House Bills - 110th Congress

H. R. 3014 —The Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007

On July 12, 2007, Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA) introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2007, to improve the health of minority individuals. Provisions of interest to NIH include a requirement that each Federal health agency develop and implement a national strategic action plan to eliminate disparities on the basis of race, ethnicity, and primary language and improve the health and health care of minority populations through programs relevant to the mission of the agency. NIH-related provisions would amend authorities of the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) to require (1) 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; (2) annual review and revision of a comprehensive plan and budget for the conduct and support of relevant research; (3) 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 (4) 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, expend all amounts appropriated under section 485E for minority health and health disparities research, in accordance with the section and applicable law and in collaboration with the Director, NIH, and the IC directors. H.R. 3014, which has 70 cosponsors, was referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, on Ways and Means, on Education and Labor, on Natural Resources, and on the Judiciary.