In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.

[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prescription Drug Fairness for 
Seniors Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Manufacturers of prescription drugs engage in price 
        discrimination practices that compel many older Americans to 
        pay substantially more for prescription drugs than consumers in 
        foreign nations and the drug manufacturers' most favored U.S. 
        customers, such as health insurers, health maintenance 
        organizations, and the Federal Government.
            (2) Older Americans who buy their own prescription drugs 
        often pay twice as much for prescription drugs as consumers in 
        foreign nations and the drug manufacturers' most favored U.S. 
        customers. In some cases, older Americans pay 10 times more for 
        prescription drugs than such customers.
            (3) The discriminatory pricing by major drug manufacturers 
        sustains their high profits (for example, $27,300,000,000 in 
        1999), but causes financial hardship and impairs the health and 
        well-being of millions of older Americans. Many older Americans 
        are forced to choose between buying their food and buying their 
        medicines.
            (4) Foreign nations and U.S. federally funded health care 
        programs use purchasing power to obtain prescription drugs at 
        low prices. Medicare beneficiaries are denied this benefit and 
        cannot obtain their prescription drugs at the lower prices 
        available to such nations and programs.
            (5) Implementation of the policy set forth in this Act will 
        reduce prices for brand name prescription drugs for many 
        Medicare beneficiaries by an average of 40 percent.
            (6) In addition to substantially lowering the costs of 
        prescription drugs for older Americans, implementation of the 
        policy set forth in this Act will significantly improve the 
        health and well-being of older Americans and lower the costs to 
        the Federal taxpayer of the Medicare program.
            (7) Older Americans who are terminally ill and receiving 
        hospice care services represent some of the most vulnerable 
        individuals in our nation. Making prescription drugs available 
        to Medicare beneficiaries under the care of Medicare-certified 
        hospices will assist in extending the benefits of lower 
        prescription drug prices to those most vulnerable and in need.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to protect Medicare 
beneficiaries from discriminatory pricing by drug manufacturers and to 
make prescription drugs available to Medicare beneficiaries at 
substantially reduced prices.

SEC. 3. PARTICIPATING MANUFACTURERS.

    (a) In General.--Each participating manufacturer of a covered 
outpatient drug shall make available for purchase by each pharmacy such 
covered outpatient drug in the amount described in subsection (b) at 
the price described in subsection (c).
    (b) Description of Amount of Drugs.--The amount of a covered 
outpatient drug that a participating manufacturer shall make available 
for purchase by a pharmacy is an amount equal to the aggregate amount 
of the covered outpatient drug sold or distributed by the pharmacy to 
Medicare beneficiaries.
    (c) Description of Price.--The price at which a participating 
manufacturer shall make a covered outpatient drug available for 
purchase by a pharmacy is a price no greater than the manufacturer's 
average foreign price.
    (d) Enforcement.--The United States shall debar a manufacturer of 
drugs or biologicals that does not comply with the provisions of this 
Act.

SEC. 4. SPECIAL PROVISION WITH RESPECT TO HOSPICE PROGRAMS.

    For purposes of determining the amount of a covered outpatient drug 
that a participating manufacturer shall make available for purchase by 
a pharmacy under section 3, there shall be included in the calculation 
of such amount the amount of the covered outpatient drug sold or 
distributed by a pharmacy to a hospice program. In calculating such 
amount, only amounts of the covered outpatient drug furnished to a 
Medicare beneficiary enrolled in the hospice program shall be included.

SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.

    The Secretary shall issue such regulations as may be necessary to 
implement this Act.

SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING EFFECTIVENESS OF ACT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
report to the Congress regarding the effectiveness of this Act in--
            (1) protecting Medicare beneficiaries from discriminatory 
        pricing by drug manufacturers, and
            (2) making prescription drugs available to Medicare 
        beneficiaries at substantially reduced prices.
    (b) Consultation.--In preparing such reports, the Secretary shall 
consult with public health experts, affected industries, organizations 
representing consumers and older Americans, and other interested 
persons.
    (c) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall include in such reports 
any recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate for changes in 
this Act to further reduce the cost of covered outpatient drugs to 
Medicare beneficiaries.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Average foreign price.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``average foreign price'' 
                means, with respect to a covered outpatient drug, the 
                average price that the manufacturer of the drug 
                realizes on the sale of drugs with the same active 
                ingredient or ingredients that are consumed in covered 
                foreign nations, taking into account--
                            (i) any rebate, contract term or condition, 
                        or other arrangement (whether with the 
                        purchaser or other persons) that has the effect 
                        of reducing the amount realized by the 
                        manufacturer on the sale of the drugs; and
                            (ii) adjustments for any differences in 
                        dosage, formulation, or other relevant 
                        characteristics of the drugs.
                    (B) Exempt transactions.--The Secretary may, by 
                regulation, exempt from the calculation of the average 
                foreign price of a drug those prices realized by a 
                manufacturer in transactions that are entered into for 
                charitable purposes, for research purposes, or under 
                other unusual circumstances, if the Secretary 
                determines that the exemption is in the public interest 
                and is consistent with the purposes of this Act.
            (2) Covered foreign nation.--The term ``covered foreign 
        nation' means Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the 
        United Kingdom.
            (3) Covered outpatient drug.--The term ``covered outpatient 
        drug'' has the meaning given that term in section 1927(k)(2) of 
        the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r-8(k)(2)).
            (4) Debar.--The term ``debar'' means to exclude, pursuant 
        to established administrative procedures, from Government 
        contracting and subcontracting for a specified period of time 
        commensurate with the seriousness of the failure or offense or 
        the inadequacy of performance.
            (5) Hospice program.--The term ``hospice program'' has the 
        meaning given that term under section 1861(dd)(2) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(dd)(2)).
            (6) Medicare beneficiary.--The term ``Medicare 
        beneficiary'' means an individual entitled to benefits under 
        part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act or enrolled 
        under part B of such title, or both.
            (7) Participating manufacturer.--The term ``participating 
        manufacturer'' means any manufacturer of drugs or biologicals 
        that, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, enters 
        into a contract or agreement with the United States for the 
        sale or distribution of covered outpatient drugs to the United 
        States.
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The Secretary shall implement this Act as expeditiously as 
practicable and in a manner consistent with the obligations of the 
United States.
[A]: Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 2001 - Requires each participating manufacturer of a covered outpatient drug to make it available for purchase by each pharmacy: (1) in an amount equal to the aggregate amount sold or distributed by the pharmacy to Medicare beneficiaries; and (2) at a price no greater than the manufacturer's average foreign price. Sets forth special provisions with respect to hospice programs.


[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Taxpayer Browsing Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. PENALTY FOR UNAUTHORIZED INSPECTION OF TAX RETURNS OR TAX 
              RETURN INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--Part I of subchapter A of chapter 75 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to crimes, other offenses, and 
forfeitures) is amended by adding after section 7213 the following new 
section:

``SEC. 7213A. UNAUTHORIZED INSPECTION OF RETURNS OR RETURN INFORMATION.

    ``(a) Prohibitions.--
            ``(1) Federal employees and other persons.--It shall be 
        unlawful for--
                    ``(A) any officer or employee of the United States, 
                or
                    ``(B) any person described in section 6103(n) or an 
                officer or employee of any such person,
        willfully to inspect, except as authorized in this title, any 
        return or return information.
            ``(2) State and other employees.--It shall be unlawful for 
        any person (not described in paragraph (1)) willfully to 
        inspect, except as authorized in this title, any return or 
        return information acquired by such person or another person 
        under a provision of section 6103 referred to in section 
        7213(a)(2).
    ``(b) Penalty.--
            ``(1)  In general.--Any violation of subsection (a) shall 
        be punishable upon conviction by a fine in any amount not 
        exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or 
        both, together with the costs of prosecution.
            ``(2) Federal officers or employees.--An officer or 
        employee of the United States who is convicted of any violation 
        of subsection (a) shall, in addition to any other punishment, 
        be dismissed from office or discharged from employment.
    ``(c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms 
`inspect', `return', and `return information' have the respective 
meanings given such terms by section 6103(b).''.
    (b) Technical Amendments.--
            (1) Paragraph (2) of section 7213(a) of such Code is 
        amended by inserting ``(5),'' after ``(m)(2), (4),''.
            (2) The table of sections for part I of subchapter A of 
        chapter 75 of such Code is amended by inserting after the item 
        relating to section 7213 the following new item:

                              ``Sec. 7213A. Unauthorized inspection of 
                                        returns or return 
                                        information.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to violations occurring on and after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 3. CIVIL DAMAGES FOR UNAUTHORIZED INSPECTION OF RETURNS AND RETURN 
              INFORMATION; NOTIFICATION OF UNLAWFUL INSPECTION OR 
              DISCLOSURE.

