[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7177-H7178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH CONSORTIA ESTABLISHMENT ACT
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 758) to amend title IV of the Public Health Service Act to
provide for the establishment of pediatric research consortia, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 758
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 ``Pediatric Research Consortia
Establishment Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL PEDIATRIC RESEARCH CONSORTIA.
Subpart 7 of part C of title IV of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285g et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 452H. NATIONAL PEDIATRIC RESEARCH CONSORTIA.
``(a) In General.--The Director of NIH, acting through the
Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of
Child Health and Human Development and in collaboration with
all other Institutes of the National Institutes of Health
that support pediatric research, may, subject to the
availability of funds, award grants, contracts, or
cooperative agreements to public or nonprofit private
entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning,
establishing, and providing basic operating support for up to
20 national pediatric research consortia. The Director of NIH
shall take unmet research needs into account when making
awards under this section.
``(b) Research.--Research conducted under this section
shall supplement, but not replace, research that is otherwise
conducted or supported as part of the comprehensive pediatric
research portfolio of entities receiving awards under
subsection (a). Consortia established under subsection (a)
shall, in the aggregate, conduct basic, clinical, behavioral,
social, or translational research to meet unmet research
needs, as well as training in and demonstration of advanced
diagnostic and treatment methods relating to pediatrics, as
appropriate.
``(c) Coordination of Consortia Reports.--The Director of
NIH shall--
``(1) as appropriate, provide for the coordination of
information among consortia established under subsection (a)
and ensure regular communication between such consortia; and
``(2) require the periodic preparation of reports on the
activities of the consortia and the submission of the reports
to the Director.
``(d) Organization of Consortium.--Each consortium
established under subsection (a) shall be formed from a
collaboration of cooperating institutions with a lead
institution, meeting such requirements as may be prescribed
by the Director of NIH, including participation in a network
of such consortia.
``(e) Limitation.--Payments under subsection (a) shall not
exceed $2,500,000 per year for each consortium in the first
5-year cycle.
``(f) Duration of Payments.--Payments under subsection (a)
for a consortium may be provided under this section for a
period of 5 years and may be extended for additional periods
of 5 years each, with enhanced funding opportunities based on
a review of the operations by an appropriate scientific
review.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 758, the Pediatric Research
Consortia Establishment Act. The goal of H.R. 758 is to enhance the
Nation's research program into pediatric conditions by creating a
strong research infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to support this
bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 758, the Pediatric Research Consortia
Establishment Act, would allow the National Institutes of Health to
support up to 20 national pediatric research consortia that would
conduct vital pediatric research. Specifically, the Pediatric Research
Consortia Establishment Act would allow but not require the National
Institutes of Health award grants to public or nonprofit private
entities to pay for the cost of planning, establishing, and providing a
basic operating support for up to 20 national pediatric research
consortia. These consortia would conduct basic clinical, behavioral,
social, and translational research. They could also provide training on
advanced diagnostic and treatment methods relating to pediatrics. The
consortia will foster efficiency and collaboration at all levels of
pediatric research, and they will provide patients with greater access
to vital research.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill and yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 758, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
[[Page H7178]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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