[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2754 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2754
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do
not knowingly harm embryos.
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 ``Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell
Therapies Enhancement Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
It is the purpose of this Act to--
(1) intensify research that may result in improved
understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse
health conditions; and
(2) promote the derivation of pluripotent stem cell lines,
including from postnatal sources, without creating human
embryos for research purposes or discarding, destroying, or
knowingly harming a human embryo or fetus.
SEC. 3. ALTERNATIVE HUMAN PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL RESEARCH.
Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 498C the following:
``SEC. 409J. ALTERNATIVE HUMAN PLURIPOTENT STEM CELL RESEARCH.
``(a) In General.--In accordance with section 492, the Secretary
shall conduct and support basic and applied research to develop
techniques for the isolation, derivation, production, or testing of
stem cells that, like embryonic stem cells, are capable of producing
all or almost all of the cell types of the developing body and may
result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and
other adverse health conditions, but are not derived from a human
embryo.
``(b) Guidelines.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary, after consultation with the
Director, shall issue final guidelines to implement subsection (a),
that--
``(1) provide guidance concerning the next steps required
for additional research, which shall include a determination of
the extent to which specific techniques may require additional
basic or animal research to ensure that any research involving
human cells using these techniques would clearly be consistent
with the standards established under this section;
``(2) prioritize research with the greatest potential for
near-term clinical benefit; and
``(3) consistent with subsection (a), take into account
techniques outlined by the President's Council on Bioethics and
any other appropriate techniques and research.
``(c) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than January 1 of each
year, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate
committees of the Congress a report describing the activities carried
out under this section during the fiscal year, including a description
of the research conducted under this section.
``(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to affect any policy, guideline, or regulation regarding
embryonic stem cell research, human cloning by somatic cell nuclear
transfer, or any other research not specifically authorized by this
section.
``(e) Definition.--
``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `human embryo'
shall have the meaning given such term in the applicable
appropriations Act.
``(2) Applicable act.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the
term `applicable appropriations Act' means, with respect to the
fiscal year in which research is to be conducted or supported
under this section, the Act making appropriations for the
Department of Health and Human Services for such fiscal year,
except that if the Act for such fiscal year does not contain
the term referred to in paragraph (1), the Act for the previous
fiscal year shall be deemed to be the applicable appropriations
Act.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2007 through 2009, to carry out this section.''.
Passed the Senate July 18, 2006.
Attest:
Secretary.
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2754
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do
not knowingly harm embryos.