Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "Safe Responsible Ethical Scientific Endeavors Assuring Research for Compassionate Healthcare Act" or the "Safe RESEARCH Act", aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit research with human fetal tissue obtained from abortions. It also promotes the use of alternative methods such as organoids, induced pluripotent stem cells, and adult stem cells for research purposes. The bill also includes regulations on the source and use of human fetal tissue and repeals a previous section related to this issue. Additionally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to revise regulations within a year of the bill's enactment to align with its requirements.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could impact researchers and scientists who rely on human fetal tissue for their studies. They may face limitations or barriers in obtaining this tissue for their research, potentially hindering their ability to make advancements and contributions in their field.
2. It could also affect pregnant individuals who may have had plans to donate the tissue from a stillbirth for research purposes. This legislation may require individuals to go through additional steps and regulations in order for their tissue to be used in research, potentially causing delays and complications during an already difficult time.
3. This legislation may also impact the scope and progress of medical advancements and treatments that rely on research with human fetal tissue. By limiting or prohibiting the use of this tissue, it could potentially slow down the development of new treatments and hinder the potential benefits they could provide for individuals in need of medical care.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 437 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 437
To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit research with human
fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an abortion, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 10, 2019
Mr. Sensenbrenner (for himself, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Arrington,
Mr. Banks, Mr. Duffy, and Mrs. Roby) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit research with human
fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an abortion, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Responsible Ethical Scientific
Endeavors Assuring Research for Compassionate Healthcare Act'' or the
``Safe RESEARCH Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON RESEARCH WITH HUMAN FETAL TISSUE OBTAINED
PURSUANT TO AN ABORTION.
(a) In General.--Section 498A of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 289g-1) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``research on
transplantation of fetal tissue'' and inserting ``research with
fetal tissue'';
(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) Establishment of Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may conduct or support
research with human fetal tissue, or research on modern,
efficient alternatives to human fetal tissue such as organoids,
induced pluripotent stem cells, and adult stem cells. The
Secretary shall conduct or support any such research in
accordance with this section.
``(2) Source of tissue.--Human fetal tissue may be used in
research carried out under paragraph (1) only if the tissue is
obtained pursuant to a stillbirth.'';
(3) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
(B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
(4) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``may have been
obtained pursuant to a spontaneous or induced abortion or
pursuant to a stillbirth'' and inserting ``has been obtained
pursuant to a stillbirth'';
(5) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(3) Human fetal tissue obtained for research.--In
research carried out under subsection (a), human fetal tissue
may be used only if such tissue was obtained in accordance with
applicable State law regulating anatomical gifts.''; and
(6) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Human fetal tissue.--The term `human fetal tissue'
means tissue or cells obtained from a dead human embryo or
fetus after a stillbirth.
``(2) Stillbirth.--The term `stillbirth' means a fetal
death that occurs as a result of natural causes during a
pregnancy, including an ectopic pregnancy.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--Paragraph (1) of section 498B(e) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289g-2(e)(1)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(1) The term `human fetal tissue' means tissue or cells
obtained from a dead human embryo or fetus after a spontaneous
or induced abortion, or after a stillbirth.''.
(c) Revision of Regulations.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall revise such regulations as necessary, including section
46.206 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, to incorporate the
requirements of this section.
(d) Repeal.--Section 113 of the National Institutes of Health
Revitalization Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 289g-1 note) is hereby repealed.
<all>