[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 102 (Thursday, July 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7716-S7717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself and Mr. Wellstone):
  S. 1030. A bill to amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to 
establish a National Center for Bioengineering Research; to the 
Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


      The National Center for Bioengineering Research Act of 1997

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the National 
Center for Bioengineering Research Act of 1997. Bioengineering is where 
medical need and technical capability meet to increase our capacity to 
diagnose and treat disease; to enhance the quality of life of millions 
of people with chronic conditions; to save millions of dollars in 
health care costs; and to generate billions of dollars for our economy. 
Medical devices alone is a $40 billion-a-year industry.
  Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies physical, 
chemical, and mathematical sciences and engineering principles to the 
study of biology, medicine, behavior, and health. It advances knowledge 
from the molecular to the organ systems level, and develops new and 
novel biologics, materials, processes, implant, devices, and 
informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of 
disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health.
  Although the term ``bioengineering'' may not be commonplace, many of 
the major medical advances from bioengineering are very familiar, 
including the heart-lung machine, kidney dialysis, total hip joint 
replacements, heart pacemakers, artificial hearts, prosthetics, and 
diagnostic medical imaging. Other advances are right around the corner, 
including implantable insulin pumps with biosensors that detect exactly 
when and how much insulin is needed; and regeneration of tissue, 
cartilage, and even organs, instead of transplantation--which brings 
with it the risk of rejection, major trauma to the patient, and one of 
the highest costs in our entire health care system. As a heart-lung 
transplant surgeon, I know first hand about the life-saving 
contributions made by all of these bioengineering developments. We need 
as many new achievements like this as we can produce.
  In spite of such spectacular achievements, however, the field of 
bioengineering suffers from fragmentation and a lack of coordination 
that could impede and delay future advances in the field. This 
fragmentation was recognized as early as 1967, when an international 
conference called for better coordination in bioengineering research.
  In 1995, at the request of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human 
Resources, the NIH submitted a report, ``Support for Bioengineering 
Research.'' This report was remarkably consistent with a number of 
previous studies over the last 30 years that stressed the need for: a 
centralized focus for extramural bioengineering research at NIH; a 
strong intramural bioengineering program at NIH; and increased 
coordination of bioengineering activities within NIH and among other 
Federal agencies.
  This legislation seeks to implement those recommendations and is 
designed to enhance the state of and improve the coordination of 
bioengineering research conducted within NIH and throughout the Federal 
Government. This bill calls for the establishment of a National Center 
for Bioengineering Research within the National Heart, Lung and Blood 
Institute at NIH. The mission of the Center is to:
       First, enhance the state of bioengineering research within 
     NIH;
       Second, promote collaborative research projects among NIH 
     institutes and across Federal agencies;
       Third, enhance communication among bioengineering 
     investigators within Federal agencies and with private sector 
     entities; and
       Fourth, educate the Congress and the public on the critical 
     importance of bioengineering to both the health and the 
     economy of the Nation.
  This legislation does not create a new institute within NIH. The 
Center would have no grantmaking authority. New funding would be 
allocated to institutes to support basic research projects in 
bioengineering through the standard peer review process.
  This legislation is introduced today as a stand-alone bill. But I 
expect it to

[[Page S7717]]

be included in the reauthorization bill for the National Institutes of 
Health which, as Chair of the Public Health and Safety Subcommittee of 
the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, I intend to move forward 
during the first session of the 105th Congress.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill and summary be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1030

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Center for 
     Bioengineering Research Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field that 
     applies physical, chemical, and mathematical sciences and 
     engineering principles to the study of biology, medicine, 
     behavior, and health. It advances knowledge from the 
     molecular to the organ systems level, and develops new and 
     novel biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices, and 
     informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and 
     treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for 
     improving health.
       (2) Efforts to reduce Federal budget deficits require that 
     resources be managed in ways to maximize productivity.
       (3) As part of the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, Congress 
     asked for a report on the state of bioengineering research at 
     the National Institutes of Health.
       (4) In 1994, as requested by the Congress, an External 
     Consultants Committee submitted a report to the Director of 
     the National Institutes of Health on support for 
     bioengineering research.
       (5) In 1995, the Director of the National Institutes of 
     Health submitted a report to Congress on Support for 
     Bioengineering Research, that included recommendations for 
     greater coordination of bioengineering research.
       (6) In 1996, an amendment to the National Institutes of 
     Health Revitalization Act of 1996 directed the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the 
     National Institutes of Health, to ``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 to Congress in August 1995 in compliance 
     with Public Law 103-43, the National Institutes of Health 
     (NIH) Revitalization Act of 1993, Section 1912''. This 
     legislation passed the Senate but was not acted upon by the 
     House.
       (7) In the spring of 1997, the National Institutes of 
     Health established the Bioengineering Consortium, with 
     representation from each of the institutes, to advance 
     bioengineering and its mission within the National Institutes 
     of Health.
       (8) Legislation is needed to support and further the 
     efforts already begun by the National Institutes of Health in 
     order to maximize the health benefits for the American 
     people.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOENGINEERING 
                   RESEARCH.

