I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2349 
To provide for research and education with respect to uterine fibroids, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 16, 2007 
Mrs. JONES of Ohio (for herself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. 
GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for research and education with respect to uterine 
fibroids, 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 ‘‘Uterine Fibroid Re-
search and Education Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The development of uterine fibroids is a 
common and significant health problem, affecting 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:33 May 18, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2349.IH
H2349
jlentini on PRODPC74 with BILLS
women, primarily of reproductive age, across all 
ages, racial backgrounds, and socioeconomic levels. 
(2) It is estimated that between 20 and 30 per-
cent of women of reproductive age have clinically 
recognized uterine fibroids, and screening studies in-
dicate the prevalence of uterine fibroids in women 
may be much higher. 
(3) Minority women are more likely to develop 
uterine fibroids, and through ultrasound screening of 
African-American and Caucasian women for fibroids, 
it is estimated that more than 80 percent of African 
Americans and about 70 percent of Caucasians de-
velop fibroids by the time they reach menopause and 
the tumors develop at younger ages in African 
Americans. 
(4) Symptomatic uterine fibroids can cause 
heavy bleeding, pain, and reproductive problems, in-
cluding infertility. There is no known cause of uter-
ine fibroids. 
(5) The presence of uterine fibroids is the most 
common reason for hysterectomies, accounting for 
approximately 
one-third 
of 
hysterectomies, 
or 
200,000 procedures annually and 22 percent of Afri-
can American women and 7 percent of Caucasians 
have hysterectomies for fibroids. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:33 May 18, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2349.IH
H2349
jlentini on PRODPC74 with BILLS
(6) Over five billion dollars are spent annually 
on hysterectomies, at approximately $6,000 for each 
surgery. 
(7) The Evidence Report and Summary on the 
Management of Uterine Fibroids, as compiled by the 
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of the 
Department of Health and Human Services, held 
that there is a ‘‘remarkable lack of high quality evi-
dence supporting the effectiveness of most interven-
tions for symptomatic fibroids’’. 
(8) Current research and available data do not 
provide adequate information on the rates of preva-
lence and incidence of fibroids in Asian, Hispanic, 
and other minority women, the costs associated with 
treating fibroids, and the methods by which fibroids 
may be prevented in these women. 
SEC. 3. RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
(a) RESEARCH.—The Director of the National Insti-
tutes of Health (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Direc-
tor of NIH’’) shall expand, intensify, and coordinate pro-
grams for the conduct and support of research with re-
spect to uterine fibroids. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Director of NIH shall 
carry out this section through the appropriate institutes, 
offices, and centers of the National Institutes of Health, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:33 May 18, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2349.IH
H2349
jlentini on PRODPC74 with BILLS
including the National Institute of Child Health and 
Human Development, the National Institute of Environ-
mental Health Sciences, the Office of Research on Wom-
en’s Health, and the National Center on Minority Health 
and Health Disparities. 
(c) COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES.—The Office of 
Research on Women’s Health shall coordinate activities 
under subsection (b) among the institutes, offices, and 
centers of the National Institutes of Health. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized 
to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 4. EDUCATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION 
WITH RESPECT TO UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
(a) UTERINE FIBROIDS PUBLIC EDUCATION PRO-
GRAM.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, shall develop and disseminate to 
the public information regarding uterine fibroids, includ-
ing information on— 
(1) the incidence and prevalence of uterine 
fibroids among women; 
(2) the elevated risk for minority women to de-
velop uterine fibroids; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:33 May 18, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2349.IH
H2349
jlentini on PRODPC74 with BILLS
(3) the availability, as medically appropriate, of 
a range of treatment options for symptomatic uter-
ine fibroids. 
(b) DISSEMINATION
OF INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary may disseminate information under subsection (a) 
directly or through arrangements with nonprofit organiza-
tions, consumer groups, institutions of higher education, 
Federal, State, or local agencies, or the media. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 5. INFORMATION TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WITH 
RESPECT TO UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
(a) DISSEMINATION
OF INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services, acting through the 
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Ad-
ministration, shall develop and disseminate to health care 
providers information on uterine fibroids for the purpose 
of ensuring that health care providers remain informed 
about current information on uterine fibroids. Such infor-
mation shall include the elevated risk for minority women 
to develop uterine fibroids and the range of available op-
tions for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
01:33 May 18, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2349.IH
H2349
jlentini on PRODPC74 with BILLS