Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act

Bill: 112-s-76
Sponsor: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]
Introduced: 2011-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Air quality
Cancer
Child health
Congressional oversight
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental health
Genetics
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Health information and medical records
Research administration and funding
Solid waste and recycling
Water quality
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: 
Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) develop, publish, and update guidelines on an approach to investigate suspected or potential disease clusters, environmental pollutants or toxic substances associated with such clusters, or potential causes of such clusters; (2) establish and operate Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Centers and Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Teams; (3) ensure that the Office of Children's Health Protection has a prominent role in developing and updating such guidelines and in establishing and operating such Centers and Teams; (4) establish Community Disease Cluster Advisory Committees to provide oversight, guidance, and advice relating to such investigations; (5) provide support to individuals on such Teams and Committees through grants and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education; (6) compile and update a publicly available, online database that provides information relating to disease clusters; and (7) use available authorities and programs to compile, research, and analyze information generated by actions authorized under this Act.
 
Authorizes any person to submit a petition to the EPA Administrator, the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences that requests that a Response Team conduct an investigation or take action to address the potential causes of disease clusters.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to any group of individuals that may be affected by such clusters.

action_date: 2012-09-19
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) develop, publish, and update guidelines on an approach to investigate suspected or potential disease clusters, environmental pollutants or toxic substances associated with such clusters, or potential causes of such clusters; (2) establish and operate Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Centers and Regional Disease Cluster Information and Response Teams; (3) ensure that the Office of Children's Health Protection has a prominent role in developing and updating such guidelines and in establishing and operating such Centers and Teams; (4) establish Community Disease Cluster Advisory Committees to provide oversight, guidance, and advice relating to such investigations; (5) provide support to individuals on such Teams and Committees through grants and cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education; (6) compile and update a publicly available, online database that provides information relating to disease clusters; and (7) use available authorities and programs to compile, research, and analyze information generated by actions authorized under this Act.
 
Authorizes any person to submit a petition to the EPA Administrator, the Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences that requests that a Response Team conduct an investigation or take action to address the potential causes of disease clusters.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to any group of individuals that may be affected by such clusters.
 
Requires the Administrator to report annually to Congress, describing: (1) the status of investigative activities under this Act, (2) the pollutants or toxic substances associated with suspected or potential disease clusters, (3) the potential causes of disease clusters, and (4) ways to address such potential causes.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-12-11
text: Star Print ordered on the report (112-213).
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 514.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 112-213. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 112-213. Minority views filed.
action_date: 2011-06-09
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-03-29
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-828.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2011-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate