109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1554
AN ACT 
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 Quality of Life for Persons with Paralysis Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR 
PERSONS 
WITH 
PARALYSIS 
AND 
OTHER 
PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’), acting through the Director of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, may study the unique 
health challenges associated with paralysis and other phys-
ical 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 sub-
section (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 
participation, 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 co-
ordination with the State-based Comprehensive Pa-
ralysis and Other Physical Disability Quality of Life 
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 per-
sons with paralysis and other physical disabilities; 
(3) in collaboration with other centers and na-
tional voluntary health agencies, the establishment 
of a hospital-based registry, and the conduct of rel-
evant population-based research, on motor disability 
(including paralysis); and 
(4) the development of comprehensive, unique, 
and innovative programs, services, and demonstra-
tions within existing State-based disability and 
health programs of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention which are designed to support and 
advance quality-of-life programs for persons living 
with paralysis and other physical disabilities focus-
ing on—
(A) caregiver education; 
(B) physical activity; 
(C) education and awareness programs for 
health care providers;
(D) prevention of secondary complications; 
(E) home- and community-based interven-
tions; 
(F) coordination of services and removal of 
barriers that prevent full participation and inte-
gration into the community; and 
(G) recognition of the unique needs of un-
derserved populations. 
(c) GRANTS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Sec-
retary may award grants in accordance with the following: 
(1) To State and local health and disability 
agencies for the purpose of—
(A) establishing paralysis registries for the 
support of relevant population-based research; 
(B) developing comprehensive paralysis 
and other physical disability action plans and 
activities focused on the items listed in sub-
section (b)(4); 
(C) assisting State-based programs in es-
tablishing and implementing partnerships and 
collaborations that maximize the input and sup-
port of people with paralysis and other physical 
disabilities 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 profes-
sionals and allied caregivers; and 
(F) developing, testing, evaluating, and 
replicating effective intervention programs to 
maintain or improve health and quality of life. 
(2) To nonprofit private health and disability 
organizations for the purpose of—
(A) disseminating information to the pub-
lic; 
(B) improving access to services for per-
sons living with paralysis and other physical 
disabilities 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-
nated as appropriate with other activities of the Public 
Health Service.
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than Decem-
ber 1, 2007, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress 
a report describing the results of the study under sub-
section (a) and, as applicable, the national plan developed 
under subsection (b)(1). 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated in the aggregate $25,000,000 for the 
fiscal years 2007 through 2010. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) as science and research have advanced, so 
too has the need to increase strategic planning 
across the National Institutes of Health to identify 
research that is important to the advancement of 
biomedical science; and 
(2) research involving collaboration among the 
national research institutes and national centers of 
the National Institutes of Health is crucial for ad-
vancing research on paralysis and thereby improving
rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons liv-
ing with paralysis and other physical disabilities. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 9 
(legislative day, December 8), 2006. 
Attest:
Clerk.
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1554
AN ACT 
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.