[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 146 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6868-S6870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PREEMIE REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 516, S. 1440.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1440) to reduce preterm labor and delivery and
the risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to
pregnancy, and to reduce infant mortality caused by
prematurity.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prematurity Research
Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early
Reauthorization Act'' or the ``PREEMIE Reauthorization Act''.
SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may, subject to
the availability of appropriations, expand, intensify, and
coordinate the activities of the National Institutes of
Health with respect to research, including transdisciplinary
research, on the causes of preterm labor and delivery, tools
to detect, prevent, or reduce prevalence of preterm labor and
delivery, and the care and treatment of preterm infants. Such
activities may include--
(1) investigating problems in clinical obstetrics,
particularly those related to prevention of low birth weight,
prematurity, and medical problems of pregnancy;
(2) improving the care and outcomes of neonates, especially
very-low-birth weight infants; and
(3) enhancing the understanding of genetics as they relate
to the underlying processes that lead to preterm birth to aid
in formulating more effective interventions to prevent
preterm birth.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
(a) Epidemiological Studies.--Section 3 of the Prematurity
Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver
Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f) is amended by striking
subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Studies and Activities on Preterm Birth.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, shall, subject to the
availability of appropriations--
``(A) conduct epidemiological studies on the clinical,
biological, social, environmental, genetic, and behavioral
factors relating to prematurity, as appropriate;
``(B) conduct activities to improve national data to
facilitate tracking the burden of preterm birth; and
``(C) continue efforts to prevent preterm birth, including
late preterm birth, through the identification of
opportunities for prevention and the assessment of the impact
of such efforts.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, and every 2
years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress reports concerning the progress and
any results of studies conducted under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Reauthorization.--Section 3(e) of the Prematurity
Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver
Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f(e)) is amended by
striking ``2011'' and inserting ``2017''.
[[Page S6869]]
SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES AT THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Telemedicine and High Risk Pregnancies.--Section
330I(i)(1)(B) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
254c-14(i)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``or case management
services'' and inserting ``case management services, or
prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies'';
(b) Public and Health Care Provider Education.--Section
399Q of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-5) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) through
(F) and inserting the following:
``(A) the core risk factors for preterm labor and delivery;
``(B) medically indicated deliveries before full term;
``(C) the importance of preconception and prenatal care,
including--
``(i) smoking cessation;
``(ii) weight maintenance and good nutrition, including
folic acid;
``(iii) the screening for and the treatment of infections;
and
``(iv) stress management;
``(D) treatments and outcomes for premature infants,
including late preterm infants;
``(E) the informational needs of families during the stay
of an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit; and
``(F) utilization of evidence-based strategies to prevent
birth injuries;''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) programs to increase the availability, awareness, and
use of pregnancy and post-term information services that
provide evidence-based, clinical information through
counselors, community outreach efforts, electronic or
telephonic communication, or other appropriate means
regarding causes associated with prematurity, birth defects,
or health risks to a post-term infant;''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``2011'' and inserting
``2017''.
SEC. 5. OTHER ACTIVITIES.
(a) Interagency Coordinating Council on Prematurity and Low
Birthweight.--The Prematurity Research Expansion and
Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act is
amended by striking section 5 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4g).
(b) Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'')
may establish an advisory committee known as the ``Advisory
Committee on Infant Mortality'' (referred to in this section
as the ``Advisory Committee'').
(2) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall provide advice
and recommendations to the Secretary concerning the following
activities:
(A) Programs of the Department of Health and Human Services
that are directed at reducing infant mortality and improving
the health status of pregnant women and infants.
(B) Strategies to coordinate the various Federal programs
and activities with State, local, and private programs and
efforts that address factors that affect infant mortality.
(C) Implementation of the Healthy Start program under
section 330H of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
254c-8) and Healthy People 2020 infant mortality objectives.
(D) Strategies to reduce preterm birth rates through
research, programs, and education.
(3) Plan for hhs preterm birth activities.--Not later than
1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the
Advisory Committee (or an existing advisory committee
designated by the Secretary) shall develop a plan for
conducting and supporting research, education, and programs
on preterm birth through the Department of Health and Human
Services and shall periodically review and revise the plan,
as appropriate. The plan shall--
(A) examine research and educational activities that
receive Federal funding in order to enable the plan to
provide informed recommendations to reduce preterm birth and
address racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates;
(B) identify research gaps and opportunities to implement
evidence-based strategies to reduce preterm birth rates among
the programs and activities of the Department of Health and
Human Services regarding preterm birth, including
opportunities to minimize duplication; and
(C) reflect input from a broad range of scientists,
patients, and advocacy groups, as appropriate.
(4) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
membership of the Advisory Committee includes the following:
(A) Representatives provided for in the original charter of
the Advisory Committee.
(B) A representative of the National Center for Health
Statistics.
(c) Patient Safety Studies and Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall designate an
appropriate agency within the Department of Health and Human
Services to coordinate existing studies on hospital
readmissions of preterm infants.
