Congressional Affairs (Prepared September 12, 2006)

Labor-HHS Appropriation FY 2007

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2007 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (S. 3708; S. Rept. 109-287) on July 20, 2006 after the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee passed the bill on July 18, 2006. The bill provides $142.8 billion in discretionary funding for FY 2007, an increase of nearly $1.27 billion (0.9 percent) over the current year's funding level. The House Appropriations Committee approved its version of the bill (H.R. 5647; H. Rept. 109-515) on June 13 after the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee marked up the bill June 7. The bill provides $141.9 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $712 million (0.5 percent) over the comparable FY 2006 funding level.

National Institutes of Health: The Senate bill includes a program level of $28.459 billion for NIH, an increase of $220 million (0.8 percent) over the FY 2006 comparable amount. The program level includes an appropriation of $28.551 billion, minus $100 million transferred from NIH to the Global AIDS/HIV Fund, plus the transfer of $8.2 million in evaluation funds to the National Library of Medicine. The Senate bill is $201 million over the program level of $28.258 billion in the House bill.

NIDA: The Senate bill includes $1,000,342,000 for NIDA, an increase of $1,000,000 (.1%) over the FY 2006 level (including the 1% government-wide recission). The House bill includes $994,829,000, which is equal to the President's request - a decrease of $4.5 million (.5%)

Outlook: At this point the outlook for appropriations is unclear. Most sources of information seem to indicate that the Labor-HHS appropriations bill will remain contentious, with final action occurring some time after the November elections.

Hearings, Briefings, and Events of Interest

Prevention Congressional Briefing Sponsored by the Friends of NIDA

On June 12, 2006, the Friends of NIDA sponsored a Congressional Briefing titled "Preventing Drug Abuse: Putting Science to Practice for Real World Solutions." NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow provided overview comments on NIDA's prevention research portfolio. In addition to Dr. Volkow, Dr. Richard Spoth (Director, Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute, Iowa State University) presented empirical findings from his 15 years of NIDA-funded experimental research on partnership-based implementation of a range of interventions for youth and families, including long-term positive outcomes, economic benefits, success of the evidence-based PROSPER partnership model, and future directions in partnership network development.

For a community perspective on the issue, Ms. Diane Eckert, a leader in a Fairfax, Virginia community-based prevention coalition, discussed how evidence based practices have been effective within her community. Anna Freund, a Fairfax high school student, provided a youth perspective on the problem of adolescent drug abuse, and shared her experiences as a young advocate educating her peers on the risks and costs of drug abuse.

The briefing drew an audience of approximately 100 people, comprised largely of congressional staff and representatives of NIDA's various constituent organizations. Presentations from this briefing and a fact sheet on prevention research can be found at http://www.thefriendsofnida.org/061206_event.asp.

House Hearing on Methamphetamine Addiction Treatment

On June 28, 2006, the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources conducted a hearing entitled, "Availability and Effectiveness of Programs to Treat Victims of the Methamphetamine Epidemic." The hearing was led by Subcommittee Chairman Mark Souder (R-IN) and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD).

Witnesses providing testimony to the Subcommittee included Mr. Charles Currie, Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); Dr. Bertha Madras, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction at the White House Office of National Control Drug Policy (ONDCP); Ms. Leah Heaston, Director for Noble County (Indiana) of the Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services; Dr. Richard Rawson, Associate Director of Integrated Substance Abuse Programs at the UCLA; Mr. Russell Cronkhite, an individual in recovery from addiction to methamphetamine; Mr. Darren and Ms. Aaronette Noble, individuals in recovery from addiction to methamphetamine, and their son, Joey Binckley; Mr. Michael Harle, President and CEO of Gaudenzia, Inc.; and Mr. Pat Fleming, Director of Salt Lake County Substance Abuse Services.

In his opening statement to the Subcommittee, Chairman Souder countered the misconception that drug treatment services are not effective for people addicted to methamphetamine, stating that methamphetamine addiction can be treated effectively. Chairman Souder did express his concern that effective treatment for people addicted to methamphetamine is not available where people need it the most and that a treatment vacuum exists. Chairman Souder also noted that while there currently are no approved medications for methamphetamine treatment, intense behavioral interventions have proven effective. Ranking Member Cummings, in his comments to the Subcommittee, also spoke about the effectiveness of treatment for addiction to methamphetamine and other drugs. Congressman Cummings, emphasizing the importance of getting people with alcohol and other drug problems into treatment, noted the connection between drug use, crime, and risky behaviors including those that can cause transmission of HIV and other diseases.

Dr. Volkow, in her testimony to the Subcommittee, explained how methamphetamine is extremely addictive and that addiction to methamphetamine (indeed addiction generally) is a disease of the brain. Dr. Volkow also spoke about how treatment for addiction to methamphetamine is effective and that NIDA continues to research emerging types of behavioral interventions and medications to assist in the treatment process. Dr. Volkow cited the intersection between addiction and crime, and spoke about NIDA's Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Research Studies (CJ-DATS), a major research initiative that has brought together researchers, criminal justice professionals, and addiction treatment providers to develop new strategies to help individuals in the criminal justice system with histories of drug use and addiction.

More information on the Subcommittee hearing, including complete text of all witness testimony, can be found at: http://reform.house.gov/CJDPHR/Hearings/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=46323.

