115 S2486 IS: Make Taxpayer-Funded Department of Defense Medical Interventions Affordable Act
U.S. Senate
2021-07-27
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2486IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 27, 2021Ms. Warren introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed ServicesA BILLTo authorize the use of drugs, vaccines, and medical technologies to expand military and civilian access to such products and to improve transparency in taxpayer-funded biomedical research investments by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Make Taxpayer-Funded Department of Defense Medical Interventions Affordable Act .2.Authorization of use of drugs, vaccines, and medical technologies to expand military and civilian access to such products(a)Report and identification of productsNot later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the efforts of the Secretary to comply with the paragraph entitled, Licensing of Federally owned medical interventions included on page 173 of the report of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate to accompany the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 115–91), which shall include the following information:(1)A description of what steps, if any, the Secretary has taken to comply with that paragraph.(2)A complete list of the drugs, vaccines, and medical technologies that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, meet the requirements outlined in that paragraph.(3)For each drug, vaccine, or medical technology identified under paragraph (2), a discussion of the plans of the Secretary to utilize the authorities of the Secretary under section 203 or 209(d)(1) of title 35, United States Code, to authorize a third party or Federal agency to use the drug, vaccine, or medical technology.(b)Authorization of useNot later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, pursuant to section 203 or 209(d)(1) of title 35, United States Code, shall authorize third parties or Federal agencies to use not fewer than 10 drugs, vaccines, or medical technologies identified under subsection (a)(2) for the purpose of expanding military and civilian access to such drugs, vaccines, or technologies.3.Transparency in taxpayer-funded biomedical research investments by the Department of Defense(a)In generalThe Secretary of Defense shall—(1)compile into a searchable database information relating to Federal support (before or after the date of enactment of this Act) provided by the Department of Defense or an entity acting on behalf of the Department of Defense for biomedical research and development, including drugs, vaccines, and medical technologies; and(2)make such database available on the public website of the Department of Defense.(b)Covered informationThe information relating to Federal support described in subsection (a)(1) shall include all contracts, funding agreements, licensing arrangements, other transactions, and other arrangements entered into by, or on behalf of, the Department of Defense with respect to research and development, manufacturing, and distribution of a drug (including a biological product), cell or gene therapy, medical device, or other medical technology, including the following:(1)Licensing agreements pursuant to section 207 or 209 of title 35, United States Code.(2)Cooperative research and development agreements and licensing agreements pursuant to section 3710a of title 15, United States Code.(3)Funding agreements, as defined in section 201 of title 35, United States Code.(4)Transactions, contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, other agreements, and other arrangements entered into pursuant to the following:(A)The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.), including sections 301, 319L, 421, and 480 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 241, 247d–7e, 285b–3, 287a).(B)Section 105 of the National Institutes of Health Reform Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 284n).(C)Chapter 139 of title 10, United States Code, including sections 2358, 2371, 2371a, 2371b, and 2373.(c)Information requiredNotwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Defense shall include in the database under subsection (a), with regard to each contract, funding agreement, licensing agreement, other transaction, or other arrangement described in subsection (b), at least the following information:(1)The agency, program, institute, or other entity of the Department of Defense providing the Federal grant, cooperative agreement, or other support.(2)The amount and period of Federal financial support with an itemized breakdown.(3)Other Federal nonfinancial support, including the use of Federal personnel, Federal facilities, and Federal equipment.(4)The grant number, if applicable.(5)Associated clinical trial data, upon trial completion.(6)Associated patents and patent applications, specifying—(A)any Federal ownership in such patents and patent applications;(B)the expiration date of such patents and filing dates of such patent applications; and(C)the numbers of such patents and patent applications.(7)Associated periods of marketing exclusivity under Federal law and the durations of such periods.(8)The corporation, nonprofit organization, academic institution, person, or other entity receiving the Federal support.(9)Any products (including repurposed products) approved, authorized, or cleared for marketing, or for which marketing approval, authorization, or clearance is being sought, the development of which was aided by Federal support, including—(A)the names of such products;(B)the prices of such products; and(C)the current and anticipated manufacturing capacity to produce such products.(10)The full terms of the contract, funding agreement, licensing agreement, other transaction, or other arrangement described in subsection (b).(d)Format of informationThe database under subsection (a) shall be—(1)searchable and filterable according to the categories of information described in subsection (c); and(2)presented in a user-friendly format.(e)TimingThe database under subsection (a) shall be—(1)made publicly available not later than one month after the date of the enactment of this Act; and(2)updated not less frequently than once every two weeks.(f)Disclosure(1)In generalNotwithstanding any other provision of law, to the extent necessary for the Secretary of Defense to carry out this section, the Secretary may require entities receiving Federal support described in subsection (a)(1) to disclose to the Secretary any information relating to such Federal support and required to be included in the database under subsection (a).(2)Intermediary cooperation(A)In generalAny arrangement entered into by the Department of Defense with an entity providing for such entity to enter into contracts, licensing agreements, grants, other transactions, or other arrangements with third parties on behalf of the Department shall require such entity to disclose in a timely manner any information necessary for the Department to fulfill its duties under this section.(B)Existing arrangementsWith respect to any arrangement described in subparagraph (A) with an entity in place as of the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense may require the entity to disclose to the Secretary any information required to be included in the database under subsection (a).(3)Penalty for nondisclosureIf an entity that is required to disclose information pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) fails to disclose such information by the date that is two weeks after the date on which the Secretary of Defense requests such information, or by such reasonable deadline as the Secretary may specify, whichever is sooner, then such entity shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each day on which such failure continues.


