[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.

                          ____________________