HR 3433 IH

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers regarding environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer.

November 17, 1999

Mrs. LOWEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers regarding environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer.

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 `Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 1999'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:

(1) Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American women.

(2) In 1999, 175,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 43,000 are expected to die from this disease.

(3) A large proportion of breast cancer cases cannot be attributed to known risk factors. Three of four cases of breast cancer arise in women with no known risk factors.

(4) The National Action Plan on Breast Cancer, a public private partnership, has recognized the importance of expanding the scope and breadth of biomedical, epidemiological, and behavioral research activities related to the etiology of breast cancer and the role of the environment.

(5) Environmental factors, such as exposure to ionizing radiation, have been shown to cause cancer by reacting with a gene's DNA and causing a mutation.

(6) Physical activity, including diet and the role of exercise, have emerged as factors in the understanding in the development of cancers, including breast cancer.

(7) The role of viruses, low-level radiation, chemicals, electromagnetic fields and light-at-night and gene-environment interactions may also provide clues to understanding the etiology of breast cancer.

(8) To date, there has been only a limited research investment to expand the scope or coordinate efforts across disciplines or work with the community to study the role of the environment in the development of breast cancer.

(9) In order to take full advantage of the tremendous potential for avenues of prevention, the Federal investment in the role of the environment and the development of breast cancer should be expanded.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES; AWARDS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF RESEARCH CENTERS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS RELATED TO BREAST CANCER.

Subpart 12 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285L et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following section:

`RESEARCH CENTERS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS RELATED TO BREAST CANCER

`SEC. 463B. (a) IN GENERAL- The Director of the Institute, after consultation with the advisory council for the Institute, shall make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of not more than eight centers for the purpose of conducting multidisciplinary research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. Each such center shall be known as a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Center of Excellence.

`(b) RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND INFORMATION AND EDUCATION-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Each center under subsection (a) shall, with respect to the purpose described in such subsection--

`(A) conduct basic and clinical research;

`(B) develop protocols for training physicians, scientists, nurses, and other health and allied health professionals;

`(C) conduct training programs for such individuals;

`(D) develop model continuing education programs for such professionals; and

`(E) disseminate information to such professionals and the public.

`(2) STIPENDS FOR TRAINING OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS- A center under subsection (a) may use funds under such subsection to provide stipends for health and allied health professionals enrolled in programs described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1).

`(c) COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY- Each center under subsection (a) shall establish and maintain ongoing collaborations with community organizations in the geographic area served by the center, including those that represent women with breast cancer.

`(d) COORDINATION OF CENTERS; REPORTS- The Director of the Institute shall, as appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among centers under subsection (a) and ensure regular communication between such centers, and may require the periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the centers and the submission of the reports to the Director.

`(e) REQUIRED CONSORTIUM- Each center under subsection (a) shall be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions, meeting such requirements as may be prescribed by the Director of the Institute.

`(f) DURATION OF SUPPORT- Support of a center under subsection (a) may be for a period not exceeding 5 years. Such period may be extended for one or more additional periods not exceeding 5 years if the operations of such center have been reviewed by an appropriate technical and scientific peer review group established by the Director of the Institute and if such group has recommended to the Director that such period should be extended.

`(g) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF CENTERS- The Director of the Institute shall, to the extent practicable, provide for an equitable geographical distribution of centers under this section.

`(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2000 through 2005. Such authorization is in addition to any other authorization of appropriations that is available for such purpose.'.