I
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4709
To amend the Public Health Services Act to authorize the Director of the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct and
coordinate a research program on hormone disruption.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 9, 2002
Ms. SLAUGHTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on
Resources, and Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Services Act to authorize the
Director of the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences to conduct and coordinate a research
program on hormone disruption.
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 ‘‘Hormone Disruption
Research Act of 2002’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Many compounds found or introduced into
the environment by human activity are capable of
disrupting the hormone system of humans and ani-
mals. The consequences of such disruption can be
profound because of the crucial role hormones play
in controlling development. No standardized and
validated screens or tests have been developed to
routinely and systematically assess chemicals for dis-
ruptive effects on hormone systems.
(2) In the last 30 years, the United States has
experienced an increase in the incidence of such
human disorders as childhood cancers, testicular
cancer, hypospadias, juvenile diabetes, attention def-
icit-like hyperactivity disorders, autism, thyroid dis-
orders, and auto-immune disorders. Exposure to
hormone-disrupting chemicals may be contributing
to these increases. The impact on children’s health
as a result of prenatal exposures in particular needs
further research.
(3) In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention’s ‘‘National Report on Human Expo-
sure to Environmental Chemicals’’ reported on
human exposure to 27 chemicals, and found unex-
pectedly high levels of certain chemicals used in con-
sumer products. The hazards to humans of these
chemicals, singly and in combination, are not well
understood.
(4) Many wildlife populations have been af-
fected by hormone disrupting substances, including
birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals. The effects vary
among species and compounds.
(5) The effects in wildlife include thyroid dys-
function, decreased fertility, decreased hatching suc-
cess, gross birth deformities, metabolic and behav-
ioral abnormalities, demasculinization and feminiza-
tion 
of 
male 
organisms, 
deformation 
and
masculinization of female organisms, and com-
promised immune systems. These effects may signal
hazards to human health.
(6) Laboratory studies have corroborated stud-
ies of effects in wildlife and have identified biological
mechanisms to explain the effects shown.
(7) Since the chemicals found in wildlife are
also found in humans, humans are exposed to the
same chemicals as wildlife.
(8) Hormone disruption can occur at very low
doses, especially when exposure occurs in the womb
or immediately after birth, periods during which
rapid development is occurring.
(9) In the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996
(21 U.S.C. 301 note), Congress recognized the spe-
cial vulnerability of infants and children to pesticides
and requested that the Environmental Protection
Agency establish a program to screen and test hor-
mone disrupting chemicals. The Environmental Pro-
tection Agency has not yet required such screening
or tests.
(10) In 1998, a research committee on hormone
disrupters, organized under the auspices of the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy, concluded
that ‘‘scientific knowledge is inadequate to fully in-
form public policy, and a government-wide coordi-
nated research effort that addresses the key sci-
entific uncertainties . . . is needed’’.
(11) In 1999, in response to a request from
Congress and funded through the Environmental
Protection Agency and the Department of the Inte-
rior, the National Academy of Sciences compiled a
lengthy list of research, monitoring, and testing pri-
orities related to hormone disruption.
(12) The National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences conducts much of the Federal Gov-
ernment’s research on hormone disruption, often
working in partnership with other agencies.
(13) Congress fully supports critical research
being performed by the National Institute of Envi-
ronmental Health Sciences on methods to reduce, re-
fine, or replace animal tests in scientific and medical
studies.
(14) Congress strongly supports protection of
animal subjects and encourages all scientists to use
alternatives to animal testing to the maximum ex-
tent possible.
(15) The United States Geological Survey (re-
ferred to in this section as the ‘‘USGS’’) has consid-
erable experience assessing the occurrence of chemi-
cals in the environment, ecological health, and the
hazards to wildlife health and associated human
health posed by chemicals in the environment, as a
result of monitoring by the USGS of the Nation’s
water resources and wildlife disease, and research by
the USGS on the effects of chemicals on wildlife.
(16) The National Academy of Sciences has
recognized the expertise of the USGS in such areas
as food web contamination and water quality assess-
ment and has encouraged more coordinated work on
human health between the USGS and the National
Institutes of Health.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
ACT TO PROVIDE FOR RESEARCH ON HOR-
MONE DISRUPTION.
