108th Congress

The Pancreatic Islet Cell Tranplantation Act of 2004

P.L. 108-726 (H.R. 3858, S. 2158)

Impact of Public Law

P.L. 108-726, the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004, will permit pancreases obtained by organ procurement organizations for the purposes of islet cell transplantation or research to be counted toward that organization’s certification.

The bill also requires the Diabetes Mellitus Interagency Coordinating Committee (DMICC) to include an assessment of Federal activities and programs related to pancreatic islet cell transplantation in its annual report. In preparing the assessment, the Act requires DMICC to address the following:

1. the adequacy of Federal funding for taking advantage of scientific opportunities relating to pancreatic islet cell transplantation,
2. current policies and regulations affecting the supply of pancreases for islet cell transplantation,
3. the effect of xenotransplantation on advancing pancreatic islet cell transplantation,
4. the effect of United Network for Organ Sharing policies regarding pancreas retrieval and islet cell transplantation,
5. the existing mechanisms for collecting and coordinating outcomes data from existing islet cell transplantation trials,
6. implementation of multiagency clinical investigations of pancreatic islet cell transplantation,
7. and recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as the Committee considers appropriate in order to increase the supply of pancreases available for islet cell transplantation.

Legislative History

H.R. 3858 was introduced by Representative George R. Nethercutt, Jr. (R-WA) on February 26, 2004, and was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Its companion measure, S. 2158, the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004, was introduced by Senators Susan M. Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) on March 2, 2004. S. 2158 was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

On October 5 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3858 under suspension of the rules by a voice vote. The Senate passed H.R. 3858 by unanimous consent on October 8.

On October 25, the President signed into law H.R. 3858, the Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Act of 2004, as P.L. 108-726.