datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4778 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exempt negative pressure 
wound therapy pumps and related supplies and accessories from the 
Medicare competitive acquisition program until the clinical comparability 
of such products can be validated. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 18, 2007 
Mr. GONZALEZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to exempt 
negative pressure wound therapy pumps and related sup-
plies and accessories from the Medicare competitive ac-
quisition program until the clinical comparability of such 
products can be validated. 
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 ‘‘Medicare Wound Ther-
apy Patient Protection Act of 2007’’. 
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SEC. 2. EXEMPTION OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE WOUND 
THERAPY PUMPS AND RELATED SUPPLIES 
AND ACCESSORIES FROM THE MEDICARE 
COMPETITIVE ACQUISITION PROGRAM UNTIL 
THE CLINICAL COMPARABILITY OF SUCH 
PRODUCTS CAN BE VALIDATED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1847(a)(2)(A) of the So-
cial Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w–3(a)(2)(A)) is amend-
ed by inserting before the period at the end the following: 
‘‘and excluding negative pressure wound therapy pumps 
and related supplies and accessories until such time as the 
Secretary can validate, using a panel of wound care clin-
ical experts, the clinical comparability of all products in-
cluded in the category of such products’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on March 31, 2008. 
Æ 
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‘‘SEC. 330M. TELEHEALTH STROKE TREATMENT GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make grants to 
States, and to consortia of public and private entities lo-
cated in any State that is not a grantee under this section, 
to conduct a 5-year pilot project over the period of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012 to improve stroke patient out-
comes by coordinating health care delivery through tele-
health networks. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
ister this section through the Director of the Office for 
the Advancement of Telehealth. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, 
for the purpose of better coordinating program activities, 
the Secretary shall consult with—
‘‘(1) officials responsible for other Federal pro-
grams involving stroke research and care, including 
such programs established by the Stroke Treatment 
and Ongoing Prevention Act; and 
‘‘(2) organizations and individuals with exper-
tise in stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and 
rehabilitation. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may not 
make a grant to a State or a consortium under this
section unless the State or consortium agrees to use 
the grant for the purpose of—
‘‘(A) identifying entities with expertise in 
the delivery of high-quality stroke prevention, 
diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation; 
‘‘(B) working with those entities to estab-
lish or improve telehealth networks to provide 
stroke treatment assistance and resources to 
health care professionals, hospitals, and other 
individuals and entities that serve stroke pa-
tients; 
‘‘(C) informing emergency medical systems 
of the location of entities identified under sub-
paragraph (A) to facilitate the appropriate 
transport of individuals with stroke symptoms; 
‘‘(D) establishing networks to coordinate 
collaborative activities for stroke prevention, di-
agnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation; 
‘‘(E) improving access to high-quality 
stroke care, especially for populations with a 
shortage of stroke care specialists and popu-
lations with a high incidence of stroke; and 
‘‘(F) conducting ongoing performance and 
quality evaluations to identify collaborative ac-
tivities that improve clinical outcomes for stroke 
patients. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
CONSORTIUM.—The 
Secretary may not make a grant to a State under 
this section unless the State agrees to establish a 
consortium of public and private entities, including 
universities and academic medical centers, to carry 
out the activities described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary may not 
make a grant under this section to a State that has 
an existing telehealth network that is or may be 
used for improving stroke prevention, diagnosis, 
treatment, and rehabilitation, or to a consortium lo-
cated in such a State, unless the State or consor-
tium agrees that—
‘‘(A) the State or consortium will use an 
existing telehealth network to achieve the pur-
pose of the grant; and 
‘‘(B) the State or consortium will not es-
tablish a separate network for such purpose. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipients under 
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any appli-
cant that submits a plan demonstrating how the applicant, 
and where applicable the members of the consortium de-
scribed in subsection (d)(2), will use the grant to improve
access to high-quality stroke care for populations with 
shortages of stroke-care specialists and populations with 
a high incidence of stroke. 
‘‘(f) GRANT PERIOD.—The Secretary may not award 
a grant to a State or a consortium under this section for 
any period that—
‘‘(1) is greater than 3 years; or 
‘‘(2) extends beyond the end of fiscal year 
2012. 