Subpart 12 of part C of title IV of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 2851 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end of the following:
‘‘DIRECTED NATIONAL PROGRAM OF RESEARCH ON
HORMONE DISRUPTION
‘‘SEC. 463B. (a) STUDY.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Insti-
tute shall establish within the Institute a comprehen-
sive program to—
‘‘(A) conduct research on the impact of
chemicals that affect human health through dis-
ruption of the hormone systems;
‘‘(B) conduct research on the occurrence of
hormone disrupting chemicals in the environ-
ment and their effects on ecological and wildlife
health, in cooperation with the United States
Geological Survey (referred to in this section as
the ‘USGS’);
‘‘(C) coordinate the design of a multi-agen-
cy research initiative on hormone disruption;
‘‘(D) coordinate research on hormone dis-
ruption in the United States with such research
conducted in other nations; and
‘‘(E) report to the public every 2 years on
the extent to which hormone disruption by
chemicals in the environment poses a threat to
human health and the environment.
‘‘(2) ISSUES TO BE STUDIED.—The program,
established under paragraph (1) shall provide for the
following:
‘‘(A) Collection, compilation, publication,
and dissemination of scientifically valid infor-
mation on—
‘‘(i) possible human health effects of
hormone disrupting chemicals, with em-
phasis on exposures to low doses of indi-
vidual chemicals and chemical mixtures
during critical life stages of development,
particularly effects of prenatal exposures
on children’s health;
‘‘(ii) the extent of human exposure to
hormone disrupting chemicals, with par-
ticular emphasis on exposures during crit-
ical life stages of development and in resi-
dential and occupational settings; and
‘‘(iii) exposure of wildlife species to
hormone disrupting chemicals and possible
health effects associated with such expo-
sures.
‘‘(B) Research on mechanisms by which
hormone disrupting substances interact with bi-
ological systems.
‘‘(C) Research on improved in vitro and in
vivo methods to screen and test hormone dis-
ruption.
‘‘(D) Research on the identity, levels,
transport and fate of hormone disrupting
chemicals in the environment.
‘‘(b) DIRECTOR’S DUTIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Insti-
tute shall have principal responsibility, in consulta-
tion with the Director of the USGS, for conducting
and coordinating research on the effects of hormone
disrupting chemicals on human health and the envi-
ronment.
‘‘(2) AGREEMENT.—Not later than 6 months
after the date of enactment of the Hormone Disrup-
tion Research Act of 2002, the Director of the Insti-
tute and the Director of the USGS shall enter into
an agreement to carry out the research program es-
tablished under subsection (a).
‘‘(3) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—The Director of
the Institute may transfer funds to other Federal
agencies to carry out the Director’s responsibilities
under paragraph (1).
‘‘(4) REPORT.—The Director of the Institute,
in consultation with the Director of the USGS, shall
make available to the public, every 2 years following
the date of enactment of the Hormone Disruption
Research Act of 2002, findings and conclusions on
the extent to which hormone disruption by chemicals
in the environment poses a threat to human health
and the environment.
‘‘(c) INTERAGENCY COMMISSION.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a commission to be known as the Hormone
Disruption Research Interagency Commission (re-
ferred to in this section as ‘Interagency Commis-
sion’) to advise the Director of the Institute and the
Director of the USGS on the development of a com-
prehensive agenda for conducting research on hor-
mone disruption.
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Interagency Commis-
sion shall be composed of 12 members, as follows:
‘‘(A) The Director of the Institute, who
shall serve as the Chairperson.
‘‘(B) The Director of the USGS, who shall
serve as the Vice-Chairperson.
‘‘(C) The Commissioner of the Food and
Drug Administration.
‘‘(D) The Director of the Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention.
‘‘(E) The Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
‘‘(F) The Director of the National Insti-
tute for Occupational Safety and Health.
‘‘(G) The Administrator of the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
‘‘(H) The Director of the Fish and Wildlife
Service.
‘‘(I) The Secretary of Defense.
‘‘(J) The Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency.
‘‘(K) The Chairman of the Consumer
Product Safety Commission.
‘‘(L) The Director of the National Science
Foundation.
‘‘(3) STAFF.—Each department or agency rep-
resented by a member on the Interagency Commis-
sion shall provide appropriate staff to carry out the
duties of the Interagency Commission.
‘‘(4) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 12
months after the date of enactment of the Hormone
Disruption Research Act of 2002, the Interagency
Commission shall recommend to the Director of the
Institute and the Director of the USGS a research
program, including levels of funding for intramural
and extramural research.
‘‘(5) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The Director of the
Institute, through publication of notice in the Fed-
eral Register, shall provide the general public with
an opportunity to comment on the recommendations
of the Interagency Commission.
