getting.


                              THE SOLUTION

  The bill I am introducing today would help us begin to remedy this 
lack of research into children's health. This legislation would create 
a Pediatric Research Initiative within the Office of the Director of 
NIH to encourage, coordinate, support, develop, and recognize pediatric 
research. The bill would authorize $75 million over the next 3 years 
for this initiative. Last year, we received a $5 million downpayment in 
the appropriations process, and we look forward to working with the 
appropriators to continue on the path toward the necessary level of 
funding.

[[Page S2649]]

  This is a crucial investment in our country's future--and one that 
will produce a great return. If we focus on making our children 
healthy, we'll set the stage for a healthy citizenry 60 to 70 years 
into the future.
  This initiative will also promote greater coordination in children's 
health research. Today, there are some 20 Institutes and Centers and 
Offices within NIH that do something in the way of pediatrics. In my 
view, we need to bring some level of coordination and focus on these 
efforts.
  In developing this initiative, I have made sure that it gives the 
Director of NIH as much discretion as possible. The money has to be 
spent on outside research, so that the dollars flow out to the private 
sector--but it can go toward basic research or clinical research, at 
the discretion of the Director.
  This bill does not create a new Office, Center, or Institute. It 
proposes spending for research, not infrastructure.
  This initiative has the support of the pediatric research community 
in children's hospitals and university pediatric departments all over 
the country. It has been endorsed by the National Association of 
Children's Hospitals, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the 
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairmen, the 
American Pediatric Society, Children's Hospitals and University Medical 
Centers, the Juvenile Diabetes Association, Advocates for Children With 
Special Conditions, Pediatric Academy Societies, Association of Ohio 
Children's Hospitals, Children's Hospital Affiliates of the Missouri 
Hospital Association, Children's Hospital Association of Texas, 
Federation of Children's With Special Health Care Needs, and Family 
Voices.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of Senator 
DeWine's effort to establish a pediatric research initiative within the 
Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health [NIH].
  To achieve real progress in improving the health of our Nation's most 
vulnerable and valuable resource--our children--we must strengthen 
public investments in pediatric research; enhance Federal coordination 
among the NIH Institutes to ensure quality multi-disciplinary research 
in areas of scientific progress; develop new incentives for investment 
in pediatric clinical trials; support new ways to treat children with 
special conditions; and develop information to promote safer and more 
effective use of prescription drugs for children.
  The opportunity for scientific progress in combating and preventing 
illnesses and diseases affecting children has never been greater. To 
assist the NIH in strengthening its pediatric research efforts, I, 
along with other members of the Labor, HHS, and Education 
Appropriations Subcommittee, successfully secured $5 million for the 
NIH Office of the Director to begin this new pediatric research 
initiative last year.
  Senator DeWine's legislation builds upon that down payment, and I 
look forward to working with other Members of the Senate in ensuring 
passage of this effort.
  Although health care spending for children is only a fraction of 
total health care spending, we must not turn our backs on the health 
care needs of our children. Pediatric research offers potential savings 
in health care costs as well as substantial benefits to the well-being 
of children for a lifetime. Moreover, pediatric research contributes to 
new insights and discoveries in preventing and treating illnesses and 
diseases among our country's adult population.
  Let me close by saying that this bill complements legislation I 
introduced last week which will provide surveillance, research, and 
services aimed at the prevention of birth defects, the No. 1 killer of 
babies. We currently know the causes of about 30 percent of all birth 
defects. With the enactment of a pediatric research initiative and the 
Birth Defects Prevention Act of 1997, we will shed new light on the 
causes of birth defects as well as numerous other diseases, illnesses, 
and other health factors afflicting our Nation's children.
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