House Hearing on Prescription Drug Abuse

On July 26, 2006, the House Committee on Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Services held a hearing entitled "Prescription Drug Abuse: What is Being Done to Address this New Drug Epidemic?" The hearing was co-chaired by Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN), Chairman of the Subcommittee and Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee. The first panel included: Dr. Bertha Madras, Deputy Director, Demand Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy; Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse; Dr. Sandra Kweder, Deputy Director, Office of New Drugs, Food and Drug Administration; and Joseph Rannazzisi, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Agency. Included in the second panel were three mothers who each lost a son to prescription drug misuse, Misty Fetco, Linda Surks, and Barbara van Rooyan; Mathea Falco, J.D., President, Drug Strategies; Stephen Johnson, Executive Director, Commercial Planning, Pain Therapeutics, Inc; Dr. Laxmaiah Manchikanti, CEO, American Society for Interventional Pain Physicians; and Steve Pasierb, President and CEO, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

In his opening statement, Representative Souder remarked that the non-medical use of prescription drugs is not receiving enough attention and expressed his concern that this form of drug use is increasingly common and serving as a pathway to misuse of other drugs. Rep. Souder stated that the abuse of prescription drugs is a problem of epidemic proportions that demands focused attention and aggressive action by both the government and the private sectors. Representative Cummings began by expressing that the non-medical use of prescription and over the counter medications is not a new problem, and that there is a dangerous misperception that pharmaceuticals are not harmful. Rep. Cummings outlined his ideas for action steps, which include requiring that purchases for prescriptions from online pharmacies involve a valid prescription and identification of the purchaser, prescription drug monitoring programs, education of the public, creation of drug formulations that are resistant to abuse, and preventing illegal diversion.

In her testimony, Dr. Volkow acknowledged the extreme importance, and beneficial uses of prescription drugs, in particular psychotherapeutics, as well as their substantial abuse potential. She agreed with Rep. Souder that the problem of non-medical use of prescription drugs is urgent and is not receiving the attention it needs. She noted NIDA's particular concern with the increase in prescription drug abuse over the past five years among adolescents, the potential misuse or unintentional use by older Americans as well as potential misuse by women. Dr. Volkow spoke about NIDA's efforts to address this issue including the work of the Community Epidemiology Work Group (CEWG) sites that provide ongoing community-level surveillance of drug abuse profiles through analysis of quantitative and qualitative research data. Dr. Volkow spoke to the Subcommittee about NIDA's multi-pronged strategy aimed at better understanding the prescription drug phenomena, including an initiative on "Prescription Opioid Use and Abuse in the Treatment of Pain" and conducting a multi-center study through their Clinical Trials Network (CTN) to evaluate treatment regimens using oral buprenorphine/naloxone. In closing, Dr. Volkow assured the Subcommittee that NIDA's close collaborations with physician's organizations, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), SAMHSA and other Federal agencies, as well as professional associations would continue.

More information on the Subcommittee hearing, including complete text of all witness testimony, can be found at: http://reform.house.gov/CJDPHR/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=47907.

Congressional Symposium on Use of Buprenorphine for Treatment of Opioid Addiction

On August 3, 2006, Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) sponsored a bipartisan press conference and symposium on the use of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid addiction. The event provided an opportunity for federal officials, individuals in recovery, and addiction treatment and medical professionals to discuss both the positive and negative experiences associated with use of the medication. In addition the briefing's sponsors sought to increase public awareness about buprenorphine since less than two percent of primary care physicians have applied for certification to dispense the drug. Presenters spoke about how buprenorphine has proven successful in treating people with addictions to heroin as well as other opioids such as Vicodin and OxyContin. Speakers at the press conference and symposium included: Senators Hatch and Levin; Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse; Dr. Westley Clark, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); Dr. Herbert Kleber, Director of the Division on Substance Abuse in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University; Dr. Charles Schuster, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the Wayne State University School of Medicine; Dr. David Fiellin, Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine; Dr. Jim Finch, Family Practice Physician from Durham, North Carolina; and Terry Horton, M.D., Medical Director, Phoenix House.

Senator Carl Levin provided comments at the symposium, discussing legislation he cosponsored and helped to pass into law, "the Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 2000." This legislation modified the Controlled Substances Act to allow the dissemination of opioids for the use of drug treatment in doctor's offices. However, Senator Levin and a number of the other presenters expressed concern that the current law requires that doctors maintain a limit of 30 patients who are under their care and for whom they are prescribing buprenorphine, and argued that this policy is a significant barrier to dissemination of the medication. A number of the physicians presenting at the symposium reported having to turn people away because they were either at or over their 30 patient limit and that they felt this conflicted with a doctor's professional and moral obligation to provide treatment to those in need.

Dr. Volkow provided comments on the value of using buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction; in particular its effectiveness in relieving drug cravings without potential for dependence or dangerous side effects. Dr. Volkow stated that although new and effective medications are available, individuals with opioid addiction cannot readily obtain them because of an insufficient infrastructure for their distribution. In addition, Dr. Volkow noted the stigma still associated with medication-assisted treatment but expressed that buprenorphine presents an opportunity for people to seek help and live healthy, productive lives. Dr. Westley Clark of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) stated that the availability of buprenorphine in office-based settings will open more doors to treatment. He emphasized that buprenorphine represents an important breakthrough because it has proven to be effective in treating addiction to both non-prescription and prescription opioids.

Additional speakers, including a number of physicians and researchers, expressed that buprenorphine is a significant medical breakthrough and that the medication positively impacts the way that heroin addiction can be treated. Because doctors are now able to prescribe the drug in their offices a number of the speakers emphasized there is potential that more people will seek treatment because of the lack of stigma attached to visiting a private doctor and receiving a prescription. Also discussed was the adoption by Phoenix House, a primarily abstinence-based model of long-term drug treatment, of the short term use of buprenorphine-naloxone as an initial bridge to continued care and to improve access to their program. In addition, two individuals who have taken buprenorphine to assist with their opioid addiction spoke about their positive experiences with the medication and how it has helped their recovery process.

