House Bills - 110th Congress

H. R. 5265 —The Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education (MD-CARE) Amendments of 2008

On February 7, 2008, Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY) introduced H.R. 5265, the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education (MD-CARE) Amendments of 2008. The bills would reinsert an authorization of appropriations section (previously eliminated by the NIH Reform Act of 2006) in 404E of the PHS Act for such sums as necessary for Fiscal Years 2008 through 2012, name the muscular dystrophy centers of excellence as the Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Cooperative Research Centers, and require the Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee to give special consideration to enhance the clinical research infrastructure to test emerging therapies for the various forms of muscular dystrophy. H.R. 5265 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The companion measure, S. 2618, was introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) on February 8, 2008.

COMMITTEE/SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION

September 17, 2008 – The House Committee on Energy and Commerce marked up and reported H.R. 5265, with an amendment from its sponsor Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY)

HOUSE FLOOR ACTION

September 24, 2008 – The House passed H.R. 5265, by a vote of 418 to 2

FLOOR ACTION

September 27, 2008 – The Senate passed H.R. 5265, by unanimous consent

PRESIDENTIAL ACTION

October 8, 2008 - The President signed H.R. 5265 into law as P.L. 110-361.

Legislative Update (October 2008): Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments Act, 2008