I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2157
To provide for uterine fibroid research and education, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 20, 2003
Mrs. JONES of Ohio introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for uterine fibroid research and education, 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 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The development of uterine fibroids is a 
common and significant health problem, affecting 
women of all ages, racial backgrounds, and socio-
economic levels.
(2) It has been estimated that between 20 and 
30 percent of women of reproductive age have uter-
ine fibroids, though not all have been diagnosed. 
Studies indicate the prevalence could be much high-
er. 
(3) Symptomatic uterine fibroids can cause 
heavy bleeding, pain, and reproductive problems, in-
cluding infertility. There is no known cause of uter-
ine fibroids. 
(4) Uterine fibroids are the most common indi-
cation for hysterectomy, accounting for approxi-
mately one-third of hysterectomies, or 200,000 pro-
cedures annually. 
(5) African American women are 2 to 3 times 
more likely to develop uterine fibroids than women 
of other racial groups. 
(6) The estimated annual charges for inpatient 
care 
for 
uterine 
fibroids 
totaled 
more 
than 
$2,000,000,000 in 1997. 
(7) The Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality found a ‘‘remarkable lack of high quality 
evidence supporting the effectiveness of most inter-
ventions for symptomatic fibroids’’.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National In-
stitutes of Health (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Di-
rector of NIH’’) shall expand, intensify, and coordinate 
programs for the conduct and support of research with 
respect to uterine fibroids. 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of NIH shall 
carry out this section through the appropriate insti-
tutes, offices, and centers, including the National In-
stitute of Child Health and Human Development, 
the National Institute of Environmental Health 
Sciences, the Office of Research on Women’s Health, 
the National Center on Minority Health and Health 
Disparities, and any other agencies that the Director 
of NIH determines to be appropriate. 
(2) COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES.—The Office 
of Research on Women’s Health shall coordinate ac-
tivities under paragraph (1) among the institutes, 
offices, and centers of the National Institutes of 
Health. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized 
to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2004 through 2008.
SEC. 4. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION WITH RESPECT TO 
UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
(a) UTERINE FIBROIDS PUBLIC EDUCATION PRO-
GRAM.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Secretary’’), acting through the Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall 
develop and disseminate to the public information 
regarding uterine fibroids, including information 
on—
(A) the incidence and prevalence of uterine 
fibroids; 
(B) the elevated risk for minority women; 
and 
(C) the availability, as medically appro-
priate, of a range of treatment options for 
symptomatic uterine fibroids. 
(2) DISSEMINATION.—The Secretary may dis-
seminate information under paragraph (1) directly, 
or through arrangements with nonprofit organiza-
tions, consumer groups, institutions of higher edu-
cation (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), Federal, 
State, or local agencies, or the media.
(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For 
the purpose of carrying out this subsection, there 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2004 
through 2008. 
(b) UTERINE FIBROIDS INFORMATION PROGRAM FOR 
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.—
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Secretary, 
acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, shall develop and dis-
seminate to health care providers information on 
uterine fibroids, including information on the ele-
vated risk for minority women and the range of 
available options for the treatment of symptomatic 
uterine fibroids. 
(2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For 
the purpose of carrying out this subsection, there 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2004 
through 2008. 
(c) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘minority’’, with respect to women, means women 
who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups with-
in the meaning of section 1707 of the Public Health Serv-
ice Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6).
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