The Subcommittee on Health has scheduled a markup for Thursday, June 19, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building to consider several bipartisan public health bills, building on the subcommittee’s proven record of success in this space. The subcommittee will consider:
H.R. 4771, the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act, introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ). H.R. 4771 would classify certain anabolic steroids, substances often found in bodybuilding products and marketed as dietary supplements, as controlled substances. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a version of this bill in the Senate in February 2014.
H.R. 4250, the Sunscreen Innovation Act, introduced by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). This bill would streamline the FDA’s approval process for new sunscreen ingredients while maintaining strict safety standards. The FDA has not approved a new sunscreen ingredient in nearly two decades. This legislation would require that pending and new applications be completed in a more predictable and transparent manner. Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Jack Reed (D-RI) have introduced similar legislation in the Senate, S. 2141.
H.R. 4701, the Vector-Borne Disease Research Accountability and Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY). H.R. 4701 would develop a framework to review current research on vector-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease and make recommendations to advance the research agenda.
H.R. 594, the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments, introduced by Subcommittee Vice Chairman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY). H.R. 594 would update surveillance, research, and education activities to reflect scientific developments and continue the support of research and patient support initiatives across all the forms of Muscular Dystrophy.
H.R. 669, the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act, introduced by Subcommittee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY). H.R. 669 provides for activities to help improve the understanding of stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in children.
H.R. 4290, the Wakefield Act, introduced by Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY). H.R. 4290 would reauthorize grant programs that support the expansion, improvement, and evaluation of emergency medical services for children.
Electronic copies of these bills can be found on the Energy and Commerce Committee’s website here. A background memo, amendments, and votes will be available at the same link as they are posted.
