[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16856-16863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 PREMATURITY RESEARCH EXPANSION AND EDUCATION FOR MOTHERS WHO DELIVER 
                   INFANTS EARLY REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 252) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 252

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.

                  TITLE I--PREEMIE ACT REAUTHORIZATION

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Research and activities at the Centers for Disease Control 
              and Prevention.
Sec. 103. Activities at the Health Resources and Services 
              Administration.
Sec. 104. Other activities.

             TITLE II--NATIONAL PEDIATRIC RESEARCH NETWORK

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. National Pediatric Research Network.

                    TITLE III--CHIMP ACT AMENDMENTS

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Care for NIH chimpanzees.

                  TITLE I--PREEMIE ACT REAUTHORIZATION

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Prematurity Research 
     Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early 
     Reauthorization Act'' or the ``PREEMIE Reauthorization Act''.

     SEC. 102. 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 ``$5,000,000'' and all that follows through 
     ``2011.'' and inserting ``$1,880,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2014 through 2018.''.

     SEC. 103. 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 ``$5,000,000'' and all 
     that follows through ``2011.'' and inserting ``$1,900,000 for 
     each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.''.

     SEC. 104. OTHER ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Interagency Coordinating Council on Prematurity and Low 
     Birthweight.--The

[[Page 16857]]

     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 advisory committee in existence as 
     of the date of enactment of this Act and 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 followup procedures designed to reduce rates of 
     preventable hospital readmissions for preterm infants.

             TITLE II--NATIONAL PEDIATRIC RESEARCH NETWORK

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``National Pediatric 
     Research Network Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 202. NATIONAL PEDIATRIC RESEARCH NETWORK.

       Section 409D of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
     284h; relating to the Pediatric Research Initiative) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (f); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) National Pediatric Research Network.--
       ``(1) Network.--In carrying out the Initiative, the 
     Director of NIH, in consultation with the Director of the 
     Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and 
     Human Development and in collaboration with other appropriate 
     national research institutes and national centers that carry 
     out activities involving pediatric research, may provide for 
     the establishment of a National Pediatric Research Network in 
     order to more effectively support pediatric research and 
     optimize the use of Federal resources. Such National 
     Pediatric Research Network may be comprised of, as 
     appropriate--
       ``(A) the pediatric research consortia receiving awards 
     under paragraph (2); or
       ``(B) other consortia, centers, or networks focused on 
     pediatric research that are recognized by the Director of NIH 
     and established pursuant to the authorities vested in the 
     National Institutes of Health by other sections of this Act.
       ``(2) Pediatric research consortia.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Director of NIH may award funding, 
     including through grants, contracts, or other mechanisms, to 
     public or private nonprofit entities for providing support 
     for pediatric research consortia, including with respect to--
       ``(i) basic, clinical, behavioral, or translational 
     research to meet unmet needs for pediatric research; and
       ``(ii) training researchers in pediatric research 
     techniques in order to address unmet pediatric research 
     needs.
       ``(B) Research.--The Director of NIH shall, as appropriate, 
     ensure that--
       ``(i) each consortium receiving an award under subparagraph 
     (A) conducts or supports at least one category of research 
     described in subparagraph (A)(i) and collectively such 
     consortia conduct or support such categories of research; and
       ``(ii) one or more such consortia provide training 
     described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
       ``(C) Organization of consortium.--Each consortium 
     receiving an award under subparagraph (A) shall--
       ``(i) be formed from a collaboration of cooperating 
     institutions;
       ``(ii) be coordinated by a lead institution or 
     institutions;
       ``(iii) agree to disseminate scientific findings, including 
     from clinical trials, rapidly and efficiently, as 
     appropriate, to--

       ``(I) other consortia;
       ``(II) the National Institutes of Health;
       ``(III) the Food and Drug Administration;
       ``(IV) and other relevant agencies; and

       ``(iv) meet such requirements as may be prescribed by the 
     Director of NIH.
       ``(D) Supplement, not supplant.--Any support received by a 
     consortium under subparagraph (A) shall be used to 
     supplement, and not supplant, other public or private support 
     for activities authorized to be supported under this 
     paragraph.
       ``(E) Duration of support.--Support of a consortium under 
     subparagraph (A) may be for a period of not to exceed 5 
     years. Such period may be extended at the discretion of the 
     Director of NIH.
       ``(3) Coordination of consortia activities.--The Director 
     of NIH shall, as appropriate--
       ``(A) provide for the coordination of activities (including 
     the exchange of information and regular communication) among 
     the consortia established pursuant to paragraph (2); and
       ``(B) require the periodic preparation and submission to 
     the Director of reports on the activities of each such 
     consortium.
       ``(4) Assistance with registries.--Each consortium 
     receiving an award under paragraph (2)(A) may provide 
     assistance, as appropriate, to the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention for activities related to patient 
     registries and other surveillance systems upon request by the 
     Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
       ``(e) Research on Pediatric Rare Diseases or Conditions.--
     In making awards under subsection (d)(2) for pediatric 
     research consortia, the Director of NIH shall ensure that an 
     appropriate number of such awards are awarded to such 
     consortia that agree to--
       ``(1) consider pediatric rare diseases or conditions, or 
     those related to birth defects; and
       ``(2) conduct or coordinate one or more multisite clinical 
     trials of therapies for, or approaches to, the prevention, 
     diagnosis, or treatment of one or more pediatric rare 
     diseases or conditions.''.