115 S448 IS: Medicare Mental Health Access Act
U.S. Senate
2017-02-27
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II115th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 448IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESFebruary 27, 2017Mr. Brown (for himself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for treatment of clinical psychologists
			 as physicians for purposes of furnishing clinical psychologist services
			 under the Medicare program.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Medicare Mental Health Access Act. 2.Treatment of clinical psychologists as physicians for purposes of furnishing clinical psychologist services (a)In generalThe first sentence of section 1861(r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(r)) is amended—
 (1)by striking or before (5); and (2)by inserting before the period the following: , or (6) a clinical psychologist, but only with respect to the furnishing of qualified psychologist services described in subsection (ii) for which the psychologist is legally authorized to perform by the State and who is acting within the scope of the psychologist’s license (or other authorization under State law).
 (b)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2018.


115 SRES 258 ATS: Designating the week beginning September 10, 2017, as “National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week”.
U.S. Senate
2017-09-14
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III115th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 258IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 14, 2017Mr. Cardin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Mr. Portman, Mr. King, Ms. Warren, Mr. Menendez, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed toRESOLUTIONDesignating the week beginning September 10, 2017, as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.

 Whereas direct support professionals, including direct care workers, personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers, and paraprofessionals, are key to providing publicly funded, long-term support and services for millions of individuals with disabilities;
 Whereas direct support professionals provide essential support to help keep individuals with disabilities connected to their families, friends, and communities so as to avoid more costly institutional care;
 Whereas direct support professionals support individuals with disabilities by helping those individuals make person-centered choices that lead to meaningful, productive lives;
 Whereas direct support professionals must build close, respectful, and trusted relationships with individuals with disabilities;
 Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range of individualized support to individuals with disabilities, including—
 (1)assisting with the preparation of meals; (2)helping with medication;
 (3)assisting with bathing, dressing, and other aspects of daily living; (4)assisting with access to their environment;
 (5)providing transportation to school, work, religious, and recreational activities; and (6)helping with general daily affairs, such as assisting with financial matters, medical appointments, and personal interests;
 Whereas the participation of direct support professionals in medical care planning is critical to the successful transition of individuals from medical events to post-acute care and long-term support and services;
 Whereas there is a documented critical and increasing shortage of direct support professionals throughout the United States;
 Whereas direct support professionals are a critical element in supporting individuals who are receiving health care services for severe chronic health conditions and individuals with functional limitations;
 Whereas many direct support professionals are the primary financial providers for their families; Whereas direct support professionals are hardworking, taxpaying citizens who provide an important service to people with disabilities in the United States, yet many continue to earn low wages, receive inadequate benefits, and have limited opportunities for advancement, resulting in high turnover and vacancy rates that adversely affect the quality of support, safety, and health of individuals with disabilities;
 Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States, in Olmstead v. L.C. by Zimring, 527 U.S. 581 (June 22, 1999)—
 (1)recognized the importance of the deinstitutionalization of, and community-based services for, individuals with disabilities; and
 (2)held that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), a State must provide community-based services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities if—
 (A)the community-based services are appropriate; (B)the affected person does not oppose receiving the community-based services; and
 (C)the community-based services can be reasonably accommodated after the community has taken into account the resources available to the State and the needs of other individuals with disabilities in the State; and
 Whereas, in 2017, the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home- and community-based settings and that trend will increase over the next decade: Now, therefore, be it

 That the Senate— (1)designates the week beginning September 10, 2017, as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week;
 (2)recognizes the dedication and vital role of direct support professionals in enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities of all ages;
 (3)appreciates the contribution of direct support professionals in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families in the United States;
 (4)commends direct support professionals for being integral to the provision of long-term support and services for individuals with disabilities;
 (5)encourages the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor to collect data specific to direct support professionals; and
 (6)finds that the successful implementation of the public policies affecting individuals with disabilities in the United States depends on the dedication of direct support professionals.