H.R. 322 – Reading Mode

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 322

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2007

Mr. Bartlett of Maryland (for himself, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Weller, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Davis of Kentucky, Mr. Lincoln Davis of Tennessee, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Hunter, Mrs. Musgrave, Mr. Jones of North Carolina, Mr. Inglis of South Carolina, and Mr. Gilchrest) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do not harm human embryos.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act of 2007.

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 harming a human embryo or fetus.

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 409I the following:

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 of the National Institutes of Health, 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

In this section, the term human embryo includes any organism, not protected as a human subject under part 46 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, as of the date of the enactment of the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act of 2007, that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells

(f)

Authorization of Appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010, to carry out this section.