                    TITLE III--CHIMP ACT AMENDMENTS

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``CHIMP Act Amendments of 
     2013''.

     SEC. 302. CARE FOR NIH CHIMPANZEES.

       (a) In General.--Section 404K(g) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 283m(g)) is amended--
       (1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) In general.--Of the amount appropriated for the 
     National Institutes of Health, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out this section and for the care, 
     maintenance, and transportation of all chimpanzees otherwise 
     under the ownership or control of the National Institutes of 
     Health, and to enable the National Institutes of Health to 
     operate more efficiently and economically by decreasing the 
     overall Federal cost of providing for the care, maintenance, 
     and transportation of chimpanzees --
       ``(A) for fiscal year 2014, $12,400,000;
       ``(B) for fiscal year 2015, $11,650,000;
       ``(C) for fiscal year 2016, $10,900,000;
       ``(D) for fiscal year 2017, $10,150,000; and
       ``(E) for fiscal year 2018, $9,400,000.''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (2);
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and
       (4) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated--
       (A) by striking ``With respect to amounts reserved under 
     paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``With respect to amounts 
     authorized to be appropriated by paragraph (1)''; and
       (B) by striking ``board of directors'' and inserting 
     ``Secretary in consultation with the board of directors''.
       (b) GAO Study.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct an independent evaluation, and submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress a report, regarding 
     chimpanzees

[[Page 16858]]

     under the ownership or control the National Institutes of 
     Health. Such report shall review and assess--
       (1) the research status of such chimpanzees;
       (2) the cost for the care, maintenance, and transportation 
     of such chimpanzees, including the cost broken down by--
       (A) research or retirement status;
       (B) services included in the care, maintenance, and 
     transportation; and
       (C) location;
       (3) the extent to which matching requirements have been met 
     pursuant to section 404K(e)(4) of the Public Health Service 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 283m(e)(4)); and
       (4) any options for cost savings for the support and 
     maintenance of such chimpanzees.
       (c) Biennial Report.--Section 404K(g) of the Public Health 
     Service Act (42 U.S.C. 283m(g)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(3) Biennial report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
     Institutes of Health shall submit to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and 
     Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations in the House of 
     Representatives a report, to be updated biennially, 
     regarding--
       ``(A) the care, maintenance, and transportation of the 
     chimpanzees under the ownership or control of the National 
     Institutes of Health;
       ``(B) costs related to such care, maintenance, and 
     transportation, and any other related costs; and
       ``(C) the research status of such chimpanzees.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 252, known as the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, is 
designed to strengthen health care for children--especially vulnerable 
children. Not only does the bill reauthorize the PREEMIE Act, but it 
also includes the authorization of the National Pediatric Research 
Network and the reauthorization of the Chimp Act.
  The original PREEMIE Act that I sponsored and was signed into law 
back in December 2006 brought much-needed attention to the problems 
related to preterm birth. Since its enactment, we have made progress, 
but we can and we still must do better. According to the CDC, an 
estimated half million babies are born prematurely every year in the 
United States; that is about one in eight. This legislation will 
continue and strengthen the ongoing effort to track, prevent, and treat 
prematurity, ensuring that every child has a healthy start and a better 
chance at a healthy and productive future.
  In addition to addressing premature births, this legislation also 
seeks to help children and their families with unmet health needs. The 
National Pediatric Research Network brings us a step closer to 
providing more help to children with rare pediatric and genetic 
diseases. This effort is going to help families like the Kennedys in my 
district in Mattawan, Michigan.
  Eric and Sarah Kennedy have two wonderful little daughters, Brooke 
and Brielle--Brielle is here in this picture--who have a rare spinal 
disease called spinal muscular atrophy. These two little angels, who 
are also affectionately known, at least in my family, as Sleeping 
Beauty and Cinderella, are two little warriors in the effort to boost 
research for rare diseases and serve as an inspiration for every one of 
us.
  The sad reality is that it is often difficult to conduct research 
into rare diseases due to the small number of kids with that disease; 
but today, with this bill, we are working to change that and provide 
families with greater hope for a cure or advances in treatment.
  This bill will help establish pediatric research networks and 
consortia that are effective in overcoming gaps in networks. Networks 
and consortia will be comprised of leading institutions that act as 
partners to consolidate and coordinate research efforts. As this 
multiyear effort is finally nearing the finish line, we say to the 
Kennedys and so many other families across the country in similar 
circumstances, You are not alone in this fight.
  Lastly, this package includes reauthorization of the Chimp Act of 
2000 that helped establish the sanctuary system for chimps retired from 
research. This bill reauthorizes the program at the current spending 
level for NIH's care of chimpanzees and reduces it through the next 5 
years. It also is going to require the GAO to study how NIH cares for 
the chimps and asks GAO to identify how we can further save taxpayer 
money.
  I want to particularly commend Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Lance, Mrs. Capps who 
is here tonight, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, and, in the Senate, certainly 
Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Alexander for their wonderful 
efforts on this legislative package. Working together, we are making a 
difference in the lives of so many.
  So I would urge my colleagues to join me in support of this 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of S. 252, as amended.
  As amended, this bipartisan legislation would address critical health 
care issues through the authorization or reauthorization of three 
different programs.
  Title I of the legislation reauthorizes the Prematurity Research 
Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act, 
better known as the PREEMIE Act. The PREEMIE Act was initially enacted 
in 2006 in response to an alarming and rising number of premature 
deaths. Premature deaths, those that occur prior to 37 weeks of 
pregnancy, are the leading cause of newborn deaths and long-term 
neurological disabilities in children.
  Since 2006, efforts across the Department of Health and Human 
Services have contributed to 6 straight years of decline in the preterm 
birth rate. There is no question we have made progress in addressing 
preterm birth in this country, yet one in eight babies is still born 
prematurely. Prevention remains a challenge due to the numerous, 
complex, and poorly-understood causes.
  As a nurse, I know too well the physical cost of prematurity on both 
mother and child, the emotional costs it takes on parents, and the 
fiscal cost that prematurity plays in our health care system. 
Reauthorization of the PREEMIE Act is necessary to continue the 
progress we have made to date and to do better by improving the health 
of mothers and babies.
  Title II of S. 252, as amended, calls for the establishment of a 
National Pediatric Research Network at the National Institutes of 
Health. This title builds upon the strong body of pediatric research 
the agency currently supports and strengthens it to improve research 
and clinical trials on pediatric diseases, train pediatric researchers, 
and to disseminate research findings quickly so that all children may 
benefit.
  By developing a nationwide network of pediatric researchers, renewed 
efforts can be focused to develop treatments and cures for pediatric 
diseases and conditions, especially those that are rare.
  Children have unique health care experiences, treatment needs, and 
research challenges; and while public and private research has come a 
long way on pediatric diseases over the years, we know that we are 
still far behind on important diagnostics, cures, and treatments for 
far too many ailing children. That is why this title is so important.
  Many of my colleagues know that this legislation is particularly 
important for one family in my congressional district, the Strongs. 
Victoria and Bill Strong are focused every day on getting the best care 
and treatment for their young daughter, Gwendolyn, who has spinal 
muscular atrophy, the same condition that my colleague Mr.