‘‘(g) RESTRICTION
ON NUMBER
OF GRANTS.—In 
carrying out the 5-year pilot project under this section, 
the Secretary may not award more than 7 grants. 
‘‘(h) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, a State or a consortium of public and private entities 
shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require. At a minimum, the Secretary shall 
require each such application to outline how the State or 
consortium will establish baseline measures and bench-
marks to evaluate program outcomes. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘stroke’ 
means a ‘brain attack’ in which blood flow to the brain 
is interrupted or in which a blood vessel or aneurysm in 
the brain breaks or ruptures.
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $13,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2009, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, $8,000,000 
for fiscal year 2011, and $4,000,000 for fiscal year 
2012.’’. 
(b) STUDY; REPORTS.—
(1) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than March 31, 
2013, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall conduct a study of the results of the telehealth 
stroke treatment grant program under section 330M 
of the Public Health Service Act (added by sub-
section (a)) and submit to the Congress a report on 
such results that includes the following: 
(A) An evaluation of the grant program 
outcomes, including quantitative analysis of 
baseline and benchmark measures. 
(B) Recommendations on how to promote 
stroke networks in ways that improve access to 
clinical care in rural and urban areas and re-
duce the incidence of stroke and the debilitating 
and costly complications resulting from stroke. 
(C) Recommendations on whether similar 
telehealth grant programs could be used to im-
(b) EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP-
MENT.—Section 1251 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 300d–51) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1251. MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AD-
VANCED STROKE AND TRAUMATIC INJURY 
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. 
‘‘(a) RESIDENCY AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL TRAIN-
ING.—The Secretary may make grants to public and non-
profit entities for the purpose of planning, developing, and 
enhancing approved residency training programs and 
other professional training for appropriate health profes-
sions in emergency medicine, including emergency medical 
services professionals, to improve stroke and traumatic in-
jury prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. 
‘‘(b) CONTINUING EDUCATION
ON STROKE
AND 
TRAUMATIC INJURY.— 
‘‘(1) GRANTS.—The Secretary, acting through 
the Administrator of the Health Resources and Serv-
ices Administration, may make grants to qualified 
entities for the development and implementation of 
education programs for appropriate health care pro-
fessionals in the use of newly developed diagnostic 
approaches, technologies, and therapies for health 
professionals involved in the prevention, diagnosis, 
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treatment, and rehabilitation of stroke or traumatic 
injury. 
‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS.—In awarding 
grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall give 
preference to qualified entities that will train health 
care professionals that serve areas with a significant 
incidence of stroke or traumatic injuries. 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—A qualified entity desiring 
a grant under this subsection shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require, including a plan for the rigorous 
evaluation of activities carried out with amounts re-
ceived under the grant. 
‘‘(4) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section: 
‘‘(A) The term ‘qualified entity’ means a 
consortium of public and private entities, such 
as universities, academic medical centers, hos-
pitals, and emergency medical systems that are 
coordinating education activities among pro-
viders serving in a variety of medical settings. 
‘‘(B) The term ‘stroke’ means a ‘brain at-
tack’ in which blood flow to the brain is inter-
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rupted or in which a blood vessel or aneurysm 
in the brain breaks or ruptures. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the alloca-
tion of grants under this section, the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on 
the results of activities carried out with amounts received 
under this section. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
The Secretary shall equitably allocate the funds author-
ized to be appropriated under this section between efforts 
to address stroke and efforts to address traumatic in-
jury.’’. 
SEC. 3. PILOT PROJECT ON TELEHEALTH STROKE TREAT-
MENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Part D of title III of the Pub-
lic Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended 
by inserting after section 330L the following: 
‘‘SEC. 330M. TELEHEALTH STROKE TREATMENT GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary may make grants to 
States, and to consortia of public and private entities lo-
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cated in any State that is not a grantee under this section, 
to conduct a 5-year pilot project over the period of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012 to improve stroke patient out-
comes by coordinating health care delivery through tele-
health networks. 
