performance measures and national core outcome 
measures utilized under the Maternal and Child 
Health Block Grant under title V of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) for purposes of ex-
panding such measures to include some of the 
known risk factors of low birthweight and pre-
maturity, including the percentage of infants born to 
pregnant women who smoked during pregnancy. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of 
the Health Resources and Services Administration 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report concerning the results of the evalua-
tion conducted under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 4. PUBLIC AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDER EDUCATION 
AND SUPPORT SERVICES. 
Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
‘‘SEC. 399O. PUBLIC AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDER EDU-
CATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES. 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, directly or 
through the awarding of grants to public or private non-
profit entities, shall conduct a demonstration project to 
improve the provision of information on prematurity to
health professionals and other health care providers and 
the public. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—Activities to be carried out under 
the demonstration project under subsection (a) shall in-
clude the establishment of programs—
‘‘(1) to provide information and education to 
health professionals, other health care providers, and 
the public concerning—
‘‘(A) the signs of preterm labor, updated 
as new research results become available; 
‘‘(B) the screening for and the treating of 
infections; 
‘‘(C) counseling on optimal weight and 
good nutrition, including folic acid; 
‘‘(D) smoking cessation education and 
counseling; and 
‘‘(E) stress management; and 
‘‘(2) to improve the treatment and outcomes for 
babies born premature, including the use of evi-
dence-based standards of care by health care profes-
sionals for pregnant women at risk of preterm labor 
or other serious complications and for infants born 
preterm and at a low birthweight. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENT.—Any program or activity fund-
ed under this section shall be evidence-based.
‘‘(d) NICU FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS.—The Sec-
retary shall conduct, through the awarding of grants to 
public and nonprofit private entities, projects to respond 
to the emotional and informational needs of families dur-
ing the stay of an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit, 
during the transition of the infant to the home, and in 
the event of a newborn death. Activities under such 
projects may include providing books and videos to fami-
lies that provide information about the neonatal intensive 
care unit experience, and providing direct services that 
provide emotional support within the neonatal intensive 
care unit setting. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 
2004 through 2008.’’. 
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL ON PRE-
MATURITY AND LOW BIRTHWEIGHT. 
(a) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to 
stimulate multidisciplinary research, scientific exchange, 
and collaboration among the agencies of the Department 
of Health and Human Services and to assist the Depart-
ment in targeting efforts to achieve the greatest advances 
toward the goal of reducing prematurity and low birth-
weight.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall establish an Interagency Coordi-
nating Council on Prematurity and Low Birthweight (re-
ferred to in this section as the Council) to carry out the 
purpose of this section. 
(c) COMPOSITION.—The Council shall be composed of 
members to be appointed by the Secretary, including rep-
resentatives of—
(1) the agencies of the Department of Health 
and Human Services; and 
(2) voluntary health care organizations, includ-
ing grassroots advocacy organizations, providers of 
specialty obstetrical and pediatric care, and re-
searcher organizations. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—The Council shall—
(1) annually report to the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services on current Departmental ac-
tivities relating to prematurity and low birthweight; 
(2) plan and hold a conference on prematurity 
and low birthweight under the sponsorship of the 
Surgeon General; 
(3) establish a consensus research plan for the 
Department of Health and Human Services on pre-
maturity and low birthweight;
(4) report to the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services and the appropriate committees of 
Congress on recommendations derived from the con-
ference held under paragraph (2) and on the status 
of Departmental research activities concerning pre-
maturity and low birthweight; 
(5) carry out other activities determined appro-
priate by the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices; and 
(6) oversee the coordination of the implementa-
tion of this Act. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act, such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
years 2004 through 2008.
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