[[Page 16859]]

Upton just referred to in his district. Her diagnosis has fundamentally 
changed the daily lives of their family, her school, and our Santa 
Barbara community.
  The low prevalence of these diseases makes them particularly hard to 
research, but for those affected, like Gwendolyn and others, a new cure 
or treatment could mean a world of difference. This title is common 
sense for Gwendolyn and all the other kids out there facing a rare 
medical diagnosis, and their families. As title II of this legislation, 
the National Pediatric Research Network Act is an important step 
forward to helping these families and those who may develop these 
diseases long into the future.
  I noticed over the weekend there was a marathon that Gwendolyn and 
her father participated in in my community to raise money for the same 
purpose as this research would do. So it is both from the public and 
the private side that there is a concerted effort toward this end.
  This network, based upon H.R. 225, bipartisan legislation I authored 
with my colleague Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, passed the 
House as a stand-alone bill on suspension earlier this year with strong 
bipartisan support. I am so pleased to see it included in this package 
today.
  Title III of the legislation ensures the National Institutes of 
Health can continue to care for chimpanzees that have been retired from 
research. In 2000, Congress passed the Chimpanzee Health Improvement 
Maintenance and Protection, or CHIMP, Act. The CHIMP Act established a 
sanctuary system for the lifetime care of chimpanzees no longer used in 
research, limited NIH spending on care for these chimpanzees, and 
required matching funds from nonprofit entities contracted by NIH to 
operate the sanctuary system.
  Today, NIH owns or supports hundreds of chimpanzees. Following a 
report from the Institute of Medicine, NIH has concluded the vast 
majority of its chimpanzees should be permanently retired from 
research. This title makes it possible for NIH to continue caring for 
the more than 100 chimpanzees currently in sanctuary and transition 
other chimpanzees to sanctuary over time by authorizing appropriate 
amounts of spending for fiscal years 2014 through 2018 out of the 
totals made available to the agency. It is a commonsense and humane 
measure to fulfill the mission of the Institutes and responsibly tend 
to the chimps in our care.
  I want to commend Chairman Upton, Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member 
Waxman, and Ranking Member Pallone for their leadership in bringing 
this bipartisan package of public health legislation to the floor, the 
staff on both sides of the aisle who have worked so hard on this 
legislation, and the Senate Health Committee leadership of Senators 
Harkin and Alexander for their efforts on these measures. Moreover, 
Energy and Commerce members Congresswoman Eshoo, Congressman Lance, 
Congresswoman DeGette, and Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers are also to 
be commended for their work on the PREEMIE Act and the National 
Pediatric Research Network titles.
  These are critical bills, all of which deserve strong bipartisan 
support. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 252, as 
amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), chairman of the Health Subcommittee.
  Mr. PITTS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of another bipartisan bill. S. 252, 
the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who 
deliver Infants Early Reauthorization Act, or the PREEMIE 
Reauthorization Act, would take important steps to protect and improve 
children's health, particularly the health of the nearly 500,000 
children born prematurely in the United States every year. Since its 
passage in 2006, the PREEMIE Act has sponsored important research that 
has led to improved prevention and care of children born too early.
  This bill reauthorizes research and activities at the CDC related to 
the causes of preterm birth, improving data collection, and preventing 
preterm births. It also creates an Advisory Committee on Infant 
Mortality to coordinate Federal, State, local, and private programs 
that address preterm birth and infant mortality. With one in every 
eight infants born in the United States prematurely, this is a pressing 
issue.
  S. 252 also authorizes the creation of the National Pediatric 
Research Network, a proven way to support pediatric research by 
coordinating multicentered research activities, including those in 
rural areas.
  I would like to commend Congressman Lance, Congresswoman Capps, 
Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, Chairman Upton, and Ranking Members 
Waxman and Pallone for their leadership in this bipartisan effort, and 
I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