Additional information about the symposium can be found on Senator Levin's website at: http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=261270.

PASSED BILLS OF INTEREST — 109th Congress

H.R. 3 - This law was originally introduced by Representative Young (R-AK) as the "Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users," a bill to authorize funds for federal aid for highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs. The original House version of this bill included language (Section 2013 "Drug Impaired Driving Research and Prevention Act") that would require the development of a model statute for States relating to drug impaired driving. The model would include threshold levels of impairment for a controlled substance; methods for detecting the presence of controlled substances; and penalties for drug impaired driving. It would be based on recommendations contained in a report to be developed by NIH and submitted to Congress not later than 18 months after the date of enactment. The final version of the law maintains the requirements for model statute development, and for a report to be developed on the problem of drug-impaired driving. The Secretary of Transportation will develop the report, "in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health." The President signed the bill into law (109-59) on August 10.

H.R. 2520/S. 1317 - On December 20, 2005 the President signed into law, as Public Law 109-129, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005. H.R. 2520 passed the House on May 24, 2005. An amended version passed the Senate on December 16, and the House on December 17. The bill does not have a direct impact on NIH. It would require the Secretary of HHS, acting through the Director of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to establish the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, a network of cord blood banks to facilitate the use of cord blood for transplantation purposes. Cord blood units that are collected, but not appropriate for clinical use, would be required to be made available for peer-reviewed research.

H.R. 3199 - On March 2nd, the full Senate approved the conference report for H.R. 3199, the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005. The House of Representatives approved the final legislative package on March 8th. Provisions from the "Combat Meth Act," the "Drug Courts Improvement Act," and "The Meth Epidemic Elimination Act" were included in the legislation, which was signed into law (P.L. 109-177) by the President on March 9.

This law imposes federal regulations on the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine by requiring stores to keep medications with pseudoephedrine behind the counter and by requiring purchasers of the medication to show photo identification and sign a log. In addition, individuals are restricted from buying more than 3.6 grams per day and 9 grams per month of pseudoephedrine. The law does not preclude states from adopting or enforcing regulations or penalties more strict than those in the federal law.

The law also creates a sentencing enhancement for individuals convicted of manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with the intent to manufacture or distribute, methamphetamine on a premises where children reside. Under this provision, in addition to any other sentence imposed, another sentence of imprisonment for a period up 20 years, a fine or both would be applied. The Attorney General is authorized under the bill to award grants to States, territories, and American Indian tribes to address use of methamphetamine among pregnant and parenting women in the criminal justice system by facilitating or enhancing collaboration between the criminal justice, child welfare and State substance abuse systems.

S. 45/H.R. 869 - Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) in the Senate and Representative Mark Souder (R-IN) in the House introduced identical bills to amend the Controlled Substances Act to lift the patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical practitioners in group practices, and for other purposes. Both the House and Senate passed their bills and the President signed it into law (P.L. 109-56) on August 2. This law will impact practices that prescribe buprenorphine products for treatment of opiate addiction, making the medication available to more patients across the country.

S. 518/H.R. 1132 - Senator Sessions (R-AL) in the Senate and Representative Whitfield (R-KY) in the House introduced identical bills, the "National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005." This law (P.L. 109-60) will provide for the establishment of a controlled substance monitoring program in each State; it was signed by the President on August 11.

H.R. 2829 - On March 9th, the House passed this bill, legislation to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The bill enhances certain current ONDCP functions, and does not address the banning and testing for anabolic steroids in professional sports. A number of amendments to the legislation were offered during consideration on the House floor. Successful amendments to the original bill text will:

• Require the ONDCP Director to complete an assessment of report materials, studies, and statistics to determine the extent to which children who are 12 to 17 years of age (a) experiment with and regularly use marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes, prescription drugs without a prescription, designer drugs such as ecstasy, other illicit drugs such as cocaine, and (b) have access to intervention services or programs, including drug testing, counseling, rehabilitation, legal representation and other services or programs associated with prevention, treatment and punishment of substance abuse.
• Require the ONDCP Director to submit to Congress a comprehensive strategy that addresses the increased threat from methamphetamine.
• Require the ONDCP Director to provide for a corporation to (a) advise States on establishing laws and policies to address alcohol and other drug issues, based on the model State drug laws developed by the President's Commission on Model State Drug Laws in 1993, and (b) revise such model State drug laws and draft supplementary model State laws to take into consideration changes in the alcohol and drug abuse problems in the State involved.
• Require the ONDCP Director to request the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study to examine certain aspects of addiction to prescription drugs such as OxyContin.
• Require the ONDCP Director to conduct a study on drug court programs that conduct hearings in nontraditional public places such as schools.
• Direct the ONDCP Director, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the United States Trade Representative, to seek to convene an international summit on the threat of methamphetamine and synthetic drug precursors.

S. 3504 - On July 18, the Senate passed S. 3504, the Fetus Farming Prohibition Act of 2006, by a vote of 100-0. The House also passed S. 3504 on July 18 by a vote of 425-0. The bill was signed by the President on July 19 and became Public-Law 109-242. The bill was introduced on June 13 by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), and would prohibit soliciting or knowingly receiving or accepting a donation of human fetal tissue knowing that "a human pregnancy was deliberately initiated to provide such tissue." The bill would also prohibit receiving or accepting tissues or cells "obtained from a human embryo or fetus that was gestated in the uterus of a nonhuman animal."

