I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3433
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants
for the development and operation of research centers regarding environ-
mental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 17, 1999
Mrs. LOWEY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the
Director of the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences to make grants for the development
and operation of research centers regarding environ-
mental factors that may be related to the etiology of
breast cancer.
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 ‘‘Breast Cancer and
Environmental Research Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds as follows:
(1) Breast cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer deaths among American women.
(2) In 1999, 175,000 women will be diagnosed
with breast cancer, and more than 43,000 are ex-
pected to die from this disease.
(3) A large proportion of breast cancer cases
cannot be attributed to known risk factors. Three of
four cases of breast cancer arise in women with no
known risk factors.
(4) The National Action Plan on Breast Can-
cer, a public private partnership, has recognized the
importance of expanding the scope and breadth of
biomedical, epidemiological, and behavioral research
activities related to the etiology of breast cancer and
the role of the environment.
(5) Environmental factors, such as exposure to
ionizing radiation, have been shown to cause cancer
by reacting with a gene’s DNA and causing a muta-
tion.
(6) Physical activity, including diet and the role
of exercise, have emerged as factors in the under-
standing in the development of cancers, including
breast cancer.
(7) The role of viruses, low-level radiation,
chemicals, electromagnetic fields and light-at-night
and gene-environment interactions may also provide
clues to understanding the etiology of breast cancer.
(8) To date, there has been only a limited re-
search investment to expand the scope or coordinate
efforts across disciplines or work with the commu-
nity to study the role of the environment in the de-
velopment of breast cancer.
(9) In order to take full advantage of the tre-
mendous potential for avenues of prevention, the
Federal investment in the role of the environment
and the development of breast cancer should be ex-
panded.
SEC. 
3. 
NATIONAL 
INSTITUTE 
OF 
ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH SCIENCES; AWARDS FOR DEVELOP-
MENT AND OPERATION OF RESEARCH CEN-
TERS 
REGARDING 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
FAC-
TORS RELATED TO BREAST CANCER.
Subpart 12 of part C of title IV of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285L et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following section:
‘‘RESEARCH CENTERS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL
FACTORS RELATED TO BREAST CANCER
‘‘SEC. 463B. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the
Institute, after consultation with the advisory council for
the Institute, shall make grants to public or nonprofit pri-
vate entities for the development and operation of not
more than eight centers for the purpose of conducting
multidisciplinary research on environmental factors that
may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. Each such
center shall be known as a Breast Cancer and Environ-
mental Research Center of Excellence.
‘‘(b) RESEARCH, TRAINING, AND INFORMATION AND
EDUCATION.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each center under sub-
section (a) shall, with respect to the purpose de-
scribed in such subsection—
‘‘(A) conduct basic and clinical research;
‘‘(B) develop protocols for training physi-
cians, scientists, nurses, and other health and
allied health professionals;
‘‘(C) conduct training programs for such
individuals;
‘‘(D) develop model continuing education
programs for such professionals; and
‘‘(E) disseminate information to such pro-
fessionals and the public.
‘‘(2) STIPENDS FOR TRAINING OF HEALTH PRO-
FESSIONALS.—A center under subsection (a) may
use funds under such subsection to provide stipends
for health and allied health professionals enrolled in
programs described in subparagraph (C) of para-
graph (1).
‘‘(c) COLLABORATION
WITH
COMMUNITY.—Each
center under subsection (a) shall establish and maintain
ongoing collaborations with community organizations in
the geographic area served by the center, including those
that represent women with breast cancer.
‘‘(d) COORDINATION OF CENTERS; REPORTS.—The
Director of the Institute shall, as appropriate, provide for
the coordination of information among centers under sub-
section (a) and ensure regular communication between
such centers, and may require the periodic preparation of
reports on the activities of the centers and the submission
of the reports to the Director.
‘‘(e) REQUIRED CONSORTIUM.—Each center under
subsection (a) shall be formed from a consortium of co-
operating institutions, meeting such requirements as may
be prescribed by the Director of the Institute.
‘‘(f) DURATION OF SUPPORT.—Support of a center
under subsection (a) may be for a period not exceeding
5 years. Such period may be extended for one or more
additional periods not exceeding 5 years if the operations
of such center have been reviewed by an appropriate tech-
nical and scientific peer review group established by the
Director of the Institute and if such group has rec-
ommended to the Director that such period should be ex-
tended.
‘‘(g) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
OF CENTERS.—
The Director of the Institute shall, to the extent prac-
ticable, provide for an equitable geographical distribution
of centers under this section.
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized
to be appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2000 through 2005. Such authorization is in addition to
any other authorization of appropriations that is available
for such purpose.’’.
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