To strike provisions relating to the National Institutes of Health.

This amendment's own text couldn't be picked out of its Congressional Record passage, so the passage is shown in full.

PREEMIE REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 516, S. 1440.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1440) 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.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

     SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES AT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
                   HEALTH.

       The Secretary of Health and Human Services may, subject to
     the availability of appropriations, expand, intensify, and
     coordinate the activities of the National Institutes of
     Health with respect to research, including transdisciplinary
     research, on the causes of preterm labor and delivery, tools
     to detect, prevent, or reduce prevalence of preterm labor and
     delivery, and the care and treatment of preterm infants. Such
     activities may include--
       (1) investigating problems in clinical obstetrics,
     particularly those related to prevention of low birth weight,
     prematurity, and medical problems of pregnancy;
       (2) improving the care and outcomes of neonates, especially
     very-low-birth weight infants; and
       (3) enhancing the understanding of genetics as they relate
     to the underlying processes that lead to preterm birth to aid
     in formulating more effective interventions to prevent
     preterm birth.

     SEC. 3. 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, shall, 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 ``2011'' and inserting ``2017''.

[[Page S6869]]

     SEC. 4. 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 ``2011'' and inserting
     ``2017''.

     SEC. 5. OTHER ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Interagency Coordinating Council on Prematurity and Low
     Birthweight.--The 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 existing advisory committee
     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 follow-up procedures designed to reduce rates
     of preventable hospital readmissions for preterm infants.

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and that the
Alexander amendment at the desk be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2926) was agreed to, as follows:

 (Purpose: To strike provisions relating to the National Institutes of
                                Health)

       On page 16, strike line 11 and all that follows through
     line 6 on page 17.
       On page 17, line 17, strike ``shall'' and insert ``may''.

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on this
measure and ask that the bill be read for a third time and the Senate
proceed to a vote.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read
the third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Hearing no further debate, the bill having
been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 1440), as amended, was passed, as follows:

                                S. 1440

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

     SEC. 2. 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 ``2011'' and inserting ``2017''.

     SEC. 3. 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 ``2011'' and inserting
     ``2017''.

[[Page S6870]]

     SEC. 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Interagency Coordinating Council on Prematurity and Low
     Birthweight.--The 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 existing advisory committee
     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 follow-up procedures designed to reduce rates
     of preventable hospital readmissions for preterm infants.

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no
intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the
bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________