IB 
Union Calendar No. 235 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1727 
[Report No. 110–378] 
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 
MARCH 28, 2007 
Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mrs. BONO, Mr. LANGEVIN, and Mr. BILIRAKIS) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce 
OCTOBER 15, 2007 
Additional sponsors: Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. 
MARKEY, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. 
MCNULTY, Mr. STARK, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. 
DELAHUNT, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. MCHUGH, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. RANGEL, 
Mr. MEEHAN, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. DENT, Mr. TERRY, Mr. 
TIERNEY, Mr. WALZ of Minnesota, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. YARMUTH, Mr. 
GRIJALVA, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. MCGOV-
ERN, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. WELCH of Vermont, Mr. WYNN, Mr. 
HONDA, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr. NEAL of Massachu-
setts, Mr. ENGEL, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. OLVER, Mr. ALLEN, 
Mr. YOUNG of Florida, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. MCCOLLUM of 
Minnesota, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. MARSHALL, Ms. 
KAPTUR, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, Mr. PATRICK MURPHY of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. WOLF, Ms. LEE, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. 
BERMAN, Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. HARMAN, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. ALTMIRE, 
Mr. KILDEE, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. GORDON 
of Tennessee, and Ms. PRYCE of Ohio 
OCTOBER 15, 2007 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
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[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 28, 2007] 
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. 
TITLE I—PARALYSIS RESEARCH 
Sec. 101. Activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research 
on paralysis. 
TITLE II—PARALYSIS REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND CARE 
Sec. 201. Activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to research 
with implications for enhancing daily function for persons 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. 
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TITLE I—PARALYSIS RESEARCH 
SEC. 101. ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF 
HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO RESEARCH ON PA-
RALYSIS. 
(a) COORDINATION.—The Director of the National In-
stitutes of Health (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Director’’), 
pursuant to the general authority of the Director, may de-
velop mechanisms to coordinate the paralysis research 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 
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; 
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(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 dissemi-
nation 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 co-
ordination 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 of the 
consortia and the submission of the reports to the Di-
rector. 
(4) ORGANIZATION OF CONSORTIA.—Each con-
sortium under paragraph (1) may use the facilities of 
a single lead institution, or be formed from several co-
operating institutions, meeting such requirements as 
may be prescribed by the Director. 
(c) PUBLIC INPUT.—The Director may provide for a 
mechanism to educate and disseminate information on the 
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existing and planned programs and research activities of 
the National Institutes of Health with respect to paralysis 
and through which the Director can receive comments from 
the public regarding such programs and activities. 
TITLE II—PARALYSIS REHABILI-
TATION RESEARCH AND CARE 
SEC. 201. ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF 
HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO RESEARCH WITH 
IMPLICATIONS FOR ENHANCING DAILY FUNC-
TION FOR PERSONS WITH PARALYSIS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, pursuant to the gen-
eral authority of the Director, may make awards of grants 
to public or private entities to pay all or part of the costs 
of planning, establishing, improving, and providing basic 
operating support to multicenter networks of clinical sites 
that will collaborate to design clinical rehabilitation inter-
vention protocols and measures of outcomes on one or more 
forms of paralysis that result from central nervous system 
trauma, disorders, or stroke, or any combination of such 
conditions. 
(b) RESEARCH.—A multicenter network of clinical 
sites funded through this section may— 
(1) focus on areas of key scientific concern, in-
cluding— 
(A) improving functional mobility; 
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(B) promoting behavioral adaptation to 
functional losses, especially to prevent secondary 
complications; 
(C) assessing the efficacy and outcomes of 
medical rehabilitation therapies and practices 
and assisting technologies; 
(D) developing improved assistive tech-
nology to improve function and independence; 
and 
(E) understanding whole body system re-
sponses to physical impairments, disabilities, 
and societal and functional limitations; and 
(2) replicate the findings of network members or 
other researchers for scientific and translation pur-
poses. 
