{"format":1,"id":"117-hr-5551","congress":117,"number":"H.R. 5551","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Improving the Health of Children Act","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","official_title":"To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Improving the Health of Children Act"},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Improving the Health of Children Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Improving the Health of Children Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House","title":"Improving the Health of Children Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Improving the Health of Children Act"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2021-10-12","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2021-12-08","vote":{"id":"117-2021-h418","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended","title":"Improving the Health of Children Act","result":"Passed","yea":405,"nay":20,"present":0,"not_voting":8,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll418.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.","date":"2021-12-09"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2021-12-08","stage":"Passed House","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Improving the Health of Children Act"},{"k":"p","t":"This bill reauthorizes through FY2026 programs and activities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for researching and preventing birth defects, developmental disabilities, and other conditions."},{"k":"p","t":"Specifically, the bill reauthorizes the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. The center carries out activities to advance the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, including infants with birth defects, children with developmental disabilities, and individuals of all ages with disabilities or blood disorders."}],"words":79},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Amends section 317C of the Public Health Service Act to update the programs, reporting schedule and funding authorization of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh#H9ACD5B0E7E39430DAFF3A883CAB626BC"}]},"core_areas":["National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities programs and funding authorization","Reporting to congressional committees on the Center's activities"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Replaces the list of specific programs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Center, shall continue to carry out, covering topics such as birth defects, folic acid, cerebral palsy, autism, newborn screening, stillbirth and Tourette Syndrome.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh#H9ACD5B0E7E39430DAFF3A883CAB626BC"}},{"text":"Adds to that list any other relevant disease, disability, disorder, or condition as determined by the Secretary.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh#H9ACD5B0E7E39430DAFF3A883CAB626BC"}},{"text":"Requires the Secretary to submit a report biennially to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh#H9ACD5B0E7E39430DAFF3A883CAB626BC"}},{"text":"Authorizes $186,010,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for the Center, in place of the existing authorization of such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2007.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh#H9ACD5B0E7E39430DAFF3A883CAB626BC"}},{"text":"Removes subsection (e), the authorization of appropriations, from section 317J of the Public Health Service Act, which concerns the effects of folic acid in prevention of birth defects.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh#H55CC01727D914B168479E989F9C602BA"}}],"unexpected":[{"category":"off_subject","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh#H55CC01727D914B168479E989F9C602BA"},"heading":"Effects of folic acid in prevention of birth defects","effect":"Strikes subsection (e), the authorization of appropriations, from section 317J of the Public Health Service Act, which concerns the effects of folic acid in preventing birth defects.","amount":null,"quote":"Section 317J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–11) is amended by striking subsection (e) (relating to authorization of appropriations)."}]}],"version":{"type":"Engrossed in House","date":"2021-12-08","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-15","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5551/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/117-hr-5551.png","v":"fb5757772526","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 5551, 117th Congress: Improving the Health of Children Act. House: 405 Yea, 20 Nay. Outcome: Passed House, 8 Dec 2021."}}