Latest Action: 07/23/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7153)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services. 7/23/2008--Introduced. Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to activate the coverage of short-term emergency health care services if the Secretary determines that there is a public health emergency. Sets forth factors for the Secretary to consider, including the degree to which the emergency is likely to overwhelm health care providers in the region. Requires the Secretary to establish a medical monitoring program for monitoring and reporting on the health care needs of the affected population over time. Limits eligibility for coverage of emergency health care services to: (1) uninsured or underinsured emergency victims who need health care services due to injuries or disease resulting [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 07/22/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Bill Text
To amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that victims of public health emergencies have meaningful and immediate access to medically necessary health care services. 7/22/2008--Introduced. Public Health Emergency Response Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to activate the coverage of short-term emergency health care services if the Secretary determines that there is a public health emergency. Sets forth factors for the Secretary to consider, including the degree to which the emergency is likely to overwhelm health care providers in the region.Requires the Secretary to establish a medical monitoring program for monitoring and reporting on the health care needs of the affected population over time.Limits eligibility for coverage of emergency health care services to: (1) uninsured or underinsured emergency victims who need health care services due to injuries or disease resulting from the [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 09/17/2008 - Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-342. 10:00 a.m.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide mental health and substance abuse services.
Latest Action: 06/17/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance public health activities related to stillbirth and sudden unexpected infant death. 6/17/2008--Introduced. Preventing Stillbirth and SUID Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop: (1) a standard definition of stillbirth; and (2) a standard protocol for stillbirth data collection and surveillance, including enhancing the National Vital Statistics System for the reporting of stillbirths. Requires the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to establish: (1) a national registry that can facilitate the understanding of root causes, rates, and trends of stillbirth; (2) public education and prevention programs aimed at reducing the occurrence of stillbirth;[...]

show full description
Latest Action: 05/20/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to reduce the exposure of children, workers, and consumers to toxic chemical substances. 5/20/2008--Introduced. Kid-Safe Chemicals Act of 2008 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to require each manufacturer of a chemical substance distributed in commerce to submit to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): (1) a statement certifying that the substance meets required safety standards or that there is insufficient data to make such determination; and (2) all reasonably available information concerning the substance not previously submitted. Requires manufacturers to update such information at least every three years or at any time new information becomes available on a substance's toxicity. Requires manufacturers to provide chemical safety information upon the Administrator's request.Prohibits the manufacture, importation, or distribution in commerce of a chemical substance if the Administrator [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 05/21/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials.

Bill Text
To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to reduce the exposure of children, workers, and consumers to toxic chemical substances. 5/20/2008--Introduced. Kid-Safe Chemicals Act of 2008 - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to require each manufacturer of a chemical substance distributed in commerce to submit to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): (1) a statement certifying that the substance meets required safety standards or that there is insufficient data to make such determination; and (2) all reasonably available information concerning the substance not previously submitted. Requires manufacturers to update such information at least every three years or at any time new information becomes available on a substance's toxicity. Requires manufacturers to provide chemical safety information upon the Administrator's request.Prohibits the manufacture, importation, or distribution in commerce of a chemical substance if the Administrator [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 10/06/2008 - Presented to President.

Bill Text
To authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes. 6/18/2008--Passed House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 - Title I: Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009 - (Sec. 101) Authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for FY2009 for: (1) science; (2) aeronautics; (3) exploration; (4) education; (5) space operations; (6) cross-agency support programs; and (7) the inspector general. Authorizes additional appropriations for use to accelerate the initial operational capability of the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle. Title II: Earth Science - (Sec. 201) Declares that the goal for NASA's Earth Science program shall be to pursue a program of Earth observations, research, and applications activities to better understand [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 05/07/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3900-3901)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access of Medicare beneficiaries to intravenous immune globulins.

5/7/2008--Introduced.

Medicare IVIG Access Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, upon collection of data and completion of a review, to provide, if appropriate, to physicians and hospitals furnishing intravenous immune globulins (IVIGs), an additional payment for all items related to the furnishing of IVIG in an appropriate amount.

Provides for coverage of IVIG administered in the home.

