On April 30, the House passed, by voice vote, H.R. 5919, a bill to authorize specific funding levels for FY2009-2013 and make technical corrections to the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (P.L. 110-204). The Senate approved the measure by unanimous consent on May 2; the president is expected to sign the bill into law. The House passed the original bill (S.1858) on April 8 (see The Source, 4/11/08); the Senate passed the bill on December 13 (see The Source, 12/14/07).
Sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), H.R. 5919 would provide grants of $15 million for FY2009, $15.188 million for FY2010, $15.375 million for FY2011, $15.563 million for FY2012, and $15.75 million for 2013 to improve screening programs authorized under the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act. The measure also would provide $15 million for FY2009, $15.187 million for FY2010, $15.375 million for FY2011, $15.563 million for FY2012, and $15.75 million for FY2013 to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs, establish an advisory committee, and establish a clearinghouse “to assess and coordinate treatment relating to congenital, genetic, and metabolic disorders.”
