SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tom Lantos Pul-
monary Hypertension Research and Education Act of 
2008’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
TITLE I—RESEARCH ON PULMONARY HYPERTENSION 
Sec. 101. Expansion and intensification of activities. 
TITLE II—INCREASING AWARENESS OF PULMONARY 
HYPERTENSION 
Sec. 201. Promoting public awareness. 
Sec. 202. Promoting awareness among health care professionals. 
TITLE I—RESEARCH ON 
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION 
SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVI-
TIES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), act-
ing through the Director of the National Institutes 
of Health and the Director of the National Heart, 
Lung, and Blood Institute (in this title referred to 
as the ‘‘Institute’’), should continue aggressive work 
on pulmonary hypertension;
(2) as part of such work, the Director of the In-
stitute should continue research to expand the un-
derstanding of the causes of, and to find a cure for, 
pulmonary hypertension; and 
(3) activities under paragraph (1) may include 
conducting and supporting— 
(A) basic research concerning the etiology 
and causes of pulmonary hypertension; 
(B) basic research on the relationship be-
tween scleroderma, sickle cell anemia (and other 
conditions identified by the Director of the In-
stitute that can lead to a secondary diagnosis of 
pulmonary hypertension), and pulmonary hy-
pertension; 
(C) clinical research for the development 
and evaluation of new treatments for pul-
monary hypertension, including the establish-
ment of a ‘‘Pulmonary Hypertension Clinical 
Research Network’’; 
(D) support for the training of new clini-
cians and investigators with expertise in the 
pulmonary hypertension; and 
(E) information and education programs 
for the general public.
(b) BIENNIAL REPORTS.—As part of the biennial re-
port made under section 403 of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 283), the Secretary shall include informa-
tion on the status of pulmonary hypertension research at 
the National Institutes of Health. 
TITLE II—INCREASING AWARE-
NESS OF PULMONARY HYPER-
TENSION 
SEC. 201. PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion, shall carry out an educational campaign to increase 
public awareness of pulmonary hypertension. Print, video, 
and Web-based materials distributed under this program 
may include— 
(1) basic information on pulmonary hyper-
tension and its symptoms; and 
(2) information on— 
(A) the incidence and prevalence of pul-
monary hypertension; 
(B) diseases and conditions that can lead 
to pulmonary hypertension as a secondary diag-
nosis; 
(C) the importance of early diagnosis; and
(D) the availability, as medically appro-
priate, of a range of treatment options and pul-
monary hypertension. 
(b) DISSEMINATION
OF INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary is encouraged to disseminate information under 
subsection (a) through a cooperative agreement with a na-
tional nonprofit entity with expertise in pulmonary hyper-
tension. 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2009, the Secretary shall report to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
on the status of activities under this section. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2009, 2010, and 2011. 
SEC. 202. PROMOTING AWARENESS AMONG HEALTH CARE 
PROFESSIONALS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Ad-
ministration and the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, shall carry out an educational
campaign to increase awareness of pulmonary hyper-
tension among health care providers. Print, video, and 
Web-based materials distributed under this program may 
include information on— 
(1) the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension; 
(2) the importance of early diagnosis; 
(3) current diagnostic criteria; and 
(4) Food and Drug Administration-approved 
therapies for the disease. 
(b) TARGETED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.—Health 
care providers targeted through the campaign under sub-
section (a) shall include, but not be limited to, cardiolo-
gists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, primary care phy-
sicians, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners 
(c) DISSEMINATION
OF INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary is encouraged to disseminate information under 
subsection (a) through a cooperative agreement with a na-
tional nonprofit entity with expertise in pulmonary hyper-
tension. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30, 2009, the Secretary shall report to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
on the status of activities under this section. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized 
to be appropriated $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2009, 2010, and 2011. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 
2008. 
Attest: 
Clerk.