Makes disposable drug delivery systems, including elastomeric infusion pumps, for the treatment of colorectal cancer “durable medical equipment” for Medicare purposes.

Latest Action: 05/06/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to prevent and cure diabetes and to promote and improve the care of individuals with diabetes for the reduction of health disparities within racial and ethnic minority groups, including the African-American, Hispanic American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaskan Native communities. 5/6/2008--Introduced. Diabetes Prevention Access and Care Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to: (1) conduct, coordinate, and support research and other activities with respect to pre-diabetes and diabetes in minority populations; and (2) conduct and support programs to treat diabetes in minority populations.Requires the Director of NIH, through the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, to provide for: (1) health care professionals' mentoring; and (2) minority health professionals' participation in diabetes-focused [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 05/08/2008 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week.

5/7/2008--Passed Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week.

Recognizes the importance of: (1) preventing diseases that commonly affect women; and (2) federally funded programs that provide research and collect data on diseases that commonly affect women.

Calls on women to observe National Women's Check-Up Day on May 12, 2008 by receiving preventive screenings.

Latest Action: 04/17/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3146-3147)

Bill Text
A bill to improve and enhance research and programs on cancer survivorship, and for other purposes. 4/17/2008--Introduced. Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Survivorship Research and Quality of Life Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to expand and intensify CDC's cancer control programs. Requires the Secretary to: (1) provide guidance to states, in collaboration with the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), on interventions that may be incorporated into state cancer control programs to improve the long-term health status of childhood cancer survivors; (2) encourage states to incorporate strategies for improving their care into their comprehensive cancer plans; (3) collaborate with the NCI Director to improve or develop systems for tracking cancer survivors; and (4) enhance control programs to include [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 05/19/2008 - Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week, and for other purposes.

5/14/2008--Passed House without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary)

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week.

Recognizes the importance of: (1) preventing diseases that commonly affect women; and (2) federally funded programs that provide research and collect data on common diseases in women.

Calls on women to observe National Women's Check-Up Day by receiving preventative screenings.

Latest Action: 04/22/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and improve the targeting of the enforcement of requirements with respect to such facilities. 4/15/2008--Introduced. Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to direct skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities to make available, upon request, ownership and affiliated parties information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other responsible parties.Outlines accountability requirements for such institutions.Requires specified additional information to appear on the Department of Health and Human Services Nursing Home Compare Website.Requires SNFs to separately report expenditures for wages and benefits for different levels of nursing staff.Directs the Secretary to [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 04/02/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 4/2/2008--Introduced. Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) conduct a long-term epidemiological study on the health of women veterans who served on active duty in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom; (2) assess barriers encountered by women veterans to the provision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of comprehensive health care; (3) assess all health care services and programs provided by the VA for women veterans; (4) study the health consequences on women veterans of active-duty service in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom; (5) provide training and certification for mental health professionals who provide counseling [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 04/25/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.

Bill Text
To establish a program to assure the safety of fresh produce intended for human consumption, and for other purposes. 3/13/2008--Introduced. Fresh Produce Safety Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) to establish standards for good manufacturing practices for the minimal processing of produce, including standards related to sanitation and water.Requires the Secretary to provide for unannounced inspections of processing facilities to determine if produce processed in the facilities is in compliance with the requirements of this Act.Directs the Secretary to establish general standards for good agricultural practices for the production of raw agricultural commodities, including requirements related to manure, animals, water, and environmental conditions. Gives officers and employees duly designated by the Secretary the authority to inspect appropriate facilities to [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 03/11/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To establish grant programs to improve the health of border area residents and for bioterrorism preparedness in the border area, and for other purposes. 3/11/2008--Introduced. Border Health Security Act of 2008 - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary), acting through the U.S. members of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission, to award grants to states, public institutions of higher education, local and tribal governments, nonprofit health organizations, or community health centers to improve border residents' health. Requires the Secretary to award grants to states, local or tribal governments, or public health entities for bioterrorism preparedness in the border area.Authorizes appropriations to carry out the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission Act.Allows the Secretary to coordinate with the Secretary of Homeland Security in establishing a health alert system that: (1) alerts clinicians and public health [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 03/06/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to expand the dental workforce and improve dental access, prevention, and data reporting, and for other purposes. 3/6/2008--Introduced. Deamonte Driver Dental Care Access Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to schools of dentistry and hospitals with accredited training programs in pediatric dentistry. Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the Secretary to provide for a pilot program to increase access to dental care for underserved populations through the use of new allied dental health professionals. Requires the Secretary to award grants to federally qualified health centers to expand and improve the provision of dental services to medically underserved populations. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to develop, implement, and evaluate public health and clinical strategies to prevent and [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 03/05/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to impose a limitation on lifetime aggregate limits imposed by health plans.