‘‘(6) REPORT.—Not later than 4 years after the
date of enactment of the Hormone Disruption Re-
search Act of 2002, the Interagency Commission
shall conduct a review of the program established
under subsection (a) and submit a report on the re-
sults of such review to the Director of the Institute
and to the Hormone Disruption Research Panel es-
tablished under subsection (e).
‘‘(d) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Insti-
tute may provide financial assistance and enter into
grants, contracts, and interagency memoranda of
understanding to conduct activities under this sec-
tion. Research conducted pursuant to interagency
memoranda of understanding may be conducted
through intramural and extramural agency research
programs, subject to appropriate scientific peer re-
view.
‘‘(e) HORMONE DISRUPTION RESEARCH PANEL.—
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in
the Institute a Hormone Disruption Research Panel
(referred to in this subsection as the ‘Panel’).
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The Panel shall advise the Di-
rector of the Institute concerning the scientific con-
tent of the program established under subsection
(a), the progress of such program, and public out-
reach, and shall provide such other advice as re-
quested by the Director of the Institute.
‘‘(3) MEMBERSHIP.—The Panel shall be com-
posed of the following:
‘‘(A) 15 voting members to be appointed
by the President, in consultation with the Di-
rector of the Institute.
‘‘(B) Such nonvoting, ex officio members
as the Director of the Institute determines to
be appropriate.
‘‘(4) VOTING
MEMBERS.—Of the 15 voting
members of the Panel—
‘‘(A) at least 2 members shall be from en-
vironmental protection organizations;
‘‘(B) at least 2 members shall be from
public health and consumer organizations;
‘‘(C) at least 2 members shall be from in-
dustry; and
‘‘(D) a majority of the members shall be
selected from among scientists and environ-
mental health professionals who—
‘‘(i) are not officers or employees of
the United States;
‘‘(ii) represent multiple disciplines, in-
cluding clinical, basic, public, and ecologi-
cal health sciences;
‘‘(iii) represent different geographical
regions of the United States;
‘‘(iv) are from practice settings, aca-
demic settings, and for-profit or not-for-
profit research settings; and
‘‘(v) have experience in review of
research on endocrine disruption.
‘‘(5) TERMS.—The members of the Panel shall
be appointed for an initial term of 3 years and shall
be eligible for reappointment for 1 additional term
of 2 years.
‘‘(6) CHAIRPERSON.—The members of the
Panel appointed under paragraph (3) shall elect a
chairperson from among such members.
‘‘(7) MEETINGS.—The Panel shall meet at the
call of the chairperson or upon the request of the
Director of the Institute, but in no case less often
than once each year.
‘‘(8) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Institute
shall provide administrative support to the Panel.
‘‘(f) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—All grants and con-
tracts entered into under this section shall include conflict
of interest provisions that require any person conducting
a project under this section to disclose any other source
of funding received by the person to conduct other related
projects.
‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section:
‘‘(1) HORMONE.—The term ‘hormone’ means a
substance produced in a cell or tissue that triggers
a biological response. Hormone activity may be local-
ized to the cell in which the substance is produced,
or may be in nearby or distant tissues or organs.
‘‘(2) HORMONE DISRUPTION.—The term ‘hor-
mone disruption’ means interference by a substance
with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, ac-
tion, or elimination of natural hormones in the body
that are responsible for the maintenance of homeo-
stasis, reproduction, development, function, or be-
havior.
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
‘‘(1) GENERAL
AUTHORIZATION.—There are
authorized to be appropriated $500,000,000 for the
5-fiscal-year period beginning with fiscal year 2003
to carry out this section. Amounts appropriated pur-
suant to this paragraph shall remain available until
expended.
‘‘(2) RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF FUNDS.—
‘‘(A) CONSTRUCTION
AND
REHABILITA-
TION
OF
FACILITIES
AND
EQUIPMENT.—Not
more than 0.5 percent of the funds made avail-
able under this section may be used for the con-
struction or rehabilitation of facilities or fixed
equipment.
‘‘(B) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OF THE
DIRECTOR.—Of the total amount of funds made
available under this section for any fiscal year,
not more than 2 percent of such funds may be
used for administrative expenses of the Director
of the Institute in carrying out this section.
‘‘(C) PUBLIC
OUTREACH.—Of the total
amount of funds made available under this sec-
tion for any fiscal year, at least 1 percent, but
not more than 5 percent, shall be used for out-
reach to the public concerning the activities and
results of the program.’’.
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