110th Congress

The Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes

P.L. 110-173 (S. 2499)

Impact of Public Law

P.L. 110-173, the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, includes a provision that amends Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act to extend the funding for the special program for Type 1 diabetes research and the parallel services program for diabetes in Native Americans for fiscal year (FY) 2009 at the current funding level of $150 million. This program, which was set to expire in FY 2008, provides additional funding for the special program for Type 1 diabetes research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is separate from the regular appropriations process.

Legislative History

The Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research was initially established under the 1997 Balanced Budget Act (P.L. 105-33) and later extended, with the amount of funding increased, by the 2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 106-554) and again by the Public Health Service Act Amendment on Diabetes (P.L. 107-360), which established the current funding level of $150 million for each year of the FYs 2004 through 2008. As designated under the Act, NIH has established a broad, consultative, scientifically competitive, and managerially sound process for planning, allocating, and evaluating the effectiveness of this program. Under the leadership of the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the process is framed around six broad goals in Type 1 diabetes research and involves all relevant NIH Institutes and Centers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the external community of scientific and lay experts in the field. Decisions about the appropriation of funds have been informed by meetings of experts, both internal and external to NIH. Since the program’s inception in FY 1998, there has been continual, careful assessment of the initiatives proposed by participating U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies, with final funding decisions made in a manner consistent with the scientific merit and technical feasibility of specific projects as determined by the NIH peer-review system.

S. 2499, the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007, was introduced by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) on December 18, 2007, and was passed by the Senate by unanimous consent on the same day. On December 19, S. 2499 was passed by the House by a vote of 411 to 3 under suspension of the rules. On December 29, President Bush signed S. 2499 into law as P.L. 110 173.

S. 1494 was introduced by Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) on May 24, 2007, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

H.R. 2762 was introduced by Representative Diana L. DeGette (D-CO) on June 18, 2007, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

H.R. 3162 was introduced by Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI) on July 24, 2007, and was referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means and on Energy and Commerce. On July 26, the House Committee on Ways and Means ordered the bill, as amended, to be reported out favorably by a vote of 24 to 17. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

April 2008