    (a) Civil Damages for Unauthorized Inspection.--Subsection (a) of 
section 7431 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Disclosure'' in the headings for 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting ``Inspection or 
        disclosure'', and
            (2) by striking ``discloses'' in paragraphs (1) and (2) and 
        inserting ``inspects or discloses''.
    (b) Notification of Unlawful Inspection or Disclosure.--Section 
7431 of such Code is amended by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) 
as subsections (f) and (g), respectively, and by inserting after 
subsection (d) the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Notification of Unlawful Inspection and Disclosure.--If any 
person is criminally charged by indictment or information with 
inspection or disclosure of a taxpayer's return or return information 
in violation of--
            ``(1) paragraph (1) or (2) of section 7213(a),
            ``(2) section 7213A(a), or
            ``(3) subparagraph (B) of section 1030(a)(2) of title 18, 
        United States Code,
the Secretary shall notify such taxpayer as soon as practicable of such 
inspection or disclosure.''.
    (c) No Damages for Inspection Requested by Taxpayer.--Subsection 
(b) of section 7431 of such Code is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Exceptions.--No liability shall arise under this section with 
respect to any inspection or disclosure--
            ``(1) which results from a good faith, but erroneous, 
        interpretation of section 6103, or
            ``(2) which is requested by the taxpayer.''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Subsections (c)(1)(A), (c)(1)(B)(i), and (d) of section 
        7431 of such Code are each amended by inserting ``inspection 
        or'' before ``disclosure''.
            (2) Clause (ii) of section 7431(c)(1)(B) of such Code is 
        amended by striking ``willful disclosure or a disclosure'' and 
        inserting ``willful inspection or disclosure or an inspection 
        or disclosure''.
            (3) Subsection (f) of section 7431 of such Code, as 
        redesignated by subsection (b), is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the terms 
`inspect', `inspection', `return', and `return information' have the 
respective meanings given such terms by section 6103(b).''.
            (4) The section heading for section 7431 of such Code is 
        amended by inserting ``inspection or'' before ``disclosure''.
            (5) The table of sections for subchapter B of chapter 76 of 
        such Code is amended by inserting ``inspection or'' before 
        ``disclosure'' in the item relating to section 7431.
            (6) Paragraph (2) of section 7431(g) of such Code, as 
        redesignated by subsection (b), is amended by striking ``any 
        use'' and inserting ``any inspection or use''.
    (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to inspections and disclosures occurring on and after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE ACT OF 1968.

    (a) In General.--Section 1306(c)(1) of the National Flood Insurance 
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4013(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``30'' and 
inserting ``15''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall be 
construed to have taken effect on January 1, 1997, and shall expire 
June 30, 1997.

            Passed the Senate April 15, 1997.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.
[A]: Taxpayer Browsing Protection Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make it unlawful for Federal employees, State employees, or other specified persons to willfully inspect, except as authorized, any tax return or return information.  Provides for a monetary penalty, imprisonment, or both for violators.  (Current law imposes penalties only for the unlawful disclosure of such information.) 
Permits civil damages for the unauthorized inspection or disclosure (currently, only for the unauthorized disclosure) of tax returns and return information.  Requires the taxpayer to be notified as soon as practicable if any person is criminally charged by indictment with inspecting or disclosing the taxpayer's return or return information. 
Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to reduce the waiting period for the effective date of policies for new flood insurance coverage, entered into after the date of enactment of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, from 30 to 15 days.