                              {time}  1715

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlelady from Washington, Mrs. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a leading 
advocate of this legislation and the chairman of the Republican 
Conference.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
PREEMIE Reauthorization Act.
  Every 3 minutes, somewhere in the world, a child is diagnosed with 
cancer. In the United States, approximately 150,000 children have 
diabetes. I believe that medical research is the best investment we can 
make to change these statistics and find new cures for these diseases.
  In working with my colleague from California, Representative Lois 
Capps, we introduced the Pediatric Research Network Act, which is 
included in the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act.
  In supporting this legislation, the Coalition for Pediatric Medical 
Research, which includes Children's Hospital in Seattle--in my home 
State--said that this legislation is critical to strengthening our 
Nation's pediatric research enterprise. In addition, the Pediatric 
Research Network Act will authorize the establishment of a well-proven 
and evidence-based approach for addressing pediatric research. It will 
enable the National Institutes of Health to support multi-institution 
research in order to coordinate and streamline this important research. 
Most importantly, it will help to speed cures to the youngest patients. 
I urge its support.
  Thank you, everyone, for your leadership.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Lance), another author of this legislation and someone who 
helped carry it across its bipartisan path.
  Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 252, the 
PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, which will provide vital and continued 
medical education and research in the national effort to reduce preterm 
births. This legislation will advance the great progress made since the 
2006 act and support Federal research and community involvement in 
premature birth research.
  Our Nation's premature birth rate is among the highest in the world, 
and it is the leading cause of newborn deaths in the United States. 
Infants born just a few weeks too soon can face serious health 
challenges and are at risk for lifelong health and learning 
disabilities. In addition to its human toll among infants and its toll 
on their families, premature births cost our Nation's economy much 
financially, and while the medical community has made great strides in 
identifying the risk factors associated with premature births, far too 
many premature births today have no known causes.
  It is fitting that the House will consider this legislation this 
evening. November marks Prematurity Awareness Month, a product of the 
fine work of the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes estimates that, 
since 2006, 176,000 fewer babies have been born too soon because of 
improvements in the preterm birth rate. This is why the

[[Page 16860]]

Members of the House and the Senate have worked in a bipartisan and 
bicameral fashion to reauthorize the 2006 act.
  I thank Chairman Upton and Chairman Pitts and Ranking Member Waxman 
and Ranking Member Pallone for their leadership on this issue, as well 
as Senator Alexander and Senator Harkin and Senator Bennet. I 
especially want to thank Congresswoman Anna Eshoo from California for 
working on this important issue, which benefits the health and well-
being of the American people.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. UPTON. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.
  Mr. LANCE. This is how Congress should work--together--on issues that 
make a lasting difference for the American people. It is in that 
bipartisan spirit that I ask all of my colleagues to join with us in 
support of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act so that we as a Nation will 
be able to continue our focus on premature birth research and 
prevention.
  My thanks also to Congresswoman Capps for her leadership on this 
issue.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I submit for the Record letters 
of support from the following organizations: the Children's Hospital 
Association, the Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research, FightSMA, 
the Humane Society of the United States, the March of Dimes, and a 
joint letter from several health professional and public health 
organizations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important package of public 
health legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                                               Children's Hospital


                                                  Association,

                                                November 11, 2013.
     Hon. Fred Upton, Chairman,
     House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Henry Waxman, Ranking Member,
     House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman: On behalf of 
     over 220 of the nation's children's hospitals, I am writing 
     to urge House passage of S. 252, as amended by the House. 
     This bill would advance two important priorities for 
     children's health: enactment of the National Pediatric 
     Research Network Act and the Prematurity Research Expansion 
     and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) 
     Reauthorization Act.
       The National Pediatric Research Network Act would enhance 
     the national commitment to pediatric research by authorizing 
     the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to competitively 
     select pediatric research consortia, each of which would be 
     comprised of multiple institutions and focused on a specific 
     research agenda from basic to translational research. As you 
     know, children are not just ``small adults.'' They require 
     highly-specialized care and equally specialized research. 
     Despite children accounting for nearly 20 percent of our 
     nation's population, the NIH has historically invested a far 
     smaller percentage of research dollars--between five and 10 
     percent--in pediatric biomedical research. As a result it is 
     far more difficult to attract new researchers into the field 
     of pediatrics, launch and sustain basic and translational 
     research endeavors and, ultimately, improve the health of our 
     nation's children by developing safe and effective therapies 
     and treatments. The National Pediatric Research Network Act 
     would help provide the infrastructure--including training and 
     support for younger investigators--that is needed to advance 
     the field for decades to come.
       The original PREEMIE Act (P.L. 109-450) brought the first-
     ever national focus to prematurity prevention. Preterm 
     delivery can happen to any pregnant woman, and in more than 
     half the cases the underlying causes are unknown. Preterm 
     birth is the leading cause of neonatal death, and those 
     babies who survive are more likely to suffer from 
     intellectual and physical disabilities. Since enactment of 
     the PREEMIE Act in 2006, the preterm birth rate has declined, 
     and now stands below 12 percent for the first time in nearly 
     a decade. The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act will continue to 
     fuel our progress by supporting federal research and 
     promoting known interventions and community initiatives. 
     Reauthorizing the PREEMIE Act is critical to protect and 
     maintain the current federal preterm birth-related activities 
     and lay the foundation for future investments.
       The Children's Hospital Association is pleased to offer its 
     support of S. 252, and hopes Congress will enact this 
     important legislation. On behalf of our member hospitals, 
     thank you for your continued commitment to improving 
     children's health.
           Sincerely,