S. 3525 - On July 13th, the full Senate approved S. 3525, the "Improving Outcomes for Children Affected by Meth Act of 2006." The Senate-approved bill would reauthorize the Safe and Stable Families program within the Department of Health and Human Services and would authorize additional funding for treatment programs that serve parents who are addicted to methamphetamine and their families. On July 25th the full House approved a different version of S. 3525 named the "Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006." The House-approved version of the legislation also reauthorizes the Safe and Stable Families program, but does not include the provisions on improving access to methamphetamine addiction treatment found in the Senate bill.

H. Res. 556/S. Res. 313 - On April 6, the House passed a resolution stating that (1) a National Methamphetamine Prevention Week should be established to increase awareness of methamphetamine and educate the public on effective ways to help prevent methamphetamine use at the international, Federal, State, and local levels; and (2) the people of the United States and interested groups should be encouraged to observe National Methamphetamine Prevention Week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The Senate passed the resolution on May 15.

BILLS OF INTEREST - SENATE

[For the full text and additional information about any bill, go to the Library of Congress website at http://thomas.loc.gov]

S. 103 - Senator Talent (R-MO) introduced on January 24, 2005 the "Combat Meth Act of 2005," a bill to respond to the illegal production, distribution, and use of methamphetamine in the United States, and for other purposes. See above, H.R. 3199, for final disposition.

S. 259 - Senator Johnson (D-SD) introduced on February 2, 2005 a bill to require that federal forfeiture funds be used, in part, to clean up methamphetamine laboratories. Committee: Judiciary.

S. 399 - Senators Coleman (R-MN) and Feinstein (D-CA) introduced on February 16, 2005 the Internet Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the sale of prescription drugs through the Internet, and for other purposes. Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Related bill: H.R. 840.

S. 408 - Senator DeWine (R-OH) introduced on February 16, 2005 the "STOP Underage Drinking Act." In part, the bill would authorize the Director of ONDCP to award "enhancement grants" to eligible entities to design, test, evaluate and disseminate strategies to maximize the effectiveness of community-wide approaches to preventing and reducing underage drinking. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related Bills: See H.R. 864.

S. 521 - Senator Hutchison (R-TX) introduced on March 3, 2005 the "Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act," a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary HHS to establish, promote, and support a comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral program for hepatitis C virus infection. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related Bills: See H.R. 1290.

S. 537 - Senator Bingaman (D-NM) introduced on March 7, 2005 the "Child Healthcare Crisis Relief Act" a bill to increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents, and for other purposes. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related Bills: See H.R. 1106.

S. 538 - Senator Biden (D-DE) introduced on March 7, 2005 the "Health Professionals Substance Abuse Education Act." In introductory remarks, he explained that the bill would do three things for each of the fiscal years 2006 thru 2010: (1) authorize $9 million in grants to train medical generalists to recognize substance abuse and know properly how to refer patients and their families for treatment; (2) authorize $6 million to fund a faculty fellowship program at educational institutions to teach courses on substance abuse, incorporate substance abuse issues into required courses, and educate health professionals about matters involving non-therapeutic uses of prescription medications; and (3) authorize $6 million to establish centers of excellence at medical centers or universities to initiate and implement training, research and clinical activities related to special focal areas of substance abuse, and provide opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in curriculum development, clinical practice, research and policy analysis. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related bill: H.R. 1789.

S. 550 - On September 21, former Senator John Corzine (D-NJ) introduced S. 550, the Microbicide Development Act, to facilitate the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV and other diseases, and for other purposes. Research provisions would require the Director of the NIH Office of AIDS Research to: 1) expedite implementation of a Federal microbicide research and development strategic plan, 2) expand, intensify and coordinate the relevant activities of appropriate NIH research components, and 3) prepare and submit, within six months of enactment and annually thereafter, a report to Congress on Federal microbicide research implementation strategies. The bill would also require the Director of NIAID to establish a microbicide development unit within its Division of AIDS. The measure also contains provisions for relevant activities at the CDC and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related bill: H.R. 3854.

S. 666 - Senator DeWine (R-OH) introduced on March 17, 2005 the "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act," a bill to protect the public health by providing the FDA with certain authority to regulate tobacco products. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related bill: H.R. 1376.

S. 803 - Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) introduced on April 14, 2005 the "Help Expand Access to Recovery and Treatment Act of 2005," to provide parity with respect to substance abuse treatment benefits under group health plans and health insurance coverage. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related Bills, see H.R. 1258.

S. 884 - Senator Cantwell (D-WA) introduced on April 25, 2005 the "Methamphetamine and Identity Theft Study Act of 2005," instructing the Attorney General to conduct a study evaluating whether there is a connection between the commission of crimes involving methamphetamine and the commission of identity theft crimes. Committee: Judiciary. Related Bill: H.R. 3325.

S. 927 - Former Senator Corzine (D-NJ) introduced on April 27, 2005 the "Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2005," which would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand and improve coverage of mental health services under the Medicare program. Committee: Finance. Related Bills: See H.R. 1946.

S. 930 - On April 27, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced the FDA Safety Act of 2005, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to drug safety, and for other purposes. Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Related bill: H.R. 4429.

