I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3520 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish an interagency 
coordinating committee on pulmonary hypertension, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 
Mr. BRADY of Texas (for himself 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 establish an 
interagency coordinating committee on pulmonary hyper-
tension, 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 ‘‘Pulmonary Hyper-
tension Research and Diagnosis Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION CO-
ORDINATING COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED. 
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Sep 18, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3520.IH
H3520
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 399V–6. INTERAGENCY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION 
COORDINATING COMMITTEE. 
‘‘(a) COMMITTEE
ESTABLISHED.—The Secretary 
shall establish a committee, to be known as the Inter-
agency Pulmonary Hypertension Coordinating Committee 
(in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’), to coordi-
nate all efforts within the Department of Health and 
Human Services concerning pulmonary hypertension. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Committee shall— 
‘‘(1) develop and annually update a summary of 
the advances made in research on, and treatment 
and diagnosis of, pulmonary hypertension; 
‘‘(2) develop and annually update a summary of 
the advances made in access to care for individuals 
with a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension; 
‘‘(3) monitor pulmonary hypertension research, 
services, and support activities across the Federal 
Government, including coordination of Federal ac-
tivities and programs with respect to pulmonary hy-
pertension; 
‘‘(4) develop and annually update a comprehen-
sive strategic plan under subsection (c) to improve 
health outcomes for individuals with a diagnosis of 
pulmonary hypertension; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Sep 18, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3520.IH
H3520
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(5) develop and annually update the progress 
made in implementing such comprehensive strategic 
plan. 
‘‘(c) STRATEGY.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of the Pulmonary Hypertension Re-
search and Diagnosis Act of 2015 and annually thereafter, 
the Committee shall submit to Congress and the Secretary 
a strategy to improve health outcomes for individuals with 
a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Such strategy 
shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) Recommendations to advance research on 
pulmonary hypertension. 
‘‘(2) Recommendations to improve the trans-
plantation criteria and process concerning lung and 
heart-lung transplants for individuals with a diag-
nosis of pulmonary hypertension. 
‘‘(3) 
Recommendations 
to 
improve 
public 
awareness and recognition of pulmonary hyper-
tension. 
‘‘(4) Recommendations to improve health care 
delivery for individuals with a diagnosis of pul-
monary hypertension. 
‘‘(5) Recommendations to improve the early and 
accurate diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Sep 18, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3520.IH
H3520
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(6) Recommendations to systematically ad-
vance the full spectrum of biomedical research on 
pulmonary hypertension. 
‘‘(d) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Committee shall be 
composed of— 
‘‘(A) a representative from each of the en-
tities listed in paragraph (2); and 
‘‘(B) the non-Federal members appointed 
under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(2) FEDERAL MEMBERS.—The entities listed 
in this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) The Department of Defense. 
‘‘(B) The Food and Drug Administration. 
‘‘(C) The National Institutes of Health. 
‘‘(D) The Agency for Healthcare Research 
and Quality. 
‘‘(E) The Administration for Children and 
Families. 
‘‘(F) The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention. 
‘‘(G) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services. 
‘‘(H) The Health Resources and Services 
Administration. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Sep 18, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3520.IH
H3520
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) NON-FEDERAL
MEMBERS.—Not fewer 
than six members of the Committee or one-third of 
the total membership of the Committee, whichever is 
greater, shall be composed of non-Federal members 
to be appointed by the Secretary, of which— 
‘‘(A) at least two shall be individuals with 
a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension; 
‘‘(B) at least one shall be the parent or 
guardian of an individual with a diagnosis of 
pulmonary hypertension; 
‘‘(C) at least one shall be a representative 
of a pharmaceutical company that manufac-
tures a drug or device for detecting, preventing, 
or treating pulmonary hypertension; and 
‘‘(D) at least one shall be a representative 
of a leading research, advocacy, or support or-
ganization primarily serving individuals with a 
diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. 
‘‘(e) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet not 
fewer than two times each year. All meetings shall be open 
to the public. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION DATE.—The Committee shall ter-
minate on the date that is five years after the date of the 
enactment of the Pulmonary Hypertension Research and 
Diagnosis Act of 2015.’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Sep 18, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3520.IH
H3520
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 3. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
(a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the 
Interagency Pulmonary Hypertension Coordinating Com-
mittee, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives a progress report on activities related 
to improving health outcomes for individuals with a diag-
nosis of pulmonary hypertension. 
(b) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report submitted 
under subsection (a) shall contain— 
(1) information on the incidence of pulmonary 
hypertension, including such incidence since the date 
of the enactment of this Act; 
(2) information on the prevalence of pulmonary 
hypertension in children and adults; 
(3) information on the average time between 
the initial screening and the accurate diagnosis of 
pulmonary hypertension; 
(4) information on the average stage of pul-
monary hypertension when appropriate intervention 
begins; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Sep 18, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H3520.IH
H3520
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
(5) information on the effectiveness and out-
comes of interventions for individuals with a diag-
nosis of pulmonary hypertension, including— 
(A) mortality rate; and 
(B) the frequency of drastic treatment op-
tions such as lung and heart-lung transplants; 
(6) information on new developments in re-
search activities; 
(7) information on innovative treatment options 
and diagnostic tools; and 
(8) information on services and supports avail-
able to individuals with a diagnosis of pulmonary hy-
pertension. 
(c) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall make the report submitted under 
subsection (a) available on the public website of the De-
partment of Health and Human Services. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:41 Sep 18, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H3520.IH
H3520
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS