II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4052 

To reauthorize a program for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment regarding deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, infants, and young children, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 7, 2022 

Mr. PORTMAN (for himself, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. CASSIDY, and Mr. 

HICKENLOOPER) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 

referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To reauthorize a program for early detection, diagnosis, and 

treatment regarding deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns, 

infants, and young children, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Early Hearing Detec5 tion and Intervention Act of 2022’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM FOR EARLY DE2 TECTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT RE3 GARDING DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING 

4 NEWBORNS, INFANTS, AND YOUNG CHIL5 DREN. 

6 Section 399M(f) of the Public Health Service Act (42 

7 U.S.C. 280g–1(f)) is amended— 

8 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘$17,818,000 

9 for fiscal year 2018, $18,173,800 for fiscal year 

10 2019, $18,628,145 for fiscal year 2020, 

11 $19,056,592 for fiscal year 2021, and $19,522,758 

12 for fiscal year 2022’’ and inserting ‘‘$17,818,000 for 

13 each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027’’; 

14 (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘$10,800,000 

15 for fiscal year 2018, $11,026,800 for fiscal year 

16 2019, $11,302,470 for fiscal year 2020, 

17 $11,562,427 for fiscal year 2021, and $11,851,488 

18 for fiscal year 2022’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,760,000 for 

19 each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027’’; and 

20 (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘fiscal years 

21 2011 through 2015’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal years 

22 2023 through 2027’’. 

23 SEC. 3. GAO STUDY ON STATE EARLY HEARING DETECTION 

24 AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. 

25 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General of the 

26 United States shall conduct a study reviewing State early 


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1 hearing detection and intervention (in this section referred 

2 to as ‘‘EHDI’’) programs. Such study shall— 

3 (1) analyze how information collected through 

4 such programs informs what is known about EHDI 

5 activities to ensure that newborns, infants, and 

6 young children have access to timely hearing 

7 screenings and early interventions, including infor8 mation on any disparities in such access; 

9 (2) analyze what is known about how parents 

10 use State EHDI websites to seek health and pro11 grammatic guidance related to their child’s hearing 

12 loss diagnosis; and 

13 (3) identify efforts and any promising practices 

14 of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

15 the Health Resources and Services Administration, 

16 the National Institute on Deafness and Other Com17 munication Disorders, and State EHDI programs— 

18 (A) to address disparities in outreach for, 

19 or access to, timely hearing screenings and 

20 early interventions; and 

21 (B) to ensure that EHDI follow-up serv22 ices are communicated and made available to 

23 medically underserved populations, including ra24 cial and ethnic minorities. 


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1 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

2 of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 

3 shall— 

4 (1) complete the study under subsection (a) and 

5 submit a report on the results of the study to— 

6 (A) the Committee on Energy and Com7 merce of the House of Representatives; and 

8 (B) the Committee on Health, Education, 

9 Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and 

10 (2) make such report publicly available. 

Æ 


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