[Q]: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Clinical Research Enhancement Act of 
1996''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) Clinical research is critical to the advancement of 
        scientific knowledge and to the development of cures and 
        improved treatment for disease.
            (2) Tremendous advances in biology are opening doors to new 
        insights into human physiology, pathophysiology and disease, 
        creating extraordinary opportunities for clinical research.
            (3) The United States spent more than $1 trillion on health 
        care in 1994, but the Federal budget for health research at the 
        National Institutes of Health was $10 billion, only 1 percent 
        of that total.
            (4) Studies at the Institute of Medicine, the National 
        Research Council, and the National Academy of Sciences have all 
        addressed the current problems in clinical research.
            (5) The Director of the National Institutes of Health has 
        recognized the current problems in clinical research and has 
        through the use of an advisory committee begun to evaluate 
        these problems.
            (6) The current level of training and support for health 
        professionals in clinical research is fragmented, frequently 
        undervalued, and potentially underfunded.
            (7) Young investigators are not only apprentices for future 
        positions but a crucial source of energy, enthusiasm, and ideas 
        in the day-to-day research that constitutes the scientific 
        enterprise. Serious questions about the future of life-science 
        research are raised by the following:
                    (A) The number of young investigators applying for 
                grants dropped by 54 percent between 1985 and 1993.
                    (B) The number of federally funded research (R01) 
                grants awarded to persons under the age of 36 have 
                decreased by 70 percent from 1985 to 1993.
                    (C) Newly independent life-scientists are expected 
                to raise funds to support their new research programs 
                and a substantial proportion of their own salaries.
            (8) The following have been cited as reasons for the 
        decline in the number of active clinical researchers, and those 
        choosing this career path:
                    (A) A medical school graduate incurs an average 
                debt of $63,000, as reported in the Medical School 
                Graduation Questionnaire by the American Association of 
                Medical Colleges (AAMC).
                    (B) The prolonged period of clinical training 
                required increases the accumulated debt burden.
                    (C) The decreasing number of mentors and role 
                models.
                    (D) The perceived instability of funding from the 
                National Institutes of Health and other Federal 
                agencies.
                    (E) The almost complete absence of clinical 
                research training in the curriculum of training grant 
                awardees.
                    (F) Academic Medical Centers are experiencing 
                difficulties in maintaining a proper environment for 
                research in a highly competitive health care 
                marketplace, which are compounded by the decreased 
                willingness of third party payers to cover health care 
                costs for patients engaged in research studies and 
                research procedures.
            (9) In 1960, general clinical research centers were 
        established under the Office of the Director of the National 
        Institutes of Health with an initial appropriation of 
        $3,000,000.
            (10) Appropriations for general clinical research centers 
        in fiscal year 1995 equal $136,640,000.
            (11) In fiscal year 1995, there are 75 general clinical 
        research centers in operation, supplying patients in the areas 
        in which such centers operate with access to the most modern 
        clinical research and clinical research facilities and 
        technologies.
            (12) The average annual amount allocated for each general 
        clinical research center is $1,000,000, establishing a current 
        funding level of 75 percent of the amounts approved by the 
        Advisory Council of the National Center for Research Resources.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to provide additional 
support for and to expand clinical research programs.

SEC. 3. PRESIDENT'S CLINICAL RESEARCH PANEL.

    Part H of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
section:

``SEC. 498C. PRESIDENT'S CLINICAL RESEARCH PANEL.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The President shall establish a panel to be 
known as the `President's Clinical Research Panel' (hereafter referred 
to in this section as the `Panel') as a part of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, to carry out the duties described in this 
section.
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Panel shall be composed of 12 
        individuals appointed by the President and selected from 
        recommendations submitted by the President of the Institute of 
        Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
            ``(2) Qualifications.--Individuals appointed to the panel 
        under paragraph (1) shall, by virtue of their training, 
        experience and background, be exceptionally qualified to 
        appraise the status of clinical research both within and 
        outside of the Federal Government, and should represent 
        distinguished research scientists and physicians, insurance 
        companies, pharmaceutical companies, health maintenance 
        organizations, accreditation and certification organizations 
        and academic research administrators, and patients.
            ``(3) Exclusion and advisors.--Officers or employees of the 
        Federal Government shall not be eligible to be appointed to the 
        Panel. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 
        Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
        Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, and 
        other Cabinet officers as the President determines to be 
        appropriate may serve as advisors to the Panel.
    ``(c) Terms and Vacancies.--
            ``(1) Terms.--Members of the Panel shall be appointed for 
        3-year terms, except that--
                    ``(A) any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
                occurring on the Panel prior to the expiration of the 
                term for which the member's predecessor was appointed, 
                shall be appointed for the remainder of such term; and
                    ``(B) a member may serve until the member's 
                successor has taken office.
            ``(2) Vacancies.--If a vacancy on the Panel occurs, the 
        President shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy not 
        later than 90 days after the date on which the vacancy 
        occurred.
            ``(3) Reappointments.--A member of the Panel may be 
        reappointed but may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.
    ``(d) Date of Appointment.--The initial members of the Panel shall 
be appointed not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of 
this section.
    ``(e) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The President shall 
designate one of the members of the Panel to serve as the chairperson 
of the Panel and one member to serve as the vice chairperson of the 
Panel, each to serve for a term of 1 year.
    ``(f) Meetings.--The Panel shall meet at the call of the 
chairperson, but in no event less than 4 times each year. A transcript 
shall be kept of the proceedings of each such meeting of the Panel, and 
the chairperson shall make such transcripts available to the public. 
Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Panel 
have been appointed, the Panel shall hold its first meeting.
    ``(g) Duties.--The Panel shall evaluate the status of the clinical 
research environment throughout the United States, and prepare and 
submit periodic progress reports to the President. The Panel shall 
submit to the President, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the 
Congress an annual evaluation of the clinical research environment in 
the United States and recommendations for improvements and shall submit 
such other reports as the President shall direct.
    ``(h) Personnel Matters.--
            ``(1) Compensation.--Each member of the Panel shall be 
        compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
        annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
        Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such 
        member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the 
        Panel.
            ``(2) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Panel shall be 
        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business 
        in the performance of services for the Panel.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to enable the Panel to carry 
out this section.''.

SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE DIRECTOR ON CLINICAL RESEARCH.

    Part H of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 
et seq.), as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at the 
end thereof the following new section:

``SEC. 498D. ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE DIRECTOR ON CLINICAL RESEARCH.

    ``(a) In General.--The advisory committee established by the 
Director of the National Institutes of Health and known as the Advisory 
Committee to the Director on Clinical Research (hereafter referred to 
in this section as the `Advisory Committee') shall report to such 
Director and to the President's Clinical Research Panel established 
under section 498C and shall implement recommendations as determined 
necessary by the Advisory Committee to remedy deficiencies in clinical 
research within the National Institutes of Health.
    ``(b) Termination.--The Advisory Committee shall terminate on the 
date that occurs 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.''.

SEC. 5. STUDY SECTION REVIEW.

    Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
section:

``SEC. 409B. STUDY SECTION REVIEW.

    ``(a) In General.--The President's Clinical Research Panel shall 
direct the Office of Science and Technology Policy to conduct a review 
of the compositions, functions, and outcomes of study section 
activities at all Federal agencies which conduct or fund such 
activities as such activities relate to clinical research proposals for 
investigator-initiated support.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.''.

SEC. 6. INCREASE THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 
              IN CLINICAL RESEARCH.

    Section 402 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 282) is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:
    ``(l)(1) The Director of NIH shall undertake activities to support 
and expand the involvement of the National Institutes of Health in 
clinical research.
    ``(2) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Director of NIH shall--
            ``(A) increase the number of FIRST grants (R29) for young 
        clinical investigators;
            ``(B) design test pilot projects and implement the 
        recommendations of the Division of Research Grants Clinical 
        Research Study Group; and
            ``(C) establish an intramural clinical research fellowship 
        program (similar to the program established under section 
        738(b)) and a continuing education clinical research training 
        program at NIH.
    ``(3) The Director of NIH, in cooperation with the Director of the 
National Institutes of Health and the Directors of the Institutes, 
Centers, and Divisions of the National Institutes of Health, shall 
support and expand the resources available for the diverse needs of the 
clinical research community, including inpatient, outpatient, and 
critical care clinical research.
    ``(4) The Director of NIH, in cooperation with the Director of the 
National Center for Research Resources, shall establish peer review 
mechanisms to evaluate applications for intramural clinical research 
fellowships, clinical research career enhancement awards, and 
innovative medical science award programs. Such review mechanisms shall 
include individuals who are exceptionally qualified to appraise the 
merits of potential clinical research trainees.''.

SEC. 7. GENERAL CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTERS.

    Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284 
et seq.) as amended by section 5, is further amended by adding at the 
end thereof the following new sections:

``SEC. 409C. GENERAL CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTERS.

    ``(a) Grants.--The Director of the National Center for Research 
Resources shall award grants for the establishment of general clinical 
research centers to provide the infrastructure for clinical research 
including clinical research training and career enhancement. Such 
centers shall support clinical studies and career development in all 
settings of the hospital or academic medical center involved.
    ``(b) Activities.--In carrying out subsection (b), the Director of 
NIH shall expand the activities of the general clinical research 
centers through the increased use of telecommunications and 
telemedicine initiatives.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to make grants under subsection (a), $200,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent 
fiscal year.

