(a) In General.–The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall continue activities related to still birth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood, including, as appropriate–
(1) collecting information, such as socio-demographic, death scene investigation, clinical history, and autopsy information, on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood through the utilization of existing surveillance systems and collaborating with States to improve the quality, consistency, and collection of such data;
(2) disseminating information to educate the public, health care providers, and other stakeholders on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood; and
(3) collaborating with the Attorney General, State and local departments of health, and other experts, as appropriate, to provide consistent information for medical examiners and coroners, law enforcement personnel, and health care providers related to death scene investigations and autopsies for sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood, in order to improve the quality and consistency of the data collected at such death scenes and to promote consistent reporting on the cause of death after autopsy to inform prevention, intervention, and other activities.
(b) Report to Congress.–Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report that includes a description of any activities that are being carried out by agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, related to stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood, including those activities identified under subsection (a).
On November 20, 2014 the United States Senate went ahead with ” consideration of HR 669 the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act”, which seeks to track sudden infant deaths:
“Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 669, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 669) to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Harkin substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the Harkin amendment to the title, which is also at the desk, be agreed to, with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 3958) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute) Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act”.
SEC. 2. CONTINUING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO STILLBIRTH, SUDDEN UNEXPECTED INFANT DEATH AND SUDDEN UNEXPLAINED DEATH IN CHILDHOOD.
(a) In General.–The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall continue activities related to still birth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood, including, as appropriate–
(1) collecting information, such as socio-demographic, death scene investigation, clinical history, and autopsy information, on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood through the utilization of existing surveillance systems and collaborating with States to improve the quality, consistency, and collection of such data;
(2) disseminating information to educate the public, health care providers, and other stakeholders on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood; and
(3) collaborating with the Attorney General, State and local departments of health, and other experts, as appropriate, to provide consistent information for medical examiners and coroners, law enforcement personnel, and health care providers related to death scene investigations and autopsies for sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood, in order to improve the quality and consistency of the data collected at such death scenes and to promote consistent reporting on the cause of death after autopsy to inform prevention, intervention, and other activities.
(b) Report to Congress.–Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report that includes a description of any activities that are being carried out by agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, related to stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood, including those activities identified under subsection (a).
SEC. 3. NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.
This Act shall not be construed to increase the amount of appropriations that are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.
The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a third time.
The bill was read the third time.
The bill (H.R. 669), as amended, was passed.
The amendment (No. 3957) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To amend the title) Amend the title so as to read: “A bill to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life.”.
Source: Congressional Record
See related video: Congressional Hearing for the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act (HR669)-On Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at 2 pm the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health held a hearing in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVxzyGY_omE