Senate Bills - 110th Congress

S. 579—The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act

On February 14, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced S. 579, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007. The House companion, H.R. 1157, was introduced by Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) on February 16. The legislation would establish a grant program for the development and operation of Centers of Excellence to study the potential environmental factors related to the etiology of breast cancer. The bills would also create, within the NIH, a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel to develop a comprehensive strategy concerning the collaborative Centers. The authorization level for these grants would be $40 million over 5 years. S. 579 was referred to the Senate HELP Committee.

COMMITTEE ACTIONS

On February 27, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) (Senator Edward Kennedy [D-MA], Chair) reported out by voice vote S. 579, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The legislation would establish a grant program for the development and operation of Centers of Excellence to study the potential environmental factors related to the etiology of breast cancer. The bill would also create, within the NIH, a Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Panel to develop a comprehensive strategy concerning the collaborative Centers. The authorization level for the grants program would be $40 million over 5 years.