The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“NATIONAL CLINICAL CARE COMMISSION ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S5019-S5020 on Sept. 6, 2017.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NATIONAL CLINICAL CARE COMMISSION ACT
Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 47, S. 920.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 920) to establish a National Clinical Care Commission.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the Shaheen amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 807) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To improve the bill)
On page 5, line 12, strike ``and''.
On page 5, line 20, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
On page 5, between lines 20 and 21, insert the following:
(5) whether there are opportunities for consolidation of inappropriately overlapping or duplicative Federal programs related to the diseases and complications described in subsection (a).
The bill (S. 920), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 920
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Clinical Care Commission Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL CLINICAL CARE COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established, within the Department of Health and Human Services, a National Clinical Care Commission (in this section referred to as the
``Commission'') to evaluate and make recommendations regarding improvements to the coordination and leveraging of programs within the Department and other Federal agencies related to awareness and clinical care for at least one, but not more than two, complex metabolic or autoimmune diseases resulting from issues related to insulin that represent a significant disease burden in the United States, which may include complications due to such diseases.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of the following voting members:
(A) The heads of the following Federal agencies and departments, or their designees:
(i) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
(ii) The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
(iii) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
(iv) The Indian Health Service.
(v) The Department of Veterans Affairs.
(vi) The National Institutes of Health.
(vii) The Food and Drug Administration.
(viii) The Health Resources and Services Administration.
(ix) The Department of Defense.
(x) The Department of Agriculture.
(xi) The Office of Minority Health.
(B) Twelve additional voting members appointed under paragraph (2).
(2) Additional members.--The Commission shall include additional voting members, as may be appointed by the Secretary, with expertise in the prevention, care, and epidemiology of any of the diseases and complications described in subsection (a), including one or more such members from each of the following categories:
(A) Physician specialties, including clinical endocrinologists, that play a role in the prevention or treatment of diseases and complications described in subsection (a).
(B) Primary care physicians.
(C) Non-physician health care professionals.
(D) Patient advocates.
(E) National experts, including public health experts, in the duties listed under subsection (c).
(F) Health care providers furnishing services to a patient population that consists of a high percentage (as specified by the Secretary) of individuals who are enrolled in a State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act or who are not covered under a health plan or health insurance coverage.
(3) Chairperson.--The members of the Commission shall select a chairperson from the members appointed under paragraph (2).
(4) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at least twice, and not more than four times, a year.
(5) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
(c) Duties.--The Commission shall evaluate and make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and Congress regarding--
(1) Federal programs of the Department of Health and Human Services that focus on preventing and reducing the incidence of the diseases and complications described in subsection
(a);
(2) current activities and gaps in Federal efforts to support clinicians in providing integrated, high-quality care to individuals with the diseases and complications described in subsection (a);
(3) the improvement in, and improved coordination of, Federal education and awareness activities related to the prevention and treatment of the diseases and complications described in subsection (a), which may include the utilization of new and existing technologies;
(4) methods for outreach and dissemination of education and awareness materials that--
(A) address the diseases and complications described in subsection (a);
(B) are funded by the Federal Government; and
(C) are intended for health care professionals and the public; and
(5) whether there are opportunities for consolidation of inappropriately overlapping or duplicative Federal programs related to the diseases and complications described in subsection (a).
(d) Operating Plan.--Not later than 90 days after its first meeting, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress an operating plan for carrying out the activities of the Commission as described in subsection (c). Such operating plan may include--
(1) a list of specific activities that the Commission plans to conduct for purposes of carrying out the duties described in each of the paragraphs in subsection (c);
(2) a plan for completing the activities;
(3) a list of members of the Commission and other individuals who are not members of the Commission who will need to be involved to conduct such activities;
(4) an explanation of Federal agency involvement and coordination needed to conduct such activities;
(5) a budget for conducting such activities; and
(6) other information that the Commission deems appropriate.
(e) Final Report.--By not later than 3 years after the date of the Commission's first meeting, the Commission shall submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress a final report containing all of the findings and recommendations required by this section.
(f) Sunset.--The Commission shall terminate 60 days after submitting its final report, but not later than the end of fiscal year 2021.
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