S. 1051 - Senator Dodd (D-CT) introduced on May 17, 2005 the "Children and Family HIV/AIDS Research and Care Act of 2005," to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and extend certain programs to provide coordinated services and research with respect to children and families with HIV/AIDS. Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S. 1332 - On June 29, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced S. 1332, the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2005. Of specific interest to NIH, the measure would prohibit the display, sale or purchase of Social Security numbers (SSNs) to third parties without an individual's informed consent. Exemptions are included for public health and research conducted for the purpose of advancing public knowledge. Researchers would be required to provide adequate assurances that the SSNs will not be used inappropriately, and that there are safeguards to protect the privacy and confidentiality of any information about individuals. S. 1332, which has two cosponsors, was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.

S. 1334 - On June 29, Senator Bunning (R-KY) introduced the "Professional Sports Integrity and Accountability Act," to provide for integrity and accountability in professional sports. In late September, the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing to discuss the bill. Committees: Finance; Commerce, Science and Transportation.

S. 1436 - On July 20, Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) introduced S. 1436, the Campus-Based Underage Alcohol Use Reduction Act. The bill would require the Secretary of Education to award grants to reduce the rate of underage alcohol use and binge drinking among students at institutions of higher education. Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S. 1722 - On September 19th, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced S. 1722, the "Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act." This legislation would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and extend the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention and services program. S. 1722 would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health and in coordination with the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to establish a research agenda for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to public or private nonprofit entities to pay all or part of carrying out research under such agenda. Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Related bill HR 4212.

S. 1934 - On October 27th, several cosponsoring Senators introduced the "Second Chance Act of 2005: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention." of 2005," which would reauthorize the grant program of the Department of Justice for reentry of offenders into the community, to establish a task force on Federal programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders into the community, and for other purposes. Committee: Judiciary. Related bill: see H.R.1704.

S. 1960 - On November 3, Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) introduced S. 1960, the Integrity in Professional Sports Act, to protect the health and safety of all athletes, to promote the integrity of professional sports by establishing minimum standards for the testing of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances and methods by professional sports leagues, and for other purposes. Status: Placed on Senate legislative calendar under general orders.

S. 1974 - On November 8, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced S. 1974, the Drug Free Varsity Sports Act of 2005. The bill would provide states with the resources needed to rid our schools of performance enhancing drug use. Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S. 2046 - On November 17, Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH) introduced S. 2046, the National Methamphetamine Information Clearinghouse Act of 2005, to establish a National Methamphetamine Information Clearinghouse to promote sharing information regarding successful law enforcement, treatment, environmental, social services, and other programs related to the production, use, or effects of methamphetamine and grants available for such programs, and for other purposes. Committee: Judiciary.

S. 2104 - On December 14, Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) introduced the "American Center for Cures Act of 2005," to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the American Center for Cures to accelerate the development of public and private research efforts towards tools and therapies for human diseases with the goal of early disease detection, prevention, and cures. Specific aims of this proposed legislation are to: 1) expedite translational research and 2) implement some recommendations from the 2003 NAS study entitled "Enhancing the Vitality of the National Institutes of Health: Organizational Change to Meet New Challenges." Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S. 2315 - On February 16, Senator Burns (R-MT) introduced the "Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Act of 2006," to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a federally-supported education and awareness campaign for the prevention of methamphetamine use. Committee: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S. 2560 - On April 6, Senator Specter (R-PA) introduced the "Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006" to authorize and enhance the operations of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The bill as introduced differs significantly from its related House bill (H.R. 2829). Committee: Judiciary. Reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee on May 25, 2006. Floor action pending.

S. 2643 - On April 25, Senator Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the "Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement and Treatment Act of 2006," To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to clarify that Indian tribes are eligible to receive grants for confronting the use of methamphetamine. Committee: Judiciary.

S. 2695 - On May 2, Senators Cornyn (R-TX) and Lieberman (D-CT) introduced the "Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006," which would require every Federal agency with an annual extramural research budget of $100 million or more to implement a public access policy that is consistent with and advances purposes of the Federal agency. The bill requires that articles resulting from Federally funded research be deposited in a public archive and made available no later than six months after publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Committee: Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

S. 2754 - On July 18, the Senate passed S. 2754, the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cells Therapies Enhancement Act, by a vote of 100-0. The bill was introduced on May 5 by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), and would require NIH to fund peer-reviewed research to develop techniques for the isolation and production of pluripotent stem cells, without deriving such cells from human embryos. The bill would also require the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of NIH, to issue guidelines within 90 days of the bill's enactment that would outline and prioritize such research. The House considered the measure on July 18 under "suspension of the rules," but it failed by a vote of 273-154 (2/3 required for passage). The bill may be considered by the House again under general House rules which would require a simple majority for passage.

S. 3055 - On May 25, Senator James Talent (R-MO) introduced the Family Based Meth Treatment Act of 2006, to amend the Public Health Service Act regarding residential treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women, a program to reduce substance abuse among nonviolent offenders, and for other purposes. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Related Bill: H.R. 5493.

S.3557 - On June 22, Senator Richard Durbin introduced the Drug Overdose Reduction Act, authorizing funding to train first responders, law enforcement officials and corrections officials on how to recognize and respond to an overdose. Funding also would be available for drug overdose prevention programs that provide direct services to people most at risk of an overdose death. Committee: Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

S. 3834 - On August 3, Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, to prohibit online sale of medications and controlled substances without valid prescriptions. Committee: Judiciary.

S. Res. 462 - On May 3, Senator Grassley (R-IA) introduced a resolution "designating June 6, 2006 as the day of a National Vigil for Lost Promise, to call public attention to the tremendous promise which has been lost with the deaths of those affected by drugs.

