[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7196-H7197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARTHRITIS PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND CURE ACT OF 2010
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1210) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for
arthritis research and public health, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1210
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 ``Arthritis Prevention,
Control, and Cure Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. ENHANCING PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIVITIES RELATED TO
ARTHRITIS THROUGH THE NATIONAL ARTHRITIS ACTION
PLAN.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 314
the following:
``SEC. 315. NATIONAL ARTHRITIS ACTION PLAN.
``(a) Establishment of Plan.--The Secretary may develop and
implement a National Arthritis Action Plan (in this section
referred to as the `Plan') consistent with this section.
``(b) Control, Prevention, and Surveillance.--
``(1) In general.--Under the Plan, the Secretary may,
directly or through competitive grants to eligible entities,
conduct, support, and promote the coordination of research,
investigations, demonstrations, training, and studies
relating to the control, prevention, and surveillance of
arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
``(2) Training and technical assistance.--
``(A) Provision.--Upon the request of an applicant
receiving a grant under paragraph (1), the Secretary may,
subject to subparagraph (B), provide training, technical
assistance, supplies, equipment, or services for the purpose
of aiding the applicant in carrying out grant activities and,
for such purpose, may detail to the applicant any officer or
employee of the Department of Health and Human Services.
``(B) Corresponding reduction in payments.--With respect to
a request described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall
reduce the amount of payments under the grant under paragraph
(1) to the applicant involved by an amount equal to the costs
of detailing personnel (including pay, allowances, and travel
expenses) and the fair market value of any supplies,
equipment, or services provided by the Secretary.
``(3) Arthritis prevention research at the centers for
disease control and prevention.--The Secretary may provide
additional grant support under this subsection to encourage
the expansion of research related to the prevention and
management of arthritis at the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
``(4) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection,
the term `eligible entity' means a public or private
nonprofit entity that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
Secretary, in the application described in subsection (e),
the ability of the entity to carry out the activities
described in paragraph (1).
``(c) Education and Outreach.--
``(1) In general.--Under the Plan, the Secretary may
coordinate and carry out national education and outreach
activities, directly or through the provision of grants to
eligible entities, to support, develop, and implement
education initiatives and outreach strategies appropriate for
arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
``(2) Initiatives and strategies.--Initiatives and
strategies implemented under paragraph (1) may include public
awareness campaigns, public service announcements, and
community partnership workshops, as well as programs targeted
to businesses and employers, managed care organizations, and
health care providers.
``(3) Priority.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Secretary--
``(A) may emphasize prevention, early diagnosis, and
appropriate management of arthritis, and opportunities for
effective patient self-management; and
``(B) may give priority to reaching high-risk or
underserved populations.
``(4) Collaboration.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall consult and collaborate with stakeholders
from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors with
expertise relating to arthritis control, prevention, and
treatment.
``(5) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection,
the term `eligible entity' means a public or private
nonprofit entity that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
Secretary, in
[[Page H7197]]
the application described in subsection (e), the ability of
the entity to carry out the activities described in paragraph
(1).
``(d) Comprehensive State Grants.--
``(1) In general.--Under the Plan, the Secretary may award
grants to eligible entities to provide support for
comprehensive arthritis control and prevention programs and
to enable such entities to provide public health
surveillance, prevention, and control activities related to
arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
``(2) Application.--The Secretary may only award a grant
under this subsection to an eligible entity that submits to
the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner,
and containing such agreements, assurances, and information
as the Secretary may require, including a comprehensive
arthritis control and prevention plan that--
``(A) is developed with the advice of stakeholders from the
public, private, and nonprofit sectors that have expertise
relating to arthritis control, prevention, and treatment that
increase the quality of life and decrease the level of
disability;
``(B) is intended to reduce the morbidity of arthritis,
with priority on preventing and controlling arthritis in at-
risk populations and reducing disparities in arthritis
prevention, diagnosis, management, and quality of care in
underserved populations;
``(C) describes the arthritis-related services and
activities to be undertaken or supported by the entity; and
``(D) demonstrates the relationship the entity has with the
community and local entities and how the entity plans to
involve such community and local entities in carrying out the
activities described in paragraph (1).
``(3) Use of funds.--An eligible entity may use amounts
received under a grant awarded under this subsection to
conduct, in a manner consistent with the comprehensive
arthritis control and prevention plan submitted by the entity
in the application under paragraph (2)--
``(A) public health surveillance and epidemiological
activities relating to the prevalence of arthritis and
assessment of disparities in arthritis prevention, diagnosis,
management, and care;
``(B) public information and education programs; and
``(C) education, training, and clinical skills improvement
activities for health professionals, including allied health
personnel.
``(4) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection,
the term `eligible entity' means a State or an Indian tribe.
``(e) General Application.--The Secretary may only award a
grant under subsection (b) or (c) to an entity that submits
to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner,
and containing such agreements, assurances, and information
as the Secretary may require, including a description of how
funds received under a grant awarded under such subsection
will supplement or fulfill unmet needs identified in a
comprehensive arthritis control and prevention plan of the
entity.
``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
``(1) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the
meaning given such term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act.
``(2) State.--The term `State' means any of the 50 States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern
Mariana Islands.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) for fiscal year 2012, $14,600,000;
``(2) for fiscal year 2013, $16,000,000;
``(3) for fiscal year 2014, $17,700,000;
``(4) for fiscal year 2015, $19,400,000; and
``(5) for fiscal year 2016, $21,400,000.''.
SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO JUVENILE ARTHRITIS AND
RELATED CONDITIONS.
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 284 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 409K. JUVENILE ARTHRITIS AND RELATED CONDITIONS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
Director of NIH, may expand and intensify programs of the
National Institutes of Health with respect to research and
related activities designed to improve the outcomes and
quality of life for children with arthritis and other
rheumatic diseases.
``(b) Coordination.--The Director of NIH may coordinate the
programs referred to in subsection (a) and consult with
additional Federal officials, voluntary health associations,
medical professional societies, and private entities, as
appropriate.''.
SEC. 4. INVESTMENT IN TOMORROW'S PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGISTS.
Subpart I of part C of title VII of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 293k et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 749A-1. PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGISTS.
``In order to ensure an adequate future supply of pediatric
rheumatologists, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services
Administration, may award institutional training grants to
institutions to support pediatric rheumatology training.''.
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 within 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 this evening in strong support of H.R. 1210, the Arthritis
Prevention, Control, and Cure Act of 2010.
This bill provides for enhanced arthritis public health efforts at
CDC, enhanced juvenile arthritis research activities at NIH, and new
authorities at the Health Resources and Service Administration to
support training for new pediatric rheumatologists. I urge my
colleagues to support this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 1210 would enhance our Nation's efforts to combat arthritis. I
am a cosponsor of the legislation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an
estimated 46 million Americans have arthritis, though the number is
expected to increase as the country's population ages. The Centers for
Disease Control also estimates that almost 300,000 children have
arthritis.
This bill will help in the fight against arthritis in the following
ways:
First, the bill would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human
Services to establish a national arthritis action plan.
Second, it would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to
award grants for arthritis research, surveillance, and education.
Third, the bill would permit the National Institutes of Health to
expand its research into children with rheumatic diseases.
Finally, the bill would allow Health and Human Services to award
grants to increase the number of pediatric rheumatologists.
I have spoken with several rheumatologists who have discussed the
importance of this legislation. Unfortunately, those in need of
rheumatologists, especially pediatric rheumatologists, often have very
few options. This bill is an important first step in addressing a
critical workforce shortfall.
I am a cosponsor of the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to
support the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. I urge passage of the bill, and I 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. 1210, 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.
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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