[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 122 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5221-S5222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCONNELL:
  S. 2722. A bill to facilitate identification and dissemination of 
evidence-informed recommendations for addressing maternal addiction and 
neonatal abstinence syndrome and to provide for studies with respect to 
neonatal abstinence syndrome; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2722

       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 ``Protecting Our Infants Act 
     of 2014''.

     SEC. 2. EVIDENCE-INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
                   MATERNAL ADDICTION AND NEONATAL ABSTINENCE 
                   SYNDROME.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall 
     coordinate and facilitate the--
       (1) identification and compilation of evidence-informed 
     recommendations for physicians, nurses, and hospital 
     facilities with respect to neonatal abstinence syndrome; and
       (2) identification of any gaps, as appropriate, in such 
     evidence-informed recommendations that may require additional 
     research or analysis with respect to--
       (A) screening and intervention for maternal substance 
     abuse, including the misuse or abuse of prescription drugs in 
     women of childbearing age and pregnant women;
       (B) treatment for pregnant and postpartum women with a 
     substance use disorder, including the misuse or abuse of 
     prescription drugs;
       (C) screening of infants for neonatal abstinence syndrome 
     and for the risk of developing neonatal abstinence syndrome;
       (D) treatment for infants with neonatal abstinence 
     syndrome, including evidence-informed recommendations 
     surrounding evaluation and treatment with pharmacological and 
     non-pharmacological interventions; and
       (E) ongoing treatment, services, and supports for 
     postpartum women with a substance use disorder, including 
     misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, and infants and 
     children with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
       (b) Input.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall consider input from stakeholders, such as health 
     professionals, public health officials, and law enforcement.
       (c) Dissemination of Information.--The Secretary shall 
     disseminate to appropriate stakeholders in States and local 
     communities the evidence-informed recommendations identified 
     under subsection (a).
       (d) Addressing Research Needs for Maternal Addiction and 
     Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
     study to evaluate--
       (1) factors related to the increased prevalence of maternal 
     opiate misuse and abuse;
       (2) factors related to maternal misuse and abuse of 
     opiates, including--
       (A) barriers to identifying and treating maternal misuse 
     and abuse of opiates; and
       (B) the most effective prevention and treatment strategies 
     for pregnant women and other women of childbearing age who 
     are at risk for or dependent on opiates; and
       (3) factors related to neonatal abstinence syndrome, 
     including--
       (A) epidemiological studies concerning neonatal abstinence 
     syndrome;
       (B) the most effective methods to diagnose and treat 
     neonatal abstinence syndrome; and
       (C) the long-term effects of neonatal abstinence syndrome 
     and the need for a longer-term study on infants and children 
     at risk for developing neonatal abstinence syndrome or 
     diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome.
       (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
     of Representatives the findings from the study under 
     subsection (d) and a report that identifies the gaps in 
     evidence-informed recommendations that require additional 
     research or analysis, and priority areas for additional 
     research.

     SEC. 3. IMPROVING DATA ON NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME.

       The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 
     the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, shall provide technical assistance to States to 
     improve the availability and quality of data collection and 
     surveillance activities regarding neonatal abstinence 
     syndrome, including--
       (1) incidence and prevalence of neonatal abstinence 
     syndrome;
       (2) the identification of causes for neonatal abstinence 
     syndrome, including new and emerging trends; and

[[Page S5222]]

       (3) the identification of demographics and other relevant 
     information associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome.

     SEC. 4. PAIN MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES.

       It is the sense of Congress that the Director of the 
     National Institutes of Health should continue research with 
     respect to pain management, including for women of 
     childbearing age.

     SEC. 5. GAO STUDY.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     conduct a study evaluating--
       (1) the availability and effectiveness of federally-
     facilitated substance abuse treatment programs for pregnant 
     women and their children;
       (2) the availability and effectiveness of Federal programs 
     that encourage State adoption and implementation of programs 
     to ensure--
       (A) the safety and health of mothers who have a substance 
     use disorder; and
       (B) the safety and health of children with neonatal 
     abstinence syndrome;
       (3) the effectiveness of Federal data systems and 
     surveillance programs used to monitor or track drug 
     utilization and resulting trends, including whether 
     information on neonatal abstinence syndrome is incorporated 
     into such data systems; and
       (4) the identification of the use of all discretionary 
     funds to address maternal substance abuse, including the 
     misuse and abuse of prescription drugs.
                                 ______