NIH Office of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 1998
Latest action (20 Oct 1998): Introduced
What this bill does
H.R. 4873, the NIH Office of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 1998, would amend the Public Health Service Act to create an Office of Autoimmune Diseases within the Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health. The office would be led by a director appointed by the NIH Director and tasked with setting a research agenda covering biomedical, psychosocial, and rehabilitative aspects of autoimmune diseases, including their disproportionate impact on women; coordinating research across NIH institutes; promoting adequate funding allocation; and producing a biennial report on ongoing and needed research. The office would also serve as the principal advisor on autoimmune diseases to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, NIH leadership, the CDC, and the FDA. An Autoimmune Diseases Coordinating Committee would be established to coordinate NIH activities, including liaisons from other federal health agencies.
The bill lists examples of covered conditions—rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, juvenile-onset diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, and scleroderma—while allowing the Secretary to add others. It would primarily affect NIH's internal research structure and, indirectly, patients, researchers, and advocacy groups focused on autoimmune conditions. It authorizes $750,000 for fiscal year 1999 and unspecified amounts thereafter.
Introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman on October 20, 1998, in the 105th Congress, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Commerce. It received no further action or vote before that Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill was introduced on October 20, 1998, in a previous session of Congress, but it did not receive a vote.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 4873 do?
- H.R. 4873, the NIH Office of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 1998, would amend the Public Health Service Act to create an Office of Autoimmune Diseases within the Office of the Director at the National Institutes of Health. The office would be led by a director appointed by the NIH Director and tasked with setting a research agenda covering biomedical, psychosocial, and rehabilitative aspects of autoimmune diseases, including their disproportionate impact on women; coordinating research across NIH institutes; promoting adequate funding allocation; and producing a biennial report on ongoing and needed research. The office would also serve as the principal advisor on autoimmune diseases to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, NIH leadership, the CDC, and the FDA. An Autoimmune Diseases Coordinating Committee would be established to coordinate NIH activities, including liaisons from other federal health agencies. The bill lists examples of covered conditions—rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, juvenile-onset diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome, and scleroderma—while allowing the Secretary to add others. It would primarily affect NIH's internal research structure and, indirectly, patients, researchers, and advocacy groups focused on autoimmune conditions. It authorizes $750,000 for fiscal year 1999 and unspecified amounts thereafter. Introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman on October 20, 1998, in the 105th Congress, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Commerce. It received no further action or vote before that Congress ended, meaning it did not become law.
- Has H.R. 4873 become law?
- Not yet. As of 20 Oct 1998, H.R. 4873 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 4873?
- H.R. 4873 was sponsored by Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA33, 2013-2014] (Democrat-CA), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 4873?
- Introduced (20 Oct 1998).
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