Liver Illness Visibility, Education, and Research Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3016 To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for and support liver illness visibility, education, and research, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 23, 2019 Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ (for herself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. VELA, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for and support liver illness visibility, education, and re- search, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Liver Illness Visibility, 4 Education, and Research Act of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 3016 IH (1) Liver cancer is the fastest-growing cause of 1 cancer death in the United States and among the 2 leading causes of cancer deaths globally. 3 (2) In 2018, approximately 42,220 people in 4 the United States will be diagnosed with primary 5 liver cancer, and approximately 30,200 will die from 6 the disease. 7 (3) Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer 8 death among the Asian-American and Pacific Is- 9 lander community. 10 (4) The most vulnerable Asian-Americans are 11 those who are foreign-born, low-income, and living in 12 ethnic enclaves. 13 (5) Asian and Pacific Islander men and women 14 are more than twice as likely to develop liver cancer 15 compared to the non-Hispanic White population. 16 (6) Among the Asian and Pacific Islander pop- 17 ulation, the higher incidence rate of liver cancer is 18 partially explained by higher incidence rates of Hep- 19 atitis B and diabetes, which are comorbidities shown 20 to increase an individual’s risk of developing liver 21 cancer. 22 (7) The most common causes of liver cancer in- 23 clude Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus infec- 24 tion. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 3016 IH (8) Hepatitis B is a primary risk factor for de- 1 veloping liver cancer, and 1 in 4 of those chronically 2 infected with hepatitis B develop cirrhosis, liver fail- 3 ure, or liver cancer. 4 (9) Half of all individuals with hepatitis B in 5 the United States are Asian-American or Pacific Is- 6 lander, though this group accounts for only 5 per- 7 cent of the U.S. population. 8 (10) Among African immigrants in the United 9 States, the prevalence of hepatitis B infection is ap- 10 proximately 1 in 10, and African immigrants make 11 up 30 percent of those with chronic hepatitis B in- 12 fection in the United States. 13 (11) Among Hispanic/Latino communities, liver 14 cancer incidence and death rates are twice as high 15 compared to the non-Hispanic White population. 16 (12) Hispanics/Latinos are 60 percent more 17 likely to die from viral hepatitis than non-Hispanic 18 Whites. 19 SEC. 3. LIVER CANCER AND DISEASE RESEARCH. 20 Subpart 1 of part C of title IV of the Public Health 21 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285 et seq.) is amended by adding 22 at the end the following new section: 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 3016 IH ‘‘SEC. 417H. LIVER CANCER AND DISEASE RESEARCH. 1 ‘‘(a) EXPANSION AND COORDINATION OF ACTIVI- 2 TIES.—The Director of the Institute shall expand, inten- 3 sify, and coordinate the activities of the Institute with re- 4 spect to research on liver cancer and other liver diseases. 5 ‘‘(b) PROGRAMS FOR LIVER CANCER.—In carrying 6 out subsection (a), the Director of the Institute shall— 7 ‘‘(1) provide for an expansion and intensifica- 8 tion of the conduct and support of— 9 ‘‘(A) basic research concerning the etiology 10 and causes of liver cancer; 11 ‘‘(B) clinical research and related activities 12 concerning the causes, prevention, detection, 13 and treatment of liver cancer; 14 ‘‘(C) control programs with respect to liver 15 cancer, in accordance with section 412, includ- 16 ing community-based programs designed to as- 17 sist members of medically underserved popu- 18 lations (including women), low-income popu- 19 lations, or minority groups; and 20 ‘‘(D) information and education programs 21 with respect to liver cancer, in accordance with 22 section 413; 23 ‘‘(2) issue targeted calls for proposals from re- 24 search scientists for purposes of funding priority 25 areas of liver cancer research; 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 3016 IH ‘‘(3) establish a special emphasis panel (as de- 1 fined by the National Institutes of Health) to review 2 any proposal submitted pursuant to paragraph (2); 3 and 4 ‘‘(4) based on reviews by the special emphasis 5 panel under paragraph (3), select which proposals to 6 fund or support. 7 ‘‘(c) INTER-INSTITUTE WORKING GROUP.—The Di- 8 rector of the Institute shall establish an inter-institute 9 working group to coordinate research agendas focused on 10 finding better outcomes and cures for liver cancer and 11 other liver diseases, including hepatitis B. 12 ‘‘(d) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award 14 grants and enter into cooperative agreements with 15 entities for the purpose of expanding and supporting 16 research on— 17 ‘‘(A) conditions known to increase an indi- 18 vidual’s risk of developing a major liver disease, 19 such as liver cancer, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, 20 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis of 21 the liver; and 22 ‘‘(B) opportunities for preventative and di- 23 agnostic measures for such a disease, including 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 3016 IH the study of molecular pathology and biomark- 1 ers for early detection of such disease. 2 ‘‘(2) EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT AND PRE- 3 VENTION.—In the case of an entity that is a hospital 4 or a health care facility, the Secretary may award a 5 grant or enter into a cooperative agreement with 6 such an entity for the purpose of supporting an ex- 7 perimental treatment or prevention program for liver 8 cancer carried out by such entity. 9 ‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 10 For purposes of carrying out this subsection, there 11 is authorized to be appropriated $45,000,000 for 12 each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. Any 13 amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall re- 14 main available until expended.’’. 15 SEC. 4. LIVER CANCER AND DISEASE PREVENTION, AWARE- 16 NESS, AND PATIENT TRACKING GRANTS. 17 Subpart I of part D of title III of the Public Health 18 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding 19 at the end the following new section: 20 ‘‘SEC. 330N. LIVER CANCER AND DISEASE PREVENTION, 21 AWARENESS, AND PATIENT TRACKING 22 GRANTS. 23 ‘‘(a) PREVENTION INITIATIVE GRANT PROGRAM.— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 3016 IH ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, through the 1 Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- 2 vention, may award grants and enter into coopera- 3 tive agreements with entities for the purpose of ex- 4 panding and supporting— 5 ‘‘(A) prevention activities (including pro- 6 viding screenings, vaccinations, or other pre- 7 ventative treatment) for conditions known to in- 8 crease an individual’s risk of developing a major 9 liver disease, such as liver cancer, hepatitis B, 10 hepatitis C, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and 11 cirrhosis of the liver; 12 ‘‘(B) activities relating to surveillance, 13 diagnostics, and provision of guidance for indi- 14 viduals at high risk for contracting liver cancer 15 and other liver diseases; and 16 ‘‘(C) a robust hepatitis surveillance infra- 17 structure to provide for timely and accurate in- 18 formation regarding progress to eliminate viral 19 hepatitis. 20 ‘‘(2) REPORT.—An entity that receives a grant 21 or cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) shall 22 submit to the Secretary, at a time specified by the 23 Secretary, a report describing each activity carried 24 out pursuant to such paragraph and evaluating the 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 3016 IH effectiveness of such activity in promoting prevention 1 and treatment of liver cancer and other liver dis- 2 eases. 3 ‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 4 For purposes of carrying out this subsection, there 5 is authorized to be appropriated $90,000,000 for 6 each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. Any 7 amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall re- 8 main available until expended and shall be used to 9 supplement and not supplant other Federal funds 10 provided for activities under this subsection. 11 ‘‘(b) AWARENESS INITIATIVE GRANT PROGRAM.— 12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, through the 13 Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- 14 vention, may award grants to eligible entities for the 15 purpose of raising awareness for liver cancer and 16 other liver diseases, which may include the produc- 17 tion, dissemination, and distribution of informational 18 materials targeted towards communities and popu- 19 lations with a higher risk for developing liver cancer 20 and other liver diseases. 21 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—To be eligible to re- 22 ceive a grant under paragraph (1), an entity shall 23 submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, 24 in such manner, and containing such information as 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 3016 IH the Secretary may require, including a description of 1 how the entity, in disseminating information on liver 2 cancer and other liver diseases pursuant to para- 3 graph (1), will— 4 ‘‘(A) with respect to any community or 5 population, consult with members of such com- 6 munity or population and provide such informa- 7 tion in a manner that is culturally and linguis- 8 tically appropriate for such community or popu- 9 lation; 10 ‘‘(B) highlight the range of treatments 11 available for liver cancer and other liver dis- 12 eases; 13 ‘‘(C) integrate information on available 14 hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing programs 15 into any liver cancer presentations carried out 16 by the entity; and 17 ‘‘(D) target communities and populations 18 with a higher risk for contracting liver cancer 19 and other liver diseases. 20 ‘‘(3) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under 21 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to 22 entities that— 23 ‘‘(A) are, or work with, a Federally quali- 24 fied health center; or 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 3016 IH ‘‘(B) are community-based organizations. 1 ‘‘(4) REPORT.—An entity that receives a grant 2 under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary, 3 at a time specified by the Secretary, a report de- 4 scribing each activity carried out pursuant to such 5 paragraph and evaluating the effectiveness of such 6 activity in raising awareness for liver cancer and 7 other liver diseases. 8 ‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 9 For purposes of carrying out this subsection, there 10 is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for 11 each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024. Any 12 amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall re- 13 main available until expended and shall be used to 14 supplement and not supplant other Federal funds 15 provided for activities under this subsection.’’. 16 SEC. 5. HEPATITIS B RESEARCH. 17 Subpart 3 of part C of title IV of the Public Health 18 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285c et seq.) is amended by adding 19 at the end the following new section: 20 ‘‘SEC. 434B. HEPATITIS B. 21 ‘‘The Director of the Institute shall, in collaboration 22 with the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and 23 Infectious Diseases, issue targeted calls for hepatitis B re- 24 search proposals focused on key research questions identi- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 3016 IH fied by the research community and discussed in peer-re- 1 viewed research journal articles.’’. 2 SEC. 6. CHANGES RELATING TO NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 3 DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DIS- 4 EASES. 5 (a) CHANGE OF NAME OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 6 DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES.— 7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subpart 3 of part C of title 8 IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285c 9 et seq.) is amended in the subpart heading by strik- 10 ing ‘‘National Institute of Diabetes and Di- 11 gestive and Kidney Diseases’’ and inserting 12 ‘‘National Institute of Diabetes and Diges- 13 tive, Kidney, and Liver Diseases’’. 14 (2) TREATMENT OF DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL 15 INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KID- 16 NEY DISEASES.—The individual serving as the Di- 17 rector of the National Institute of Diabetes and Di- 18 gestive and Kidney Diseases as of the date of enact- 19 ment of this Act may continue to serve as the Direc- 20 tor of the National Institute of Diabetes and Diges- 21 tive, Kidney, and Liver Diseases commencing as of 22 that date. 23 (3) REFERENCES.—Any reference to the Na- 24 tional Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kid- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Jun 08, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3016.IH H3016 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 3016 IH ney Diseases, or the Director of the National Insti- 1 tute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 2 in any law, regulation, document, record, or other 3 paper of the United States shall be deemed to be a 4 reference to the National Institute of Diabetes and 5 Digestive, Kidney, and Liver Diseases, or the Direc- 6 tor of the National Institute of Diabetes and Diges- 7 tive, Kidney, and Liver Diseases, respectively. 8 (4) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 9 (A) Section 401(b)(3) of the Public Health 10 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281(b)(3)) is amended 11 by striki [Text truncated for display. 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