Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-579
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]
Introduced: 2007-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Breast cancer
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Environmental health
Environmental research
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to health facilities
Federal aid to research
Government Operations and Politics
Medical research
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications
Women
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: 
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the development and operation of centers to conduct multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. Requires each such center to: (1) be known as a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Center of Excellence; (2) include community organizations in the geographic area served by the center; (3) be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions and community groups; and (4) be supported under this Act for a period of not more than five years, with additional periods allowed after review and recommendation. 
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel to: (1) develop a comprehensive research strategy for centers; (2) make recommendations with respect to the mechanisms, peer review criteria, and allocations under this Act; (3) assist in the overall program evaluations; and (4) make recommendations for the dissemination of information on program process.
 
Requires the Director of NIH to provide for coordination of information among, and an equitable geographical distribution of, centers.

action_date: 2008-04-03
text: 
Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities to conduct collaborative multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. Requires grantees to: (1) include community organizations representing a broad geographical area; (2) be a consortium of cooperating institutions and community groups; and (3) be supported under this Act for a period of not more than five years, with additional periods allowed after review and recommendation. 
 
Requires the Secretary to establish a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel to: (1) develop a comprehensive research strategy for collaborative research; (2) make recommendations with respect to the mechanisms, peer review criteria, and allocations under this Act; (3) assist in the overall program evaluations; and (4) make recommendations for the dissemination of information on program process.
 
Requires the Director of NIH to provide for coordination of information among, and an equitable geographical distribution of, grantees.
 
Provides that nothing in this Act shall be construed to interfere with the technical and scientific peer review process at NIH.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2012.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 628.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-04-03
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2008-03-13
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1960-1961)
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1960)
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate