I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1672

To provide for an increase in funding for research on uterine fibroids through

the National Institutes of Health, and to provide for a program to

provide information and education to the public on such fibroids.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 2, 2001

Mrs. JONES of Ohio (for herself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. JEFFERSON, Ms.

LEE, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SCOTT, Mr. HILLIARD,

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. PAYNE, Ms.

MCKINNEY, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. LEWIS of

Georgia, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. OWENS, Mr. WYNN, Ms. PELOSI, Mrs.

LOWEY, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Ms.

WOOLSEY, Mr. FRANK, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. DAVIS

of Illinois, Mr. FILNER, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. DINGELL, Mr.

CUMMINGS, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. CAPUANO,

Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. FROST, and Mr. GONZALEZ) introduced the

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

A BILL

To provide for an increase in funding for research on uterine

fibroids through the National Institutes of Health, and

to provide for a program to provide information and

education to the public on such fibroids.

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

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Uterine Fibroids Re3 search and Education Act of 2001’’.

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

5 The Congress finds as follows:

6 (1) The development of uterine fibroids is a

7 common and significant health problem, affecting

8 women of all ages, racial backgrounds, and socio9 economic levels.

10 (2) It has been estimated that between 20 and

11 30 percent of women of reproductive age have such

12 fibroids, though not all have been diagnosed. Studies

13 indicate the prevalence could be much higher.

14 (3) Uterine fibroids are the most common indi15 cation for hysterectomy, accounting for approxi16 mately one third of hysterectomies, or 200,000 pro17 cedures annually.

18 (4) Such fibroids are the leading indication of

19 hysterectomy among premenopausal women in the

20 United States.

21 SEC. 3. PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS REGARDING UTERINE

22 FIBROIDS.

23 (a) RESEARCH THROUGH NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF

24 HEALTH.—In addition to other authorizations of appro25 priations that are available for the purpose of conducting

26 and supporting research on uterine fibroids through the
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1 National Institutes of Health, there is authorized to be

2 appropriated for such purpose $10,000,000 for each of the

3 fiscal years 2002 through 2006.

4 (b) PUBLIC AWARENESS.—

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and

6 Human Services (in this subsection referred to as

7 the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall carry out a program to pro8 vide information and education to the public regard9 ing uterine fibroids, including information on the in10 cidence and prevalence of such fibroids, and on the

11 elevated risk for minority women.

12 (2) AUTHORITY FOR GRANTS AND CON13 TRACTS.—The Secretary may carry out paragraph

14 (1) directly or through awards of grants, cooperative

15 agreements, or contracts to public or nonprofit pri16 vate entities.

17 (3) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sub18 section, the term ‘‘minority’’, with respect to women,

19 means women who are members of racial or ethnic

20 minority groups within the meaning of section 1707

21 of the Public Health Service Act.

22 (4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—

23 For the purpose of carrying out this subsection,

24 there are authorized to be appropriated such sums

25 as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
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1 2002 through 2006. Such authorizations are in addi2 tion to any other authorizations of appropriations

3 that are available for such purpose.

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