[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION 
                           AMENDMENTS OF 2001

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the 
consideration of Calendar No. 208, H.R. 717.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 717) to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
     provide for research with respect to various forms of 
     muscular dystrophy, including Duchenne, Becker, limb girdle, 
     congenital, facioscapulohumeral, myotonic, oculopharyngeal, 
     distal, and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophies.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill 
(H.R. 717) which had been reported from the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions with an amendment, as follows:

       On page 16, after line 21, insert the following:

     SEC. 7. STUDY ON THE USE OF CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AT THE 
                   NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.

       (a) Review.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
     Services shall enter into a contract with the Institute of 
     Medicine for the purpose of conducting a study and making 
     recommendations on the impact of, need for, and other issues 
     associated with Centers of Excellence at the National 
     Institutes of Health.
       (b) Areas of Review.--In conducting the study under 
     subsection (a), the Institute of Medicine shall at a minimum 
     consider the following:
       (1) The current areas of research incorporating Centers of 
     Excellence (which shall include a description of such areas) 
     and the relationship of this form of funding mechanism to 
     other forms of funding for research grants, including 
     investigator initiated research, contracts and other types of 
     research support awards.
       (2) The distinctive aspects of Centers of Excellence, 
     including the additional knowledge that may be expected to be 
     gained through Centers of Excellence as compared to other 
     forms of grant or contract mechanisms.
       (3) The costs associated with establishing and maintaining 
     Centers of Excellence, and the record of scholarship and 
     training resulting from such Centers. The research and 
     training contributions of Centers should be assessed on their 
     own merits and in comparison with other forms of research 
     support.
       (4) Specific areas of research in which Centers of 
     Excellence may be useful, needed, or underused, as well as 
     areas of research in which Centers of Excellence may not be 
     helpful.
       (5) Criteria that may be applied in determining when 
     Centers of Excellence are an appropriate and cost-effective 
     research investment and conditions that should be present in 
     order to consider the establishment of Centers of Excellence.
       (6) Alternative research models that may accomplish results 
     similar to or greater than Centers of Excellence.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
     the contract is entered into under subsection (a), the 
     Institute of Medicine shall complete the study under such 
     subsection and submit a report to the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services and the appropriate committees of Congress 
     that contains the results of such study.

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the committee amendment be agreed 
to, the bill, as amended, be read three times, passed, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating thereto 
be printed in the Record, with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The bill (H.R. 717), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

                          ____________________