Tick-Borne Disease Research Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct or support epidemiological, basic, translational, and clinical research regarding Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Directs the Secretary to establish the Interagency Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Working Group to review all HHS efforts concerning tick-borne diseases to ensure interagency coordination and examine research priorities. Requires the Working Group to: (1) provide a summary of tick-borne disease research, advances, and scientific viewpoints every two years; (2) make recommendations to HHS regarding tick-borne disease activities; and (3) hold annual public meetings.
Requires HHS to submit a strategic plan for tick-borne disease research within three years of enactment and every five years thereafter that includes: (1) budgetary requirements; (2) benchmarks for improving tick-borne disease diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and prevention; and (3) a plan to disseminate Working Group summaries and other relevant information on tick-borne disease to health professionals and the public.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4701 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4701
To provide for scientific frameworks with respect to vector-borne
diseases.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 21, 2014
Mr. Gibson (for himself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Smith of New
Jersey, Mr. Wolf, and Mr. Barletta) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for scientific frameworks with respect to vector-borne
diseases.
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 ``Vector-Borne Disease Research
Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. SCIENTIFIC FRAMEWORK FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES.
Subpart 6 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 285f et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 447D. SCIENTIFIC FRAMEWORK FOR VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES.
``(a) Development of Scientific Framework for Vector-Borne
Diseases.--
``(1) In general.--For each vector-borne disease identified
under subsection (b), the Directors shall develop a scientific
framework for the conduct or support of research on such
vector-borne disease.
``(2) Contents.--The scientific framework with respect to a
vector-borne disease shall include the following:
``(A) Current status.--
``(i) Comprehensive review of the
literature.--A summary of findings from the
current literature in the areas of--
``(I) the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of acute and chronic
vector-borne disease;
``(II) the fundamental
environmental and biologic process that
regulate acute and chronic vector-borne
disease; and
``(III) the epidemiology of acute
and chronic vector-borne disease.
``(ii) Number of incidences
internationally.--An assessment of the
incidence of acute and chronic vector-borne
disease reported internationally.
``(iii) Scientific advances.--The
identification of relevant and diverse emerging
scientific areas, and promising scientific
advances, in basic, translational, and clinical
science relating to the areas described in
subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i).
``(iv) Researchers.--A description of the
availability of individuals who--
``(I) conduct scientific research
in the areas described in clause (i);
and
``(II) represent a diversity of
scientific perspectives relevant to
such areas.
``(v) Coordinated research initiatives.--
The identification of the types of initiatives
and partnerships for the coordination of
intramural and extramural research of the
National Institutes of Health and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention in the areas
described in clause (i) with research of the
relevant national research institutes, Federal
agencies, and non-Federal public and private
entities in such areas.
``(vi) Research resources.--The
identification of public and private resources,
such as patient registries, that are available
to facilitate research relating to each of the
areas described in clause (i).
``(B) Identification of research questions.--The
identification of research questions relating to basic,
translational, and clinical science in the areas
described in subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph
(A)(i) that have not been adequately addressed with
respect to acute or chronic vector-borne disease.
``(C) Recommendations.--Recommendations for
appropriate actions that should be taken to advance
research in the areas described in subparagraph (A)(i)
and to address the research questions identified in
subparagraph (B), as well as for appropriate benchmarks
to measure progress on achieving such action, including
the following:
``(i) Researchers.--Ensuring adequate
availability of individuals described in
subparagraph (A)(iv).
``(ii) Coordinated research initiatives.--
Promoting and developing initiatives and
partnerships described in subparagraph (A)(v).
``(iii) Research resources.--Developing
additional public and private resources
described in subparagraph (A)(vi) and
strengthening existing resources.
``(3) Timing.--
``(A) Initial development and subsequent update.--
For each vector-borne disease identified under
subsection (b)(1), the Directors shall--
``(i) develop a scientific framework under
this subsection not later than 18 months after
the date of the enactment of this section; and
``(ii) review and update the scientific
framework not later than 5 years after its
initial development.
``(B) Other updates.--The Directors may review and
update each scientific framework developed under this
subsection as necessary.
``(4) Public notice.--With respect to each scientific
framework developed under this subsection, not later than 30
days after the date of completion of the framework, the
Directors shall--
``(A) submit such framework to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
``(B) make such framework publicly available on the
Internet Web site of the Department of Health and Human
Services.
``(b) Identification of Vector-Borne Diseases.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of the enactment of this section, the Directors shall identify
2 or more bacterial or parasitic vector-borne diseases that
each have a high incidence domestically.
``(2) Treating tick-borne diseases as a single vector-borne
disease.--For purposes of identifying vector-borne diseases
under this subsection and developing scientific frameworks for
such diseases under subsection (a), tick-borne diseases,
including Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases that are
known to be transmitted by ticks to humans in the United
States, shall be treated as a single vector-borne disease.
``(3) Additional vector-borne diseases.--Subject to
paragraph (2), the Directors may, at any time, identify other
vector-borne diseases for purposes of this section. In
identifying a vector-borne disease pursuant to the previous
sentence, the Directors may consider additional metrics of
progress against such type of vector-borne disease.
``(c) Working Groups.--
``(1) In general.--For each vector-borne disease identified
under subsection (b), the Directors shall convene a working
group in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The Directors (or their designees) shall participate in the
meetings of each such working group.
``(2) Members.--Each working group convened under this
subsection shall be comprised of the following members:
``(A) One or more representatives of each of the
following:
``(i) The National Institutes of Health.
``(ii) The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
``(iii) Other agencies or offices of the
Department of Health and Human Services, as
determined appropriate by the Directors.
``(iv) Other Federal agencies, as
determined appropriate by the Directors.
``(B) One or more representatives of each of the
following categories:
``(i) Physicians with experience in
diagnosing and treating stages or
manifestations of the relevant vector-borne
disease.
``(ii) Non-Federal scientists or
researchers with expertise, and representing a
diversity of perspectives, regarding the
science pertaining to vector-borne diseases.
``(iii) Patients and their family members.
``(iv) Nonprofit organizations that
advocate for patients by promoting education,
services, or research.
``(v) Other individuals whose expertise is
determined by the Directors to be beneficial to
the functioning of the working group.
``(C) One individual appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
``(D) One individual appointed by the Majority
Leader of the Senate.
``(3) FACA sunset inapplicable.--Section 14(a) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to
termination of advisory committees) shall not apply to a
working group convened under paragraph (1).
``(4) Other working groups.--If the Directors, in addition
to convening the working groups required by this subsection,
choose to continue any working group on any vector-borne
disease in existence on the date of enactment of the Vector-
Borne Disease Research Accountability and Transparency Act of
2014, any such working group is deemed to be an advisory
committee subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
``(d) Public Hearings.--
``(1) In general.--The Directors shall, within 60 days
after identifying a vector-borne disease under section (b), and
annually thereafter, convene public forums--
``(A) to seek public input on the development of
the scientific framework for such vector-borne disease
under this section and progress in addressing related
chronic conditions; and
``(B) to identify, and seek public input on,
potential emerging strains in species of pathogenic
organisms.
``(2) Participants.--The participants at the forums
convened under this subsection shall be researchers,
physicians, patients, and other members of the public.
``(e) Reporting.--
``(1) Biennial reports.--The Directors shall ensure that
each biennial report under section 403 includes information on
actions undertaken to carry out each scientific framework
developed under subsection (a) with respect to a vector-borne
disease, including the following:
``(A) Information on research grants awarded by the
National Institutes of Health and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention for research relating to
such vector-borne disease.
``(B) An assessment of the progress made in
improving outcomes.
``(2) Additional one-time reports.--
``(A) Frameworks.--For each vector-borne disease
identified under subsection (b)(1), the Directors
shall, not later than 6 years after the initial
development of a scientific framework for such disease
under subsection (a), submit a report to the Congress
on the effectiveness of the framework (including the
update required by subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii)) in
improving the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and
treatment of such disease.
``(B) Total number of working groups.--Not later
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
section, the Directors shall submit a report to the
Congress identifying the total number of working groups
convened under this section.
``(f) Recommendations for Exception Funding.--The Directors shall
consider each relevant scientific framework developed under subsection
(a) when making recommendations for exception funding for grant
applications.
``(g) Definition.--In this section:
``(1) The term `Directors' means the Director of NIH and
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
acting jointly.
``(2) The term `vector-borne disease' means an infection
transmitted to humans or other animals by ticks, mosquitoes, or
fleas, such as Lyme disease.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Unanimous Consent .
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-573.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-573.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 424.
Mr. Burgess moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
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Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7344-7347)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4701.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7344-7345)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7344-7345)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.