(2) Report to secretary and congress.--Not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the agency
designated under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary
and to Congress a report containing the findings and
recommendations resulting from the studies coordinated under
such paragraph, including recommendations for hospital
discharge and follow-up procedures designed to reduce rates
of preventable hospital readmissions for preterm infants.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and that the
Alexander amendment at the desk be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The amendment (No. 2926) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To strike provisions relating to the National Institutes of
Health)
On page 16, strike line 11 and all that follows through
line 6 on page 17.
On page 17, line 17, strike ``shall'' and insert ``may''.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on this
measure and ask that the bill be read for a third time and the Senate
proceed to a vote.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Hearing no further debate, the bill having
been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (S. 1440), as amended, was passed, as follows:
S. 1440
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Prematurity Research
Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early
Reauthorization Act'' or the ``PREEMIE Reauthorization Act''.
SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
(a) Epidemiological Studies.--Section 3 of the Prematurity
Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver
Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f) is amended by striking
subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Studies and Activities on Preterm Birth.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, may, subject to the
availability of appropriations--
``(A) conduct epidemiological studies on the clinical,
biological, social, environmental, genetic, and behavioral
factors relating to prematurity, as appropriate;
``(B) conduct activities to improve national data to
facilitate tracking the burden of preterm birth; and
``(C) continue efforts to prevent preterm birth, including
late preterm birth, through the identification of
opportunities for prevention and the assessment of the impact
of such efforts.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, and every 2
years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress reports concerning the progress and
any results of studies conducted under paragraph (1).''.
(b) Reauthorization.--Section 3(e) of the Prematurity
Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver
Infants Early Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-4f(e)) is amended by
striking ``2011'' and inserting ``2017''.
SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES AT THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Telemedicine and High Risk Pregnancies.--Section
330I(i)(1)(B) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
254c-14(i)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``or case management
services'' and inserting ``case management services, or
prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies'';
(b) Public and Health Care Provider Education.--Section
399Q of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g-5) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) through
(F) and inserting the following:
``(A) the core risk factors for preterm labor and delivery;
``(B) medically indicated deliveries before full term;
``(C) the importance of preconception and prenatal care,
including--
``(i) smoking cessation;
``(ii) weight maintenance and good nutrition, including
folic acid;
``(iii) the screening for and the treatment of infections;
and
``(iv) stress management;
``(D) treatments and outcomes for premature infants,
including late preterm infants;
``(E) the informational needs of families during the stay
of an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit; and
``(F) utilization of evidence-based strategies to prevent
birth injuries;''; and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
``(2) programs to increase the availability, awareness, and
use of pregnancy and post-term information services that
provide evidence-based, clinical information through
counselors, community outreach efforts, electronic or
telephonic communication, or other appropriate means
regarding causes associated with prematurity, birth defects,
or health risks to a post-term infant;''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``2011'' and inserting
``2017''.
[[Page S6870]]
SEC. 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES.
(a) Interagency Coordinating Council on Prematurity and Low
Birthweight.--The Prematurity Research Expansion and
Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act is
amended by striking section 5 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4g).
(b) Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'')
may establish an advisory committee known as the ``Advisory
Committee on Infant Mortality'' (referred to in this section
as the ``Advisory Committee'').
(2) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall provide advice
and recommendations to the Secretary concerning the following
activities:
(A) Programs of the Department of Health and Human Services
that are directed at reducing infant mortality and improving
the health status of pregnant women and infants.
(B) Strategies to coordinate the various Federal programs
and activities with State, local, and private programs and
efforts that address factors that affect infant mortality.
(C) Implementation of the Healthy Start program under
section 330H of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
254c-8) and Healthy People 2020 infant mortality objectives.
(D) Strategies to reduce preterm birth rates through
research, programs, and education.
(3) Plan for hhs preterm birth activities.--Not later than
1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the
Advisory Committee (or an existing advisory committee
designated by the Secretary) shall develop a plan for
conducting and supporting research, education, and programs
on preterm birth through the Department of Health and Human
Services and shall periodically review and revise the plan,
as appropriate. The plan shall--
(A) examine research and educational activities that
receive Federal funding in order to enable the plan to
provide informed recommendations to reduce preterm birth and
address racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth rates;
(B) identify research gaps and opportunities to implement
evidence-based strategies to reduce preterm birth rates among
the programs and activities of the Department of Health and
Human Services regarding preterm birth, including
opportunities to minimize duplication; and
(C) reflect input from a broad range of scientists,
patients, and advocacy groups, as appropriate.
(4) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
membership of the Advisory Committee includes the following:
(A) Representatives provided for in the original charter of
the Advisory Committee.
(B) A representative of the National Center for Health
Statistics.
(c) Patient Safety Studies and Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall designate an
appropriate agency within the Department of Health and Human
Services to coordinate existing studies on hospital
readmissions of preterm infants.
(2) Report to secretary and congress.--Not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the agency
designated under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary
and to Congress a report containing the findings and
recommendations resulting from the studies coordinated under
such paragraph, including recommendations for hospital
discharge and follow-up procedures designed to reduce rates
of preventable hospital readmissions for preterm infants.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no
intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the
bill be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________