[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 143 (Thursday, November 20, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUDDEN UNEXPECTED DEATH DATA ENHANCEMENT AND AWARENESS ACT
Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 669, and the Senate
proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 669) to amend the Public Health Service Act to
improve the health of children and help better understand and
enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early
life.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Harkin substitute
amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be
read a third time and passed, and the Harkin amendment to the title,
which is also at the desk, be agreed to, with no intervening action or
debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 3958) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to,
as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sudden Unexpected Death Data
Enhancement and Awareness Act''.
SEC. 2. CONTINUING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO STILLBIRTH, SUDDEN
UNEXPECTED INFANT DEATH AND SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED
DEATH IN CHILDHOOD.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall continue activities related to still birth, sudden
unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in
childhood, including, as appropriate--
(1) collecting information, such as socio-demographic,
death scene investigation, clinical history, and autopsy
information, on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death,
and sudden unexplained death in childhood through the
utilization of existing surveillance systems and
collaborating with States to improve the quality,
consistency, and collection of such data;
(2) disseminating information to educate the public, health
care providers, and other stakeholders on stillbirth, sudden
unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in
childhood; and
(3) collaborating with the Attorney General, State and
local departments of health, and other experts, as
appropriate, to provide consistent information for medical
examiners and coroners, law enforcement personnel, and health
care providers related to death scene investigations and
autopsies for sudden unexpected infant death and sudden
unexplained death in childhood, in order to improve the
quality and consistency of the data collected at such death
scenes and to promote consistent reporting on the cause of
death after autopsy to inform prevention, intervention, and
other activities.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall submit to Congress a report that
includes a description of any activities that are being
carried out by agencies within the Department of Health and
Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, related to
stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden
unexplained death in childhood, including those activities
identified under subsection (a).
SEC. 3. NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.
This Act shall not be construed to increase the amount of
appropriations that are authorized to be appropriated for any
fiscal year.
The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a
third time.
The bill was read the third time.
The bill (H.R. 669), as amended, was passed.
The amendment (No. 3957) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To amend the title)
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to improve the
health of children and help better understand and enhance
awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life.''.
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