Senate Bills - 110th Congress

S. 1576—The Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act

On June 7, 2007, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced S. 1576, the Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act, to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health and healthcare of racial and ethnic minority groups. NIH-related provisions would amend authorities of the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) to require that the Director of the Center, in consultation with the respective Institute and Center (IC) directors or their designees, plan, coordinate, and evaluate research and other activities conducted or supported by the agencies of the NIH and carry out periodic re-evaluations of these activities; annual review and revision of a comprehensive plan and budget for the conduct and support of relevant research; and systematic review of research activities, including establishment of mechanisms for tracking minority health and health disparities research conducted within the ICs, with assessments of the appropriateness of such research within the overall goals and objectives of the Plan, and early identification of applications and proposals for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements supporting relevant extramural training, research, and development that are submitted to the ICs. In addition, provisions would require that the Director, NCMHD, direct all amounts appropriated for minority health and health disparities research activities, in collaboration with the Director, NIH, and the IC directors. S. 1576 has six original cosponsors and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

Legislative Update (April 2008): Minority Health