I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2420
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for expanding and inten-
sifying activities of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculo-
skeletal and Skin Diseases with respect to lupus.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 15, 1993
Mrs. MEEK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for
expanding and intensifying activities of the National In-
stitute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Dis-
eases with respect to lupus.
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 ‘‘Lupus Research
Amendments of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) lupus is a serious, complex, inflammatory,
autoimmune disease of particular concern to women;
(2) lupus affects women 9 times more often
than men;
(3) there are 3 main types of lupus: systemic
lupus, a serious form of the disease that affects
many parts of the body; discoid lupus, a form of the
disease that affects mainly the skin; and drug-in-
duced lupus caused by certain medications;
(4) lupus can be fatal if not detected and
treated early;
(5) the disease can simultaneously affect var-
ious areas of the body, such as the skin, joints, kid-
neys, and brain, and can be difficult to diagnose be-
cause the symptoms of lupus are similar to those of
many other diseases;
(6) lupus disproportionately affects African-
American women, as the prevalence of the disease
among such women is 3 times the prevalence among
white women, and an estimated 1 in 250 African-
American women between the ages of 15 and 65 de-
velops the disease;
(7) it has been estimated that over 500,000
Americans have been diagnosed with the disease,
and that many more have undiagnosed cases;
(8) current treatments for the disease can be
effective, but may lead to damaging side effects; and
(9) many victims of the disease suffer debilitat-
ing pain and fatigue, making it difficult to maintain
employment and lead normal lives.
SEC. 3. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES
REGARDING LUPUS.
Subpart 4 of part C of title IV of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285d et seq.) is amended by insert-
ing after section 441 the following section:
‘‘LUPUS
‘‘SEC. 441A. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the
Institute shall expand and intensify research and related
activities of the Institute with respect to lupus.
‘‘(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTES.—
The Director of the Institute shall coordinate the activities
of the Director under subsection (a) with similar activities
conducted by the other national research institutes and
agencies of the National Institutes of Health to the extent
that such Institutes and agencies have responsibilities that
are related to lupus.
‘‘(c) PROGRAMS FOR LUPUS.—In carrying out sub-
section (a), the Director of the Institute shall conduct or
support research to expand the understanding of the
causes of, and to find a cure for, lupus. Activities under
such subsection shall include research to determine the
reasons underlying the elevated prevalence of the disease
among African-American and other women. Activities
under such subsection shall provide for an expansion and
intensification of the conduct and support of—
‘‘(1) basic research concerning the etiology and
causes of lupus;
‘‘(2) epidemiological studies to address the fre-
quency and natural history of the disease and the
differences among the sexes and among racial and
ethnic groups with respect to the disease;
‘‘(3) the development of improved screening
techniques;
‘‘(4) clinical research for the development and
evaluation of new treatments, including new biologi-
cal agents; and
‘‘(5) information and education programs for
health care professionals and the public.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized
to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
1994 through 1996. The authorization of appropriations
established in the preceding sentence is in addition to any
other authorization of appropriations that is available for
such purpose.’’.