I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 307 
To enhance and further research into paralysis and to improve rehabilitation 
and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical 
disabilities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 8, 2009 
Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mrs. BONO MACK, Mr. LANGEVIN, and Mr. BILI-
RAKIS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To enhance and further research into paralysis and to im-
prove rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons 
living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Christopher and Dana 
Reeve Paralysis Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
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TITLE I—PARALYSIS RESEARCH 
Sec. 101. Activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to re-
search on paralysis. 
TITLE II—PARALYSIS REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND CARE 
Sec. 201. Activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to re-
search with implications for enhancing daily function for per-
sons with paralysis. 
TITLE III—IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PERSONS WITH 
PARALYSIS AND OTHER PHYSICAL DISABILITIES 
Sec. 301. Programs to improve quality of life for persons with paralysis and 
other physical disabilities. 
TITLE I—PARALYSIS RESEARCH 
SEC. 101. ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF 
HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO RESEARCH ON 
PARALYSIS. 
(a) COORDINATION.—The Director of the National 
Institutes of Health (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Direc-
tor’’), pursuant to the general authority of the Director, 
may develop mechanisms to coordinate the paralysis re-
search and rehabilitation activities of the Institutes and 
Centers of the National Institutes of Health in order to 
further advance such activities and avoid duplication of 
activities. 
(b) CHRISTOPHER AND DANA REEVE PARALYSIS RE-
SEARCH CONSORTIA.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director may make 
awards of grants to public or private entities to pay 
all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, im-
proving, and providing basic operating support for 
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consortia in paralysis research. The Director shall 
designate each consortium funded through such 
grants as a Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis 
Research Consortium. 
(2) RESEARCH.—Each consortium under para-
graph (1)— 
(A) may conduct basic, translational, and 
clinical paralysis research; 
(B) may focus on advancing treatments 
and developing therapies in paralysis research; 
(C) may focus on one or more forms of pa-
ralysis that result from central nervous system 
trauma or stroke; 
(D) may facilitate and enhance the dis-
semination of clinical and scientific findings; 
and 
(E) may replicate the findings of consortia 
members or other researchers for scientific and 
translational purposes. 
(3) COORDINATION OF CONSORTIA; REPORTS.— 
The Director may, as appropriate, provide for the 
coordination of information among consortia under 
paragraph (1) and ensure regular communication 
among members of the consortia, and may require 
the periodic preparation of reports on the activities 
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