                                                  Jim Kaufman,

                                    Vice President, Public Policy,
     Children's Hospital Association.
                                  ____

                                       The Coalition for Pediatric


                                             Medical Research,

                                                November 12, 2013.
     Hon. Fred Upton,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy & Commerce, United States 
         Congress, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Joe Pitts,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy & Commerce,
     Subcommittee on Health, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Henry Waxman,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Energy & Commerce, United States 
         Congress, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Frank Pallone,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee 
         on Health, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairmen Upton and Pitts and Ranking Members Waxman 
     and Pallone: On behalf of the Coalition for Pediatric Medical 
     Research, representing leading children's hospitals 
     responsible for treating our nation's sickest children today 
     and conducting research to develop the therapies, treatments, 
     and cures of tomorrow, I am writing to offer our endorsement 
     of S. 252, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act that as amended 
     includes the National Pediatric Research Network Act as Title 
     II.
       The National Pediatric Research Act is a bipartisan and 
     bicameral legislative proposal to strengthen our nation's 
     commitment to pediatric medical research in a cost-effective 
     manner by allowing the National Institutes of Health to 
     support multi-institution research consortia focused on 
     pediatrics. Modeled upon the successful National Cancer 
     Centers and other research networks, the consortia seek to 
     accelerate the pace of scientific discovery in pediatrics and 
     to drive greater levels of collaboration, coordination, and 
     resource sharing. Funds awarded under the program would help 
     support the acquisition of shared advanced research 
     technologies necessary to discharge a 21st Century research 
     agenda and would also support much-needed training slots for 
     early-career investigators focusing in pediatrics.
       The need for a focused commitment to pediatric research is 
     clear. A growing body of evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates 
     that therapies and interventions delivered early in life--
     during infancy, childhood and adolescence--prevents diseases 
     and their life-long adverse impacts on health and economic 
     contributions to society. Similarly, research on pediatric 
     populations is useful for understanding the origin of adult-
     onset diseases and is useful in preventing and treating such 
     conditions. When pediatric research as a whole struggles, so 
     too do our nation's children because of the reduced focus and 
     funding to pediatric-based disorders and because of limited 
     access to innovations in care and treatments that help 
     improve life and reduce healthcare costs.
       Every single day, the members of the Coalition for 
     Pediatric Medical Research care for tens of thousands of 
     children, a number of whom are suffering from the most deadly 
     and complex diseases. Thanks to research breakthroughs 
     achieved over the years, the children's hospitals in the 
     coalition have made progress in treating a number of 
     conditions that not too long ago were considered near-certain 
     death sentences. But making continued progress to heal 
     children today and tomorrow necessitates a robust commitment 
     to our nation's children, something that will happen under 
     this proposal.
       Thank you for your strong support of the National Pediatric 
     Research Network Act and for incorporating the legislation as 
     Title II of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act. The Coalition 
     looks forward to working with you to enact this legislation 
     into law this year. If you have any questions or would like 
     to discuss this issue further, please feel free to contact me 
     at 202.312.7499 or [email protected].
           Sincerely,
                                                     Nick Manetto,
       (For the Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research).
                                  ____



                                                     FIGHTSMA,

                                Alexandria, VA, November 11, 2013.
     Hon. Fred Upton, Chairman,
     Committee on Energy & Commerce,
     U.S. Congress, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Henry Waxman, Ranking Member,
     Committee on Energy & Commerce,
     U.S. Congress, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman: FightSMA is 
     pleased to offer its enthusiastic endorsement of S. 252, the 
     PREEMIE Reauthorization Act that as amended includes the 
     National Pediatric Research Network Act (NPRNA) as Title II. 
     FightSMA is a non-profit organization of families across the 
     nation working to find a treatment or cure for spinal 
     muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic killer of 
     children under the age of two.
       The NPRNA would authorize the establishment of a national 
     network of research consortia that will conduct basic, 
     clinical, behavioral, and translational research, including 
     multisite clinical trials in an effort to develop treatments 
     for a variety of rare pediatric disorders. The legislation 
     provides a