BILLS OF INTEREST - HOUSE

H.R. 240 - Representative Pryce (R-OH) introduced on January 4, 2005 the "Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2005." The bill, which would extend welfare legislation, was approved by the Ways and Means Committee's Human Resources Subcommittee on March 15, 2005. The subcommittee amended the bill to cut federal welfare funding to any state that does not drug test those applying for or receiving welfare benefits. No state currently drug tests welfare recipients. In fact, a 2003 ruling by a federal appeals court that covers the states of Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee ruled that states cannot drug test welfare recipients because it is unconstitutional. Those states, and many others, could lose federal funding if the drug testing provision makes it into law. Status: pending at House Financial Services.

H.R. 314 - Representative Blunt (R-MO) introduced on January 25, 2005 the "Combat Meth Act of 2005," a bill to respond to the illegal production, distribution, and use of methamphetamine in the United States, and for other purposes. See H.R. 3199 above, under "Passed Bills of Interest."

H.R. 370 - Representative Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced on January 26, 2005 the "Biomedical Research Assistance Voluntary Option Act," a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Service Code to allow taxpayers to designate part or all of any income tax refund be paid for use in biomedical research conducted through the NIH. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Ways and Means.

H.R. 798 - Representative Gordon (D-TN) introduced on February 16, 2005 the "Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005," a bill to provide for a research program for remediation of closed methamphetamine production laboratories, and for other purposes. Committee: Science, Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards. Status: passed by the House. Pending in the Senate (Environment and Public Works).

H.R. 810 - On July 17, the Senate passed H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005," by a vote of 63-37. The bill had previously passed the House on May 24 by a vote of 238-194. The bill, which would have effectively overturned the President's 2001 stem cell policy, would have required NIH to fund research on human embryonic stem cells notwithstanding the date on which such cells were derived. The measure was vetoed by the President on July 19. The House failed to override the veto by a vote of 235-193 (2/3 required for a successful override motion).

H.R. 812 - Representative Cummings (D-MD) introduced on February 16, 2005 the "Dawson Family Community Protection Act," a bill to amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 1998 to ensure that adequate funding is provided for certain high intensity drug trafficking areas. Committees: Government Reform; Energy and Commerce. The text of this bill was included in the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 2829) which passed the House on March 9).

H.R. 840 - Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) introduced on February 16, 2005 a bill to amend the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act with respect to the sale of prescription drugs through the internet, and for other purposes. Committee: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. Related Bill: S. 399.

H.R. 864 - Representative Roybal-Allard (D-CA) introduced on February 16, 2005 a bill to provide for programs and activities with respect to the prevention of underage drinking. Committee: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. Related Bills: See S. 408.

H.R. 1020 - Representative Rogers (R-MI) introduced on March 1, 2005 a bill to declare adequate pain care research, education, and treatment as national public health priorities, and for other purposes. In part the bill would establish within NIH a center to be known as the National Center for Pain and Palliative Care Research. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Health; Ways and Means; Armed Services.

H.R. 1054 - Representative Green (R-WI) introduced on March 2, 2005 the "Tools for Community Initiatives Act," which would establish an Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives in the Executive Office of the President. Committee: Government Reform.

H.R. 1055 - Representative Hooley (D-OR) introduced on March 2, 2005 the "Comprehensive Methamphetamine Response Act," a bill to provide for the designation and funding of high intensity methamphetamine abuse and trafficking areas. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Judiciary. Related bill: see H.R. 3199 above, under "Passed Bills of Interest."

H.R. 1056 - Representative Hooley (D-OR) introduced on March 2, 2005 the "Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act of 2005," a bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to the distribution of pseudoephedrine. Section 7 of the bill would authorize funding for NIH to conduct research on medical alternatives to pseudoephedrine. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Judiciary. Related bill: See H.R. 3199 above, under "Passed Bills of Interest."

H.R. 1106 - Representative Kennedy (D-RI) introduced on March 3, 2005 the "Veterans Medical Research Assistance Voluntary Option Act of 2005," a bill to increase the number of well-trained mental health service professionals (including those based in schools) providing clinical mental health care to children and adolescents, and for other purposes. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Ways and Means. Related Bills: See S.537.

H.R. 1258 - Representative Ramstad (R-MN) introduced on March 10, 2005 the "Time for Recovery and Equal Access to Treatment in America (TREAT America) Act, a bill to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, PHSA and the IRS Code of 1986 to provide parity with respect to substance abuse treatment benefits under group health plans and health insurance coverage. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Education and Workforce, Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations; Ways and Means. Related Bills: See S. 803.

H.R. 1290 - Representative Wilson (R-NM) introduced on March 14, 2005 the "Hepatitis C Epidemic Control Prevention Act," to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish, promote, and support a comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral program for hepatitis C virus infection. The bill also would require the Director of NIH to establish a Liver Disease Research Advisory Board, which would be charged with developing a Liver Disease Research Plan. Committee: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. Related Bills: See S. 521.

H.R. 1350 - Representative Peterson (D-MN) introduced on March 16, 2005 the "Methamphetamine Blister Pack Loophole Elimination Act of 2005," a bill to eliminate the safe-harbor exception for certain packaged pseudoephedrine products used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Judiciary. Related Bills: See H.R. 1446. Related bill: See H.R. 3199 above, under "Passed Bills of Interest."

H.R. 1357 - Representative Weldon (R-FL) introduced on March 17, 2005, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005, a bill to prohibit human cloning. Committee: House Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R. 1376 - Representative Davis (R-VA) introduced on March 17, 2005 the "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act," a bill to protect the public health by providing the FDA with certain authority to regulate tobacco products. The bill text states that the use of tobacco products by the Nation's children is a pediatric disease of considerable proportions that results in new generations of tobacco-dependent children and adults and that nicotine is an addictive drug. Committee: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. Related bill: S. 666.

