I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5339

To authorize increased funding for research at the National Institutes of 

Health relating to Alzheimer’s disease, to amend the Public Health 

Service Act to authorize an education and outreach program to promote 

public awareness and risk reduction with respect to Alzheimer’s disease 

(with particular emphasis on education and outreach in Hispanic populations), and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 8, 2004

Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California (for herself, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA ́, Mr. REYES, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Mr. SERRANO, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. 

HINOJOSA, Mr. PASTOR, and Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL

To authorize increased funding for research at the National 

Institutes of Health relating to Alzheimer’s disease, to 

amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize an 

education and outreach program to promote public 

awareness and risk reduction with respect to Alzheimer’s 

disease (with particular emphasis on education and outreach in Hispanic populations), 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,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cure and Under3 standing through Research for Alzheimer’s Act of 2004’’ 

4 or the ‘‘La Cura Act of 2004’’. 

5 SEC. 2. NIH RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON ALZHEIMER’S 

6 DISEASE. 

7 (a) DOUBLING NIH FUNDING FOR ALZHEIMER’S

8 DISEASE RESEARCH.—For the purpose of conducting and 

9 supporting research on Alzheimer’s disease at the Na10 tional Institutes of Health (including related activities 

11 under subpart 5 of part C of title IV of the Public Health 

12 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285e et seq.)), there are authorized 

13 to be appropriated $1,400,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 

14 and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent 

15 fiscal year. 

16 (b) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.—In conducting research 

17 relating to Alzheimer’s disease, the Director of the Na18 tional Institutes of Health shall ensure sufficient resources 

19 for activities relating to Alzheimer’s disease and Hispanic 

20 communities, including by—

21 (1) increasing efforts in epidemiological work in 

22 Hispanic subgroups; 

23 (2) allocating resources to the National Insti24 tute on Aging Alzheimer’s disease research centers 

25 and other academic centers involved in Alzheimer ’s 

26 disease research to increase participation of His-
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1 panics in research and clinical trials in sufficient 

2 numbers to draw valid conclusions; and 

3 (3) conducting social, behavioral, and health 

4 services research—

5 (A) to understand more fully the under6 lying reasons that Hispanic individuals delay di7 agnosis and underutilize services; and 

8 (B) to identify culturally and linguistically 

9 appropriate approaches for addressing such 

10 delays and underutilization. 

11 (c) EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.—The Director of the 

12 National Institutes of Health shall expand and intensify 

13 efforts of the Institutes—

14 (1) to educate communities about the impor15 tance of research relating to Alzheimer’s disease; 

16 and 

17 (2) to respond effectively to cultural concerns 

18 about participation in such research, especially with 

19 respect to sensitive matters like the collection of 

20 brain tissue and genetic information. 

21 SEC. 3. INCREASED FUNDING FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE 

22 DEMONSTRATION GRANTS. 

23 Section 398B(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 

24 U.S.C. 280c–5(e)) is amended—
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1 (1) by striking ‘‘and such’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘such’’; and 

3 (2) by inserting before the period at the end 

4 ‘‘$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, and such sums 

5 as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 

6 2006 through 2009’’. 

7 SEC. 4. CDC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. 

8 Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act 

9 (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after sec10 tion 317S the following: 

11 ‘‘SEC. 317T. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ON ALZHEIMER’S 

12 DISEASE. 

13 ‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are 

14 the following: 

15 ‘‘(1) To reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease 

16 through reduction of vascular risk factors. 

17 ‘‘(2) To encourage early recognition and diag18 nosis of dementia. 

19 ‘‘(3) To train public health personnel to recog20 nize, assess, diagnose, and treat Alzheimer’s disease 

21 in ways that are culturally appropriate and sup22 portive of families. 

23 ‘‘(b) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—To achieve the 

24 purposes of this section, the Secretary, acting through the 

25 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collabora-
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1 tion with State health departments and the Alzheimer’s 

2 Association, shall conduct an aggressive, evidence-based 

3 education and outreach program to promote public aware4 ness and risk reduction with respect to Alzheimer’s dis5 ease. 

6 ‘‘(c) EMPHASIS.—In carrying out this section, the 

7 Secretary shall give particular emphasis to education and 

8 outreach in Hispanic populations.’’.

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