       (a) In General.--Subpart 2 of part C of title IV of the 
     Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285 et seq.) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 425A. NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOENGINEERING RESEARCH.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the National Heart, 
     Lung, and Blood Institute shall establish, within the 
     National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a National Center 
     for Bioengineering Research (in this section referred to as 
     the `Center'). The Center shall be headed by a director, who 
     shall be appointed by the Director of the National Heart, 
     Lung, and Blood Institute.
       ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Center is to--
       ``(1) promote basic research in bioengineering; and
       ``(2) establish an office to enhance the state of and 
     improve coordination of bioengineering research conducted 
     within the National Institutes of Health and throughout the 
     Federal Government.
       ``(c) Duties.--The Center shall--
       ``(1) enhance bioengineering research at the National 
     Institutes of Health by--
       ``(A) increasing the proportion of National Institutes of 
     Health funds that are devoted to basic rather than applied 
     bioengineering research;
       ``(B) improving the review of bioengineering grant 
     applications; and
       ``(C) increasing intramural research in bioengineering;
       ``(2) convene a conference of bioengineering experts 
     representing relevant Federal agencies, academia, and private 
     sector entities to make recommendations to the Director of 
     the Center regarding--
       ``(A) setting the agenda of the Center; and
       ``(B) identifying promising research directions and 
     emerging needs and opportunities in bioengineering research;
       ``(3) promote joint funding of collaborative bioengineering 
     research projects conducted by the national research 
     institutes and other agencies of the National Institutes of 
     Health or conducted by any such institute and another Federal 
     entity;
       ``(4) enhance communication among bioengineering 
     investigators within Federal agencies and with private sector 
     entities;
       ``(5) educate members of Congress and the public on the 
     critical importance of bioengineering in enhancing the 
     diagnosis and treatment of disease and strengthening the 
     economy;
       ``(6) annually convene a group of bioengineering experts 
     from Federal agencies and private sector entities to advise 
     the Director of the Center; and
       ``(7) prepare and submit to Congress, through the Director 
     of the National Institutes of Health, an annual report.
       ``(d) Limitation.--The Center may not use amounts provided 
     under this section to award grants.
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) For the center.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated $750,000 for each fiscal year for the general 
     operation of the Center.
       ``(2) For general bioengineering activities.--There is 
     authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 1998 through 2007, to be allocated at the 
     discretion of the Director of NIH among the bioengineering 
     activities being carried out by the national research 
     institutes and other agencies of the National Institutes of 
     Health.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 401(b)(2) of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281(b)(2)) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(F) The National Center for Bioengineering Research.''.

        NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOENGINEERING RESEARCH ACT OF 1997


                               Definition

       Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies 
     physical, chemical, and mathematical sciences and engineering 
     principles to the study of biology, medicine, behavior, and 
     health. It advances knowledge from the molecular to the organ 
     systems level, and develops new and novel biologics, 
     materials, processes, implants, devices, and informatics 
     approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of 
     disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving 
     health.


                               Background

       As part of the 1993 reauthorization of NIH, Congress asked 
     for a report on the state of bioengineering research at NIH. 
     In 1994, an interim report from an External Consultants 
     Committee was submitted to the Director of NIH, who submitted 
     a report to Congress in August, 1995 that included 
     recommendations for greater coordination of bioengineering 
     research. In spring 1997 NIH established a Bioengineering 
     Consortium, with representation from each of the institutes, 
     to advance bioengineering and its mission within NIH. This 
     legislation seeks to support and further the efforts already 
     begun by NIH in order to maximize the health benefits for the 
     American people.


                             Impact of Bill

       Bill would create National Center for Bioengineering 
     Research, located within the National Heart, Lung and Blood 
     Institute. Mission of the Center is to enhance bioengineering 
     research within NIH; improve coordination and communication 
     across all Federal agencies; educate members of Congress and 
     the public on importance of bioengineering in enhancing 
     diagnosis and treatment of disease and strengthening the 
     economy; annually convene bioengineering experts to advise 
     Director of the Center; and submit an annual report to 
     Congress.
       Center would have no grant-making authority. New funding 
     would be allocated to institutes to support basic research in 
     bioengineering.
                                 ______