H.R. 1378 - Representative Emerson (R-MO) introduced on March 17, 2005 the "Ephedrine Alkaloids Regulation Act of 2005," a bill to amend the Controlled Substances Act with respect to regulation of ephedrine alkaloids, including ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The bill states that methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that can be readily made from products and precursors purchased from retail stores. Committee: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. Related bill: See H.R. 3199 above, under "Passed Bills of Interest."

H.R. 1402 - Representative Kennedy (D-RI) introduced on March 17, 2005 the "Paul Wellstone Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act of 2005," a bill to provide for equal coverage of mental health benefits with respect to health insurance coverage unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits. Committees: Education and the Workforce, Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations; Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health.

H.R. 1446 - Representative Souder (R-IN) introduced on March 17, 2005 the "Methamphetamine Abuse Prevention Act of 2005," a bill to eliminate the safe-harbor exception for certain packaged pseudoephedrine products used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Judiciary. Related Bills: See H.R.1350; see H.R. 3199 above, under "Passed Bills of Interest."

H.R. 1528 - Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced on April 6, 2005 the "Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005," which would amend the Controlled Substances Act to protect vulnerable persons from drug trafficking, and for other purposes. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health; Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.

H.R. 1639 - Representative DeLauro (D-CT) introduced on April 14, 2005 the "Military Health Services Improvement Act of 2005," which would require pre- and post-deployment mental health screenings for members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Committee: Armed Services.

H.R. 1704 - Representative Portman (R-OH [now resigned from the House]) introduced on April 19, 2005 the "Second Chance Act: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention Act of 2005," which would reauthorize the grant program of the Department of Justice for reentry of offenders into the community, to establish a task force on Federal programs and activities relating to the reentry of offenders into the community, and for other purposes. Committees: Judiciary; Education and the Workforce. Related bill: see S. 1934. The bill was marked up and reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee on July 26, 2006. House floor action is pending.

H.R. 1758 - Representative Andrews (D-NJ) introduced on April 21, 2005 the "Open Air Drug Market Penalty Act of 2005," which would amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide penalties for open air drug markets, and for other purposes. Committees: Judiciary; Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 1789 - Representative Kennedy (D-RI) introduced on April 21, 2005 the "Health Professionals Substance Abuse Education Act," designed to educate health professionals concerning substance use disorders and addiction. Committee: Energy and Commerce. Related Bill: See S. 538.

H.R. 1808 - On April 21, Representative Greg Walden (R-WA) introduced the Safe Online Drug Act of 2005, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to create a uniform certification standard for Internet pharmacies and to prohibit Internet pharmacies from engaging in certain advertising activities, to prohibit the use of certain bank instruments for purchases associated with illegal Internet pharmacies, and for other purposes. Committees: Energy and Commerce; Financial Services.

H.R. 1862 - Representative Stearns (R-FL) introduced on April 26, 2005 the "Drug Free Sports Act," which would direct the Secretary of Commerce to issue regulations requiring testing for steroids and other performance-enhancing substances for certain sports associations engaged in interstate commerce. Committee: Education and Commerce; Education and the Workforce.

H.R. 1946 - Representative Stark (D-CA) introduced on April 27, 2005 the "Medicare Mental Health Modernization Act of 2005," which would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand and improve coverage of mental health services under the Medicare program. Committees: Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce. Related Bills: See S. 927.

H.R. 2087 - Representative Frank (D-MA) introduced on May 4, 2005 the "States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act," which would provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States. Committee: Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 2124 - Representative Weldon (R-FL) introduced on May 5, 2005 the "Clinical Research Act of 2005," which would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for clinical research support grants, clinical research infrastructure grants, and a demonstration program on partnerships in clinical research, and for other purposes. Committee: Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 2195 - Representative Lynch (D-MA) introduced on May 5, 2005 the "Act to Ban Oxycontin," which would provide for the withdrawal of the drug OxyContin from the commercial market. Committee: Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 2565 - Representative Davis (R-VA) on May 24 introduced the "Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act," to reauthorize the Office of National Drug Control Policy Act and to establish minimum drug testing standards for major professional sports leagues. Committees: Government Reform, Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce. Related bill: see H.R. 2829 - House leadership chose to move forward with this bill regarding ONDCP reauthorization.

H.R. 3084 - On June 28, Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) introduced H.R. 3084, the Drug Free Sports Act of 2005. The bill would direct the Secretary of Commerce to issue regulations requiring testing for steroids and other performance enhancing substances for certain sports associations engaged in interstate commerce. The bill would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the NIDA Director, to prescribe the substances for which professional athletes are tested, establish criteria by which professional sports associations may provide substances to athletes prior to or after any drug test, and establish criteria for test administration. The measure also calls for penalties for a positive test, and criteria under which the names of athletes testing positive may be disclosed. Committees: Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce. Status: Reported by all committees, awaiting further action.

H.R. 3196 - On June 30, Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) introduced H.R. 3196, the Fair Access to Clinical Trials Act (FACT). The measure would require sponsors of privately and publicly funded studies of drugs, biologics, or medical devices to register using a database that builds on the National Library of Medicine's www.clinicaltrials.gov. It would provide public access to basic information on studies before they begin, such as the disease or condition with which the trial is concerned, the hypothesis being tested, the sponsor and principal investigator, and the sources of funding. Public access to the results of clinical studies, including primary and secondary outcomes and significant adverse events, would also be permitted under the legislation. H.R. 3196 also would authorize the Secretary of HHS to impose penalties for noncompliance, including revoking a sponsor's eligibility for further Federal funding and imposing civil money penalties. Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 3325 - On July 18, Representative David Reichert introduced the Methamphetamine and Identity Theft Study Act of 2005, to conduct a study evaluating whether there are correlations between the commission of methamphetamine crimes and identity theft crimes. Committee: Judiciary. Related Bill: S.884.