(c) COORDINATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS NETWORKS; 
REPORTS.—The Director may, as appropriate, provide for 
the coordination of information among networks funded 
through this section and ensure regular communication 
among members of the networks, and may require the peri-
odic preparation of reports on the activities of the networks 
and submission of reports to the Director. 
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TITLE III—IMPROVING QUALITY 
OF LIFE FOR PERSONS WITH 
PARALYSIS AND OTHER PHYS-
ICAL DISABILITIES 
SEC. 301. PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR 
PERSONS WITH PARALYSIS AND OTHER PHYS-
ICAL DISABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this title referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) may study the unique health challenges associated 
with paralysis and other physical disabilities and carry out 
projects and interventions to improve the quality of life and 
long-term health status of persons with paralysis and other 
physical disabilities. The Secretary may carry out such 
projects directly and through awards of grants or contracts. 
(b) CERTAIN ACTIVITIES.—Activities under subsection 
(a) may include— 
(1) the development of a national paralysis and 
physical disability quality of life action plan, to pro-
mote health and wellness in order to enhance full par-
ticipation, independent living, self-sufficiency, and 
equality of opportunity in partnership with vol-
untary health agencies focused on paralysis and other 
physical disabilities, to be carried out in coordination 
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with the State-based Disability and Health Program 
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 
(2) support for programs to disseminate infor-
mation involving care and rehabilitation options and 
quality of life grant programs supportive of commu-
nity-based programs and support systems for persons 
with paralysis and other physical disabilities; 
(3) in collaboration with other centers and na-
tional voluntary health agencies, the establishment of 
a population-based database that may be used for lon-
gitudinal and other research on paralysis and other 
disabling conditions; and 
(4) the replication and translation of best prac-
tices and the sharing of information across States, as 
well as the development of comprehensive, unique, and 
innovative programs, services, and demonstrations 
within existing State-based disability and health pro-
grams of the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion which are designed to support and advance qual-
ity of life programs for persons living with paralysis 
and other physical disabilities focusing on— 
(A) caregiver education; 
(B) promoting proper nutrition, increasing 
physical activity, and reducing tobacco use; 
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(C) education and awareness programs for 
health care providers; 
(D) prevention of secondary complications; 
(E) home- and community-based interven-
tions; 
(F) coordinating services and removing bar-
riers that prevent full participation and integra-
tion into the community; and 
(G) recognizing the unique needs of under-
served populations. 
(c) GRANTS.—The Secretary may award grants in ac-
cordance with the following: 
(1) To State and local health and disability 
agencies for the purpose of— 
(A) establishing a population-based data-
base that may be used for longitudinal and other 
research on paralysis and other disabling condi-
tions; 
(B) developing comprehensive paralysis and 
other physical disability action plans and activi-
ties focused on the items listed in subsection 
(b)(4); 
(C) assisting State-based programs in estab-
lishing and implementing partnerships and col-
laborations that maximize the input and support 
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of people with paralysis and other physical dis-
abilities and their constituent organizations; 
(D) coordinating paralysis and physical 
disability activities with existing State-based 
disability and health programs; 
(E) providing education and training op-
portunities and programs for health professionals 
and allied caregivers; and 
(F) developing, testing, evaluating, and rep-
licating effective intervention programs to main-
tain or improve health and quality of life. 
(2) To private health and disability organiza-
tions for the purpose of— 
(A) disseminating information to the pub-
lic; 
(B) improving access to services for persons 
living with paralysis and other physical disabil-
ities and their caregivers; 
(C) testing model intervention programs to 
improve health and quality of life; and 
(D) coordinating existing services with 
State-based disability and health programs. 
(d) COORDINATION
OF ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that activities under this section are coordi-
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nated as appropriate by the agencies of the Department of 
Health and Human Services. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to 
be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2011. 
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Union Calendar No. 235 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1727 
[Report No. 110–378] 
A BILL 
To enhance and further research into paralysis and 
to improve rehabilitation and the quality of life 
for persons living with paralysis and other phys-
ical disabilities, and for other purposes. 
OCTOBER 15, 2007 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
00:05 Oct 16, 2007
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PO 00000
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