3/5/2008--Introduced.

Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act to prohibit a group health plan from imposing an aggregate lifetime benefit limit of less than: (1) $5 million for the first two plan years; (2) $10 million for the third and fourth plan years; and (3) adjusted amounts based on the consumer price index for subsequent plan years. Excludes from such prohibition a group health plan offered to employees of a small employer, except upon request of the employer for a consistent limit.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the Institute of Medicine for a study to determine the number of individuals who have reached the lifetime limitations set forth in this Act.

Latest Action: 03/06/2008 - Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the commi

Bill Text
To expand the dental workforce and improve dental access, prevention, and data reporting, and for other purposes. 3/6/2008--Introduced. Deamonte Driver Dental Care Access Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to schools of dentistry and hospitals with accredited training programs in pediatric dentistry.Amends title V (Maternal and Child Health Services) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require the Secretary to provide for a pilot program to increase access to dental care for underserved populations through the use of new allied dental health professionals.Requires the Secretary to award grants to federally qualified health centers to expand and improve the provision of dental services to medically underserved populations.Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to develop, implement, and evaluate public health and clinical strategies to prevent and manage early [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/25/2008 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Bill Text
To establish a program to evaluate HIV/AIDS programs in order to improve accountability, increase transparency, and ensure the delivery of evidence-based services.

2/25/2008--Introduced.

PEPFAR Accountability and Transparency Act - Amends the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003 to direct the Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally to: (1) establish a mechanism to evaluate global HIV/AIDS programs financed by the U.S. government in order to improve accountability, increase transparency, and ensure the delivery of evidence-based services; and (2) develop a five-year strategic plan for program monitoring, operations research, and impact evaluation research.

Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance and improve insurance, housing, labor and education, and other benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2008 - Revises veterans' insurance benefits matters to: (1) direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Secretary) to grant level-premium term life insurance to certain service-disabled veterans; (2) increase the maximum amount of supplemental service disabled veterans' insurance for totally disabled veterans; (3) provide retroactive traumatic injury coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program for certain members of the Armed Forces who incurred a traumatic injury in the line of duty; (4) provide for the designation of a recipient of funds for traumatic injury coverage when the member is mentally incapacitated or experiencing an extended loss of consciousness; and (5) increase the maximum loan guarantee amount under the veterans' [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/14/2008 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1058-1059)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve the transparency of information on skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and to clarify and improve the targeting of the enforcement of requirements with respect to such facilities. 2/14/2008--Introduced. Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement Act of 2008 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to direct skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and nursing facilities to make available, upon request, ownership and affiliated parties information to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other responsible parties. Outlines accountability requirements for such institutions. Requires specified additional information to appear on the Department of Health and Human Services Nursing Home Compare Website. Requires SNFs to separately report expenditures for wages and benefits for different levels of nursing staff. Directs the Secretary [...]

show full description
Latest Action: 02/08/2008 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for research with respect to various forms of muscular dystrophy, including Becker, congenital, distal, Duchenne, Emery-Dreifuss Facioscapulohumeral, limb-girdle, myotonic, and oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophies. 2/8/2008--Introduced. Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to designate centers of excellence for research on various forms of muscular dystrophy as Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers. Requires the Muscular Dystrophy Interagency Coordinating Committee to give special consideration to enhancing the clinical research infrastructure required to test emerging therapies for the various forms of muscular dystrophy. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that any data on patients that is collected as part of the Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance,[...]

show full description