H.R. 3739 - On September 13th, Representative John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the "Drug Courts Improvement Act of 2005." This Act would amend existing law by requiring the Attorney General to set uniform standards for mandatory drug testing that drug courts receiving funds from the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Drug Court grant program would be required to follow. In addition, the legislation would require drug courts receiving grant money from this federal program to impose mandatory sanctions whenever a participant fails a drug test. Committee: Judiciary. Text from this bill was included in H.R. 3199 - see above under "Passed bills of Interest."

H.R. 3854 - On September 21, Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT) introduced H.R. 3854, the Microbicide Development Act, to facilitate the development of microbicides for preventing transmission of HIV and other diseases, and for other purposes. Research provisions would require the Director of the NIH Office of AIDS Research to: 1) expedite implementation of a Federal microbicide research and development strategic plan, 2) expand, intensify and coordinate the relevant activities of appropriate NIH research components, and 3) prepare and submit, within six months of enactment and annually thereafter, a report to Congress on Federal microbicide research implementation strategies. The bill would also require the Director of NIAID to establish a microbicide development unit within its Division of AIDS. The measure also contains provisions for relevant activities at the CDC and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Committees: Energy and Commerce, International Relations. Related bill: see S.550.

H.R. 3889 - On September 22, Representative Mark Souder introduced H.R. 3889, the "Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act," to further regulate and punish illicit conduct relating to methamphetamine, and for other purposes. Status: passed by the House. Related bill and legislative action: see S. 103, H.R. 314. See above H.R. 3199, under "Passed Bills of Interest."

H.R. 3942 - On September 29, Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced the Professional Sports Responsibility Act of 2005, to establish a Federal Office of Steroids Testing Enforcement and Prevention to establish and enforce standards for the testing for the illegal use in professional sports of performance enhancing substances and other controlled substances. Committees: Judiciary; Energy and Commerce; Education and the Workforce.

H.R. 3955 - On September 29, Representative Steve King (R-IA) introduced the "Meth Lab Eradication Act," to amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide for the transfer of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine to schedule V of the schedules of controlled substances, and for other purposes. Committees: Energy and Commerce; Judiciary.

H.R. 4212 - On November 2, Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced the Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and extend the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention and services program, and for other purposes. Committees: Energy and Commerce; Education and the Workforce. Related bill: see S. 1722.

H.R. 4272 - On November 9, Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced H.R. 4272, the "Steve McWilliams Truth in Trials Act," to amend the Controlled Substances Act to provide an affirmative defense for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various states, and for other purposes. Committees: Judiciary; Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 4429 - On April 27, Representative John Tierney (D-MA) introduced the FDA Safety Act of 2005, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to drug safety, and for other purposes. Committee: Energy and Commerce. Related bill: S.930.

H.R. 4763 - On February 15th, Representative Oberstar (D-MN) introduced the "Methamphetamine Eradication Act," provide a comprehensive Federal response to the problems relating to methamphetamine use and addiction. Committees: Judiciary; Energy and Commerce; Science, Education and the Workforce; Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

H.R. 4769 - On February 16th, Representative Charles Norwood (R-GA) introduced the "Prescription Drug Abuse Elimination Act of 2006," to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act, and the Public Health Service Act to impose requirements respecting Internet pharmacies, to require manufacturers to implement chain-of-custody procedures, to restrict an exemption respecting the importation of controlled substances for personal use, and for other purposes. Committee: Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 4910 - On March 8, Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY) introduced the "National Drug Testing Integrity Act," to prohibit the manufacture, sale, marketing, or distribution of products or substances designed or intended to defraud a drug test. Committee: Energy and Commerce.

H.R. 5493 - On May 25, Representative Barbary Cubin (R-WY) introduced the Family Based Meth Treatment Access Act of 2006, to amend the Public Health Service Act regarding residential treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women, a program to reduce substance abuse among nonviolent offenders, and for other purposes. Committee: Commerce and Energy, Subcommittee on Health. Related bill: S. 3055.

H.R. 5526 - On June 6, Representative Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), with cosponsor Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA) introduced H.R. 5526, the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act. The bill would require NIH to fund peer-reviewed research to develop techniques for the isolation and production of pluripotent stem cells, without deriving such cells from human embryos. The bill would also require the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of NIH, to issue guidelines within 90 days of the bill's enactment that would outline and prioritize such research. In the bill, the term "human embryo" has the meaning given in the applicable appropriations act. The applicable appropriations act is defined as the appropriations act providing funding for HHS in the fiscal year the research is conducted or supported. If there were no definition in that year's appropriation act, then the applicable appropriations act would be the act of the previous fiscal year. H.R. 5526 is a companion, or identical version, of S. 2754, legislation introduced by Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) on May 5. Committee: Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health.

H.R. 5975 - On July 28, Representative Tom Allen (D-MD) introduced H.R. 5975, the Prescription Drug Comparativeness Effectiveness Act of 2006. The bill would require Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in consultation with NIH, to conduct research to develop valid scientific evidence regarding comparative clinical effectiveness, outcomes, and appropriateness of prescription drugs, medical devices, and procedures. Representative Allen's bill from the 108th Congress tasked NIH as the lead for conducting such research. Committee: Energy and Commerce.