``SEC. 409D. ENHANCEMENT AWARDS.

    ``(a) Clinical Research Career Enhancement Award.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the National Center for 
        Research Resources shall make grants (to be referred to as 
        `clinical research career enhancement awards') to support 
        individual careers in clinical research.
            ``(2) Applications.--An application for a grant under this 
        subsection shall be submitted by an individual scientist at 
        such time as the Director may require.
            ``(3) Limitations.--The amount of a grant under this 
        subsection shall not exceed $130,000 per year per grant. Grants 
        shall be for terms of 5 years. The Director shall award not 
        more than 20 grants in the first fiscal year, and not more than 
        40 grants in the second fiscal year, in which grants are 
        awarded under this subsection.
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to make grants under paragraph 
        (1), $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may be 
        necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.
    ``(b) Innovative Medical Science Award.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the National Center for 
        Research Resources shall make grants (to be referred to as 
        `innovative medical science awards') to support individual 
        clinical research projects.
            ``(2) Applications.--An application for a grant under this 
        subsection shall be submitted by an individual scientist at 
        such time as the Director requires.
            ``(3) Limitations.--The amount of a grant under this 
        subsection shall not exceed $100,000 per year per grant.
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to make grants under paragraph 
        (1), $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may be 
necessary for each subsequent fiscal year.''.

SEC. 8. CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANCE.

    (a) National Research Service Awards.--Section 487(a)(1)(C) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 288(a)(1)(C)) is amended by 
striking ``50 such'' and inserting ``100 such''.
    (b) Loan Repayment Program.--Section 487E of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 288-5) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``from 
        disadvantaged backgrounds'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``who are from 
        disadvantaged backgrounds'';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Amounts'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--Amounts''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end thereof the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(2) Disadvantaged backgrounds set-aside.--In carrying out 
        this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 50 
        percent of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year are used 
        for contracts involving those appropriately qualified health 
        professionals who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.''; and
            (4) by adding at the end thereof the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(c) Definition.--As used in subsection (a)(1), the term `clinical 
research training position' means an individual serving in a general 
clinical research center, or a physician receiving a clinical research 
career enhancement award or NIH intramural research fellowship.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each fiscal year.''.

SEC. 9. DEFINITION.

    Section 409 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284d) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``For purposes'' and inserting ``(a) Health 
        Service Research.--For purposes''; and
            (2) by adding at the end thereof the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(b) Clinical Research.--As used in this title, the term `clinical 
research' means patient oriented clinical research conducted with human 
subjects, or research on the causes and consequences of disease in 
human populations, or on material of human origin (such as tissue 
specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator or 
colleague directly interacts with human subjects in an outpatient or 
inpatient setting to clarify a problem in human physiology, 
pathophysiology, or disease.''.
[A]:
Clinical Research Enhancement Act of 1996 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the President to establish the President's Clinical Research Panel, as part of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), to evaluate the status of the U.S. clinical research environment.  Authorizes appropriations. 
Requires the Advisory Committee to the Director (of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)) on Clinical Research to report to the Director and to the Panel and to implement recommendations as the Committee determines necessary to remedy NIH clinical research deficiencies.  Terminates the Committee five years after enactment of this Act. 
Requires the OSTP to review the compositions, functions, and outcomes of study section activities at all Federal agencies as such activities relate to clinical research proposals for investigator-initiated support.  Authorizes appropriations. 
Requires the Director to:  (1) support and expand NIH's clinical research involvement; (2) support and expand available resources; and (3) establish certain peer review mechanisms. 
Mandates grants for:  (1) the establishment of general clinical research centers to provide the infrastructure for clinical research training and career enhancement; (2) clinical research career enhancement awards; and (3) innovative medical science awards to support individual clinical research projects.  Authorizes appropriations. 
Increases the maximum aggregate number of contracts that may be made under existing provisions relating to:  (1) undergraduate scholarships regarding professions needed by NIH; and (2) loan repayments regarding clinical researchers (currently, clinical researchers from disadvantaged backgrounds).  Authorizes appropriations for the loan repayment program.  Requires that at least 50 percent of such funds for a fiscal year be used for contracts with qualified health professionals from disadvantaged backgrounds.