[[Page 16861]]

     new opportunity to strengthen the nation's commitment to 
     pediatric medical research in a cost-effective manner, 
     allowing us to promote the well-being of our children through 
     a collaborative approach to scientific investigation that 
     makes the most of every federal dollar.
       FightSMA has been grateful for Congress's longstanding 
     support for research on SMA and other pediatric diseases, 
     including House passage of the NPRNA earlier this year on an 
     overwhelming bipartisan vote and annual appropriations report 
     language encouraging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
     to expand its support for translational and clinical 
     research. Privately funded research has produced a number of 
     promising drug therapies for SMA that are now at the door of 
     the clinic, and the development of an effective and 
     accessible clinical trials infrastructure is our next 
     challenge and our greatest opportunity.
       Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman, we are deeply 
     indebted to you and to the NPRNA's lead sponsors, 
     Congresswomen Lois Capps and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, for your 
     leadership in the effort to develop treatments for the 
     devastating disorders that affect too many of our children.
       We urge all Members of Congress to support S. 252, and we 
     look forward to working with you to secure enactment of the 
     National Pediatric Research Network Act as soon as possible.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Daniel Hayden,
                                     Executive Director, FightSMA.
                                                   Michael Calise,
     Chairman, FightSMA.
                                  ____

                                                The Humane Society


                                         of The United States,

                                Washington, DC, November 12, 2013.
     Chairman Fred Upton,
     Ranking member Henry Waxman,
     House Committee on Energy and Commerce,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman: On behalf of 
     The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane 
     Society Legislative Fund, we are writing to express our 
     strong support for Title III of S. 252, which will allow the 
     National Institutes of Health (NIH) the continued flexibility 
     to send chimpanzees retired from research to suitable 
     sanctuary and to care for chimpanzees already living at the 
     national chimpanzee sanctuary.
       Regardless of where they are housed, NIH has responsibility 
     for the lifetime care of approximately 600 federally-owned 
     chimpanzees. It is NIH policy to send chimpanzees to the 
     national chimpanzee sanctuary system when they are retired 
     from research, as intended by Congress; sanctuaries provide 
     higher welfare standards for chimpanzees at a lower cost to 
     taxpayers than housing in barren labs. Sanctuaries operate 
     more efficiently than the government-run laboratories, they 
     bring in substantial private dollars to augment government 
     support, and they make substantial use of volunteer 
     personnel.
       In response to a comprehensive report by the Institute of 
     Medicine (IOM), and following the recommendations of an NIH 
     Working Group of independent experts convened to advise on 
     implementation of that report, NIH recently announced that it 
     intends to retire the vast majority of federally-owned 
     chimpanzees from research. However, the original CHIMP Act, 
     which established the national chimpanzee sanctuary system, 
     included a limit on the amount of money NIH can spend on 
     sanctuary care and housing of retired chimpanzees. There is 
     no similar restriction on funding for care and housing of 
     retired chimpanzees in laboratories. Therefore, once NIH 
     reaches the sanctuary spending limit, it will lose the 
     ability to contract with appropriate sanctuaries for care and 
     housing of retired chimpanzees, and may be forced to contract 
     with lower-welfare, higher-cost labs instead--to the 
     detriment of chimpanzees and taxpayers alike.
       By passing S. 252 Title III, Congress will leave NIH free 
     to contract with sanctuaries, the most appropriate providers 
     for chimpanzee care, thus allowing the agency to use its 
     resources more efficiently and effectively. We strongly 
     support Title III of S. 252 and thank you for your leadership 
     on this legislation.
           Sincerely,

                                                Wayne Pacelle,

                                                President and CEO,
                          The Humane Society of the United States.

                                            Michael Markarian,

                                                        President,
     Humane Society Legislative Fund.
                                  ____

                                        March of Dimes Foundation,
                                Washington, DC, November 11, 2013.
     Hon. Fred Upton,
     Chairman, Committee on Energy & Commerce, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Henry Waxman,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Energy & Commerce, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Waxman: On behalf of 
     the March of Dimes, a unique collaboration of scientists, 
     clinicians, parents, members of the business community, and 
     other volunteers affiliated with 51 chapters representing 
     every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, I 
     would like to express our support for S. 252, a legislative 
     package which includes the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act. We 
     strongly urge swift passage of this legislation in both the 
     House and Senate.
       November marks Prematurity Awareness Month, and just days 
     ago the March of Dimes announced that the United States' 
     preterm birth rate had dropped for the sixth consecutive 
     year. In 2012, 11.5 percent of U.S. births were preterm, 
     compared to 12.8 percent in 2006. The March of Dimes 
     estimates that since 2006, about 176,000 fewer babies have 
     been born too soon because of improvement in the preterm 
     birth rate, resulting in healthier infants and potentially 
     saving about $9 billion in health and societal costs. We 
     believe one of the key factors for the decline is the 2006 
     PREEMIE Act (P.L. 109-450), which brought the first-ever 
     national focus to prematurity prevention. The law spurred 
     innovative research at the National Institutes of Health and 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and supported 
     evidence-based interventions to prevent preterm birth.
       The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act will continue to fuel our 
     progress by supporting federal research and promoting known 
     interventions and community initiatives to prevent preterm 
     birth. Preterm birth exacts a human, emotional, and financial 
     impact on families and a tremendous economic burden on our 
     nation. It is the leading cause of newborn mortality and the 
     second leading cause of infant mortality. Those babies who 
     survive are more likely to suffer from intellectual and 
     physical disabilities. A 2006 report by the Institute of 
     Medicine found the cost associated with preterm birth in the 
     United States was $26.2 billion annually, or $51,600 per 
     infant born preterm. Employers, private insurers and 
     individuals bear approximately half of the costs of health 
     care for these infants, and another 40 percent is paid by 
     Medicaid.
       Every baby deserves a healthy start in life, and to make 
     this goal a reality we must continue to invest in the 
     prevention of preterm birth. Passage of S. 252 is an 
     important step toward improving the health and wellbeing of 
     our nation's children. We look forward to working with you to 
     secure enactment of this vital legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                            Dr. Jennifer L. Howse,
     President.
                                  ____



                                    March of Dimes Foundation,

                               White Plains, NY, November 12, 2013
       Member of Congress: The undersigned organizations urge you 
     to vote for S. 252, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, when it 
     is considered under Suspension of the Rules later today.
       November marks Prematurity Awareness Month, and just days 
     ago the March of Dimes announced that the United States' 
     preterm birth rate had dropped for the sixth consecutive 
     year. In 2012, 11.5 percent of U.S. births were preterm, 
     compared to 12.8 percent in 2006. For information on your 
     state's preterm birth rate please visit http://
www.marchofdimes.com/mission/prematur
     ity-reportcard.aspx. The March of Dimes estimates that since 
     2006, about 176,000 fewer babies have been born too soon 
     because of improvement in the preterm birth rate, resulting 
     in healthier infants and potentially saving about $9 billion 
     in health and societal costs. We believe one of the key 
     factors for the decline is the 2006 PREEMIE Act (P.L. 109-
     450), which brought the first-ever national focus to 
     prematurity prevention. The law spurred innovative research 
     at the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention and supported evidence-based 
     interventions to prevent preterm birth.
       The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act will continue to fuel our 
     progress by supporting federal research and promoting known 
     interventions and community initiatives to prevent preterm 
     birth. Preterm birth exacts a human, emotional, and financial 
     impact on families and a tremendous economic burden on our 
     nation. It is the leading cause of newborn mortality and the 
     second leading cause of infant mortality. Those babies who 
     survive are more likely to suffer from intellectual and 
     physical disabilities. A 2006 report by the Institute of 
     Medicine found the cost associated with preterm birth in the 
     United States was $26.2 billion annually, or $51,600 per 
     infant born preterm. Employers, private insurers and 
     individuals bear approximately half of the costs of health 
     care for these infants, and another 40 percent is paid by 
     Medicaid.
       S. 252 is an important step toward improving the health and 
     wellbeing of our nation's children. Please vote ``yes'' on S. 
     252.
           Sincerely,
       March of Dimes, American Academy of Pediatrics, American 
     Association on Health and Disability, American College of 
     Nurse-Midwives, American Congress of Obstetricians and 
     Gynecologists, American Public Health Association, American 
     Thoracic Society, Association of Maternal & Child Health 
     Programs.
       Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, 
     Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, 
     Council of Women's and Infants' Specialty Hospitals,

[[Page 16862]]

     First Candle, Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and 
     Stillbirth, National Association of County and City Health 
     Officials, National Association of Neonatal Nurses, 
     Preeclampsia Foundation, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

