107th Congress

Global Leadership in Developing the Expanded Response Act

S. 1230

Background

Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) introduced S. 1230, the Global Leadership in Developing the Expanded Response (GLIDER) Act, to amend the Public Health Service Act to focus American efforts on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria in developing countries. The bill was one of several that Senator Frist introduced in the 107th Congress to underscore his interest in the growing danger these diseases pose to families, communities, economies, and regional stability. S. 1230 was cosponsored by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY).

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

The provisions of S. 1230 would have authorized the Secretaries of Health and Human Services (HHS) and of State to establish and maintain effective partnerships with foreign governments, Federal agencies, multilateral entities, nongovernmental organizations (both faith-based and secular), universities, community-based organizations, and other national and international entities to 1) promote and expand primary prevention activities, 2) improve clinic-, community-, and home-based care and treatment, 3) provide assistance for capacity and infrastructure development, and 4) provide assistance to individuals, such as orphans and family members, who are affected by, but not infected with, HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.

Research provisions in Section 2812 of the bill would have authorized the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), after obtaining the approval of the Secretary of HHS, to promote and expand primary prevention efforts related to HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria through vaccine and microbicide research, and carry out other activities deemed appropriate by the Secretary. Provisions specific to programs within the purview of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality were also included in this section. However, like those for NIH, all provisions would have authorized rather than mandated activities. The Secretary of HHS, in consultation with the Secretary of State, would also have been required to prescribe appropriate procedures to ensure the coordination of activities under this section with other activities of the Federal Government in each developing country, under the leadership of the chief of the U.S. diplomatic mission. It is not clear whether this latter provision would have required approval by the chiefs prior to establishing projects in their respective countries.

Status and Outlook

S. 1230 was introduced on July 24, 2001, and referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. There was no further action on this legislation during the 107th Congress.