‘‘(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
ister this section through the Director of the Office for 
the Advancement of Telehealth. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out this section, 
for the purpose of better coordinating program activities, 
the Secretary shall consult with— 
‘‘(1) officials responsible for other Federal pro-
grams involving stroke research and care, including 
such programs established by the Stroke Treatment 
and Ongoing Prevention Act; and 
‘‘(2) organizations and individuals with exper-
tise in stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and 
rehabilitation. 
‘‘(d) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may not 
make a grant to a State or a consortium under this 
section unless the State or consortium agrees to use 
the grant for the purpose of— 
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‘‘(A) identifying entities with expertise in 
the delivery of high-quality stroke prevention, 
diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation; 
‘‘(B) working with those entities to estab-
lish or improve telehealth networks to provide 
stroke treatment assistance and resources to 
health care professionals, hospitals, and other 
individuals and entities that serve stroke pa-
tients; 
‘‘(C) informing emergency medical systems 
of the location of entities identified under sub-
paragraph (A) to facilitate the appropriate 
transport of individuals with stroke symptoms; 
‘‘(D) establishing networks to coordinate 
collaborative activities for stroke prevention, di-
agnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation; 
‘‘(E) improving access to high-quality 
stroke care, especially for populations with a 
shortage of stroke care specialists and popu-
lations with a high incidence of stroke; and 
‘‘(F) conducting ongoing performance and 
quality evaluations to identify collaborative ac-
tivities that improve clinical outcomes for stroke 
patients. 
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‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
CONSORTIUM.—The 
Secretary may not make a grant to a State under 
this section unless the State agrees to establish a 
consortium of public and private entities, including 
universities and academic medical centers, to carry 
out the activities described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary may not 
make a grant under this section to a State that has 
an existing telehealth network that is or may be 
used for improving stroke prevention, diagnosis, 
treatment, and rehabilitation, or to a consortium lo-
cated in such a State, unless the State or consor-
tium agrees that— 
‘‘(A) the State or consortium will use an 
existing telehealth network to achieve the pur-
pose of the grant; and 
‘‘(B) the State or consortium will not es-
tablish a separate network for such purpose. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipients under 
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any appli-
cant that submits a plan demonstrating how the applicant, 
and where applicable the members of the consortium de-
scribed in subsection (d)(2), will use the grant to improve 
access to high-quality stroke care for populations with 
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shortages of stroke-care specialists and populations with 
a high incidence of stroke. 
‘‘(f) GRANT PERIOD.—The Secretary may not award 
a grant to a State or a consortium under this section for 
any period that— 
‘‘(1) is greater than 3 years; or 
‘‘(2) extends beyond the end of fiscal year 
2012. 
‘‘(g) RESTRICTION
ON NUMBER
OF GRANTS.—In 
carrying out the 5-year pilot project under this section, 
the Secretary may not award more than 7 grants. 
‘‘(h) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, a State or a consortium of public and private entities 
shall submit an application to the Secretary in such form, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary may require. At a minimum, the Secretary shall 
require each such application to outline how the State or 
consortium will establish baseline measures and bench-
marks to evaluate program outcomes. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘stroke’ 
means a ‘brain attack’ in which blood flow to the brain 
is interrupted or in which a blood vessel or aneurysm in 
the brain breaks or ruptures. 
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
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$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $13,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2009, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, $8,000,000 
for fiscal year 2011, and $4,000,000 for fiscal year 
2012.’’. 
(b) STUDY; REPORTS.— 
(1) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than March 31, 
2013, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall conduct a study of the results of the telehealth 
stroke treatment grant program under section 330M 
of the Public Health Service Act (added by sub-
section (a)) and submit to the Congress a report on 
such results that includes the following: 
(A) An evaluation of the grant program 
outcomes, including quantitative analysis of 
baseline and benchmark measures. 
(B) Recommendations on how to promote 
stroke networks in ways that improve access to 
clinical care in rural and urban areas and re-
duce the incidence of stroke and the debilitating 
and costly complications resulting from stroke. 
(C) Recommendations on whether similar 
telehealth grant programs could be used to im-
prove patient outcomes in other public health 
areas. 
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HR 477 RFS
tivities that improve clinical outcomes for stroke 
patients. 