  Mr. UPTON. I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, every one of us has beautiful children like this in our 
districts. This bill is going to save lives, and it has been bipartisan 
from the get-go.
  Again, I want to commend Republicans and Democrats on our committee--
but certainly those on the House floor as well--when we passed this 
bill a number of months ago.
  I was a speaker and a participant in an event just last week for 
FasterCures, a networking group from around the country. Dr. Francis 
Collins was there, who is the head of the NIH. I spoke to Dr. Collins 
just in the last hour or so, and he is delighted that this legislation 
is reaching the House floor tonight. Hopefully, it will pass. I know 
that we are going to continue to make a real difference in the lives of 
families, and that is what this is all about, so I would urge all of my 
colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 252, as amended, and 
urge my colleagues to support the bill as well. As amended, S. 252 is 
comprised of the authorization or re-authorization of three different 
programs. Together, these provisions constitute a bi-partisan and bi-
cameral effort to address three pressing issues.
  Title One of the bill would reauthorize and improve the Prematurity 
Research Expansion and Education for Mothers Who Deliver Infants 
Early--or PREEMIE--Act. The PREEMIE Act was first enacted in 2006 in 
response to an alarming rise in preterm births.
  Provisions in Title One reauthorize Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention research, surveillance, and prevention activities. The title 
also extends provider education and training and public education 
activities; and it adds use of telehealth technology for management of 
high-risk pregnancies among preferences for telehealth network grants.
  This title codifies a Department of Health and Human Services 
Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality and directs this Committee to 
examine preterm birth activities across the Department. And it calls 
for HHS coordination of hospital readmissions studies focused on 
premature infants. Title One represents a renewed commitment to our 
nation's efforts to reduce premature births, the leading killer of 
newborns.
  Title Two of S. 252 (as amended) would allow the National Institutes 
of Health to establish a national pediatric research network dedicated 
to finding treatments and cures for pediatric diseases and conditions--
especially those that are rare. In addition to the research itself, 
Title Two places special emphasis on professional training for future 
pediatric researchers. These and other related components of Title Two 
are intended to build on the strong body of pediatric research that NIH 
already conducts and supports.
  The goal of this title is to ensure that universities, hospitals, and 
other nonprofit entities focused on pediatric research have the 
infrastructure necessary to make clinical research opportunities more 
accessible to kids and their families. In turn, we hope and expect 
their work will advance progress towards treatments and cures for many 
devastating diseases and conditions. I would encourage NIH to take full 
advantage of this opportunity.
  The third and last title of the bill builds upon the 2000 Chimpanzee 
Health Improvement Maintenance and Protection or CHIMP Act and allows 
NIH to fulfill its commitment to retiring hundreds of chimpanzees from 
research. Among other provisions, the CHIMP Act established a sanctuary 
system for the lifetime care of chimpanzees retired from research and 
limited NIH spending on care for these chimpanzees.
  We are fast-approaching the spending cap set forth in the CHIMP Act. 
This title authorizes spending for the care and maintenance of 
chimpanzees owned or controlled by NIH--out of the amounts made 
available to the agency--for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. 
This title ensures the agency can continue caring for the more than 100 
chimpanzees currently in sanctuary. This title also makes it possible 
for NIH to continue implementing Institute of Medicine recommendations 
on the use of chimpanzees in research and transition other chimpanzees 
to sanctuary over time.
  As I have noted, this package is a bi-partisan and bi-cameral 
initiative that reflects the work of several members of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee. I especially want to note Congresswoman Eshoo, the 
Democratic sponsor of the original PREEMIE Reauthorization Act and 
Congresswoman Capps, the Democratic sponsor of the original National 
Pediatric Research Network Act. I also want to commend Chairman Upton, 
Chairman Pitts, and Ranking Member Pallone for their leadership in 
bringing this bipartisan package of public health legislation to the 
floor. Finally, I want to acknowledge Senate HELP Committee 
leadership--Senators Harkin and Alexander--for their effort on these 
measures.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for S. 252, as amended.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
252, the PREEMIE Act. The number of families in this country affected 
by premature births is enormous. In 2008, 12.3 percent of all live 
births, over 500,000 babies, were born preterm. This number 
dramatically influences the rate of infant deaths as about two-thirds 
of all fatalities in the first year of life are among preterm infants.
  Prematurity or preterm birth is by definition a birth earlier than 37 
weeks. Those children are usually not the problem. They're not the ones 
that end up with permanent disabilities. But there is a subset of 
prematurity, maybe sometimes referred to as ``immaturity'', children 
that are born as early as 20 weeks. Those children are the ones that 
very often, if they survive, are left with permanent long-term 
disabilities. The reauthorization of the PREEMIE Act is important to 
study, track, and prevent premature births in this country. This 
important legislation before us today will continue the important work 
begun in the original bill passed in 2006.
  I'll end my remarks with a personal story. My wife, Billie, and I, 
have 13 grandchildren and the oldest are 15 years old. They were born 
at 26 weeks and each weighed 1 pound and 12 ounces. Thank God they are 
virtually unimpaired today and in the ninth grade and doing well. My 
family's experience, plus the fact that I delivered numerous preterm 
infants as an OBGYN in Marietta, GA, simply reinforces the need for 
this bill.
  For these important reasons, I support S. 252.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the PREEMIE 
Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation I introduced with 
Congressman Leonard Lance to expand research, education, and prevention 
of preterm birth. This legislation will reauthorize important programs 
created by the first PREEMIE Act, which I championed in 2006.
  November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and it has come with good 
news. Just days ago, the March of Dimes announced that the preterm 
birth rate in America dropped for the sixth consecutive year to 11.5 
percent largely due to the original PREEMIE Act.
  But each year, half a million babies are still born prematurely. 
Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn mortality and the second 
leading cause of infant mortality. Babies born even a few weeks too 
early can require weeks to months of hospitalization after birth, and 
premature birth can sometimes lead to developmental delays and 
disability later in life.
  In addition to the emotional and physical toll of prematurity, there 
are significant health care costs to families, medical systems and our 
economy. A report by the Institute of Medicine found the cost 
associated with preterm birth in the United States was $26.2 billion 
annually, or $51,600 per infant born preterm. While employers, private 
insurers and individuals bear approximately about half of the costs of 
health care for these infants, 40 percent is paid by Medicaid.
  We are making great strides in reducing infant mortality--the U.S. 
infant mortality rate fell by 12 percent between 2005 and 2011, in part 
due to the decline in premature births. Unfortunately, we still fall 
far behind the majority of other developed countries, and this is 
something we have the power to change with continued research and 
prevention.
  The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act will help us learn the causes of 
premature birth by requiring the HHS Advisory Committee on Infant 
Mortality to develop a report that identifies research gaps and 
opportunities to implement evidence-based strategies to reduce preterm 
birth rates. Appropriate representatives of the National Institutes of 
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Health and 
Services Administration should be involved in developing this report 
along with the experts from the Advisory Committee.
  In my Congressional District, Stanford University teamed up with the 
March of Dimes to establish the transdisciplinary March of Dimes 
Prematurity Research Center in 2011. These NIH-funded researchers are 
bringing cutting-edge medical discoveries from the lab to the bedside. 
In the last two years, they've made new discoveries that reduce preterm 
birth and

[[Page 16863]]

made great strides in ensuring that the tiniest preemies are given the 
best chance at life.
  The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act passed the Senate unanimously on 
September 25th and I ask my colleagues in the House to follow their 
lead and send this bill to the President's desk for his signature.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 252, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``An Act 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, 
and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________