I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3446 
To establish a National Commission on Fibrotic Diseases. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2019 
Mr. KING of New York (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. THOMPSON of Mis-
sissippi, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. JAYAPAL, Miss RICE of New York, Mr. 
CLAY, Mr. LEVIN of Michigan, and Mrs. BEATTY) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To establish a National Commission on Fibrotic Diseases. 
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 ‘‘National Commission 
on Scleroderma and Fibrotic Diseases Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON FIBROTIC DISEASES 
RESEARCH. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established, 
within the National Institutes of Health (in this section 
referred to as ‘‘NIH’’), a National Commission on Fibrotic 
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Diseases (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’) 
to evaluate and make recommendations regarding im-
provements to the coordination and advancement of NIH- 
supported research activities related to fibrosis and fi-
brotic diseases, which may include scleroderma as a 
prototypical condition that can cause fibrosis in various 
organs. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Commission shall be 
composed of the following voting members: 
(A) The Director of NIH, or the designee 
of such director. 
(B) The Directors of the following Insti-
tutes, or the designees of such directors: 
(i) National Institute of Arthritis and 
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 
(ii) National Heart, Lung, and Blood 
Institute. 
(iii) National Institute of Diabetes 
and Digestive, and Kidney Diseases. 
(iv) National Human Genome Re-
search Institute. 
(v) Any other Institutes or Centers 
with an active fibrotic disease research 
portfolio. 
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(vi) Twelve additional voting members 
appointed under paragraph (2). 
(2) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—The Commission 
shall include additional voting members, as may be 
appointed by the Director of NIH, with expertise in 
the prevention, care, and epidemiology of any of the 
diseases and complications described in subsection 
(a), including one or more such members from each 
of the following categories: 
(A) Leading scientists or physicians with 
research expertise in the conditions described in 
subsection (a). 
(B) Patient and advocates with a perspec-
tive on the conditions described in subsection 
(a). 
(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The members of the Com-
mission shall select a chairperson from the members 
appointed under paragraph (2). 
(4) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at 
least three times a year, with the first meeting oc-
curring not later than April 1, 2021. 
(5) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Commission 
shall be filled in the same manner as the original ap-
pointments. 
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(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The duties of the Commis-
sion are the following: 
(1) To study the incidence, duration, and mor-
tality rates of fibrotic diseases as described in sub-
section (a). 
(2) To evaluate facilities and resources for the 
diagnosis, prevision, and treatment of fibrotic dis-
eases described in subsection (a). 
(3) To develop a long-range plan for the use 
and organization of national resources to effectively 
advance research and effectively deal with fibrotic 
diseases as described in subsection (a), including— 
(A) a comprehensive research plan, which 
prioritizes fibrosis opportunities that have 
cross-cutting value and require coordination 
across multiple Institutes and Centers; 
(B) topic-specific research recommenda-
tions for each organ or system as impacted by 
fibrotic diseases described in subsection (a); and 
(C) an overview of common themes and 
specific steps for implementation. 
(4) To make recommendations, as appropriate, 
to the Director of NIH and Congress with respect 
to the study, evaluation, and long-range plan de-
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scribed in the preceding paragraphs of this sub-
section. 
(d) OPERATING PLAN.—Not later than 90 days after 
its first meeting, the Commission shall submit to the Di-
rector of NIH and the Congress an operating plan for car-
rying out the duties of the Commission as described in 
subsection (c). Such operating plan may include— 
(1) a list of specific activities that the Commis-
sion plans to conduct for purposes of carrying out 
the duties described in each of the paragraphs in 
subsection (c); 
(2) a plan for completing the activities; 
(3) a list of members of the Commission and 
other individuals who are not members of the Com-
mission who will need to be involved to conduct such 
activities; 
(4) an explanation of NIH Institute and Center 
involvement and coordination needed to conduct 
such activities; 
(5) a budget for conducting such activities; and 
(6) other information that the Commission 
deems appropriate. 
(e) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the Commission’s first meeting, the Commission 
shall submit to the Director of NIH and the Congress a 
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final report containing all of the findings and rec-
ommendation required by subsection (c). 
(f) SUNSET.—The Commission shall terminate 60 
days after submitting its final report, but not later than 
September 30, 2023. 
Æ 
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