I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 370

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for expanding, intensifying, and coordinating activities with respect to research on autoimmune diseases in women. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 27, 2003

Mr. LYNCH (for himself, Ms. LEE, Ms. NORTON, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. FROST, 

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. SERRANO, and Mrs. CAPPS) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce 

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for 

expanding, intensifying, and coordinating activities with 

respect to research on autoimmune diseases in women.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Autoimmune 

5 Diseases Research and Prevention Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress finds as follows: 
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1 (1) The term ‘‘autoimmune disease’’ refers to a 

2 varied group of more than 80 serious, chronic ill3 nesses that involve the human organ system, the 

4 nervous, gastrointestinal and endocrine systems, the 

5 skin and other connective tissues, eyes, and blood 

6 and blood vessels. 

7 (2) These diseases include, but are not limited 

8 to, Epstein-Barr virus, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, 

9 scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syn10 drome, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, and 

11 vasculitis syndromes. 

12 (3) 50 million Americans are afflicted with 

13 some form of autoimmune disease. 

14 (4) 75 percent of autoimmune diseases occur in 

15 women, most frequently during but not limited to 

16 the childbearing years. 

17 (5) Taken together, autoimmune diseases rep18 resent the fourth largest cause of disability among 

19 women in the United States. 

20 (6) Female-to-male ratios in autoimmune dis21 eases are dramatically skewed toward women, in 

22 some cases by ratios as high as 50 to 1. 

23 (7) Autoimmune diseases remain among the 

24 most poorly understood and poorly recognized of any 

25 category of illnesses; while science suggest they may 
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1 have a genetic component, they can cluster in fami2 lies as different illnesses. 

3 (8) To help women live longer, healthier lives, 

4 more research is needed to shed light on genetic as 

5 well as hormonal and environmental risk factors that 

6 contribute to the causes of these diseases, as well as 

7 providing early diagnosis and treatment. 

8 SEC. 3. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES 

9 REGARDING AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES ON 

10 WOMEN. 

11 Section 409E of the Public Health Service Act (42 

12 U.S.C. 284i) is amended—

13 (1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 

14 subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 

15 (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol16 lowing subsection: 

17 ‘‘(d) CERTAIN ACTIVITIES REGARDING WOMEN.—

18 With respect to the plan under paragraph (1) of sub19 section (c), the Coordinating Committee shall ensure that 

20 provisions of the plan developed under paragraph (2) of 

21 such subsection include provisions for the following: 

22 ‘‘(1)(A) Basic research, epidemiological re23 search, and other appropriate research concerning 

24 the etiology and causes of autoimmune diseases in 
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1 all women, including genetic, hormonal, and environ2 mental factors. 

3 ‘‘(B)(i) Giving priority under subparagraph (A) 

4 to research regarding environmental factors. 

5 ‘‘(ii) The coordination of (to the extent prac6 ticable and appropriate), and providing additional 

7 support for, research described in clause (i) that is 

8 conducted by public or nonprofit private entities. 

9 ‘‘(2)(A) The development of information and 

10 education programs for patients, health care pro11 viders, and others as appropriate on genetic, hor12 monal, and environmental risk factors associated 

13 with autoimmune diseases in women, and on the im14 portance of the prevention or control of such risk 

15 factors and timely referral with appropriate diag16 nosis and treatment. 

17 ‘‘(B) The inclusion in programs under subpara18 graph (A) of information and education on the prev19 alence and nature of autoimmune diseases, on risk 

20 factors in women, and on health-related behaviors 

21 that can improve health status. 

22 ‘‘(3) Outreach programs for purposes of para23 graphs (1) and (2) that—

24 ‘‘(A) are directed toward historically un25 derserved populations of women, such as lower-
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1 income and minority women, and toward 

2 women who are at-risk for autoimmune dis3 eases; and 

4 ‘‘(B) are carried out through community 

5 health centers or other health centers under 

6 section 330, through State or local health de7 partments, or through primary care physi8 cians.’’.

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