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
CONSORTIUM.—The 
Secretary may not make a grant to a State under 
this section unless the State agrees to establish a 
consortium of public and private entities, including 
universities and academic medical centers, to carry 
out the activities described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION.—The Secretary may not 
make a grant under this section to a State that has 
an existing telehealth network that is or may be 
used for improving stroke prevention, diagnosis, 
treatment, and rehabilitation, or to a consortium lo-
cated in such a State, unless the State or consor-
tium agrees that— 
‘‘(A) the State or consortium will use an 
existing telehealth network to achieve the pur-
pose of the grant; and 
‘‘(B) the State or consortium will not es-
tablish a separate network for such purpose. 
‘‘(e) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipients under 
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any appli-
cant that submits a plan demonstrating how the applicant, 
and where applicable the members of the consortium de-
scribed in subsection (d)(2), will use the grant to improve 
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SEC. 102. NAVY AND MARINE CORPS. 
(a) NAVY.—Funds are hereby authorized to be appro-
priated for fiscal year 2008 for procurement for the Navy 
as follows: 
(1) For aircraft, $12,432,644,000. 
(2) For weapons, including missiles and tor-
pedoes, $3,068,187,000. 
(3) 
For 
shipbuilding 
and 
conversion, 
$13,596,120,000. 
(4) For other procurement, $5,209,330,000. 
(b) MARINE CORPS.—Funds are hereby authorized to 
be appropriated for fiscal year 2008 for procurement for 
the Marine Corps in the amount of $2,299,419,000. 
(c) NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AMMUNITION.—Funds 
are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 
2008 for procurement of ammunition for the Navy and 
the Marine Corps in the amount of $1,058,832,000. 
SEC. 103. AIR FORCE. 
Funds are hereby authorized to be appropriated for 
fiscal year 2008 for procurement for the Air Force as fol-
lows: 
(1) For aircraft, $12,117,800,000. 
(2) For ammunition, $854,167,000. 
(3) For missiles, $4,984,102,000. 
(4) For other procurement, $15,405,832,000. 
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Union Calendar No. 41 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 477 
[Report No. 110–75] 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to 
strengthen education, prevention, and treatment 
programs relating to stroke, and for other pur-
poses. 
MARCH 27, 2007 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The National Cemetery Administration of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter re-
ferred to as the ‘‘NCA’’) honors veterans with final 
resting places in national shrines and with lasting 
tributes that commemorate their service to the Na-
tion. 
(2) The NCA currently maintains more than 
2,800,000 grave sites at 125 national cemeteries in 
39 States and Puerto Rico. 
(3) In fiscal year 2006, nearly 97,000 inter-
ments were conducted at national cemeteries. 
(4) In fiscal year 2006, nearly 72 percent of in-
terments were at the Nation’s 20 busiest national 
cemeteries in Riverside, California, Florida, Calver-
ton, New York, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 
Fort Logan, Colorado, Willamette, Oregon, Dallas- 
Fort Worth, Texas, National Memorial Cemetery of 
Arizona, Houston, Texas, Fort Rosecrans, Cali-
fornia, Abraham Lincoln, Illinois, Tahoma, Wash-
ington, Massachusetts, San Joaquin Valley, Cali-
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fornia, Long Island, New York, Indiantown Gap, 
Pennsylvania, Ohio Western Reserve, and Great 
Lakes, Michigan. 
(5) Section 1491 of title 10, United States 
Code, requires, upon a family’s request, that every 
eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors 
ceremony, to include folding and presenting the 
United States burial flag and the playing of Taps, 
and the law further stipulates that veterans’ organi-
zations may assist in providing military funeral hon-
ors. 
(6) The folding and presentation of the United 
States flag is a solemn and important moment for 
families of the deceased, and can be done in silence 
or accompanied by a recitation of the 13 steps taken 
to fold the flag and the meaning behind each step. 
(7) Veterans’ service organizations across the 
Nation often provide funeral honors at national 
cemeteries, including the folding and presentation of 
the flag, the recitation of the flag-folding steps and 
the playing of Taps. 
(8) The recitation of the flag-folding steps 
should be proactively offered to the families rather 
than waiting for a request. 
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