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MD-CARE Act

Public Law 107-84 · H.R. 717 · 107th Congress · began in the House

Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Dec 18, 2001 · Health

Sponsor: Rep. Roger Wicker (R-MS-1)

Cosponsors (310): Rep. Collin Peterson,

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments of 2001, or the MD CARE Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health to: (1) expand and intensify programs of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (the National Institutes), and the other national research institutes, as appropriate, with respect to research and related activities concerning the various forms of muscular dystrophy (MD), including Duchenne, myotonic, and facioscapulohumeral MD; (2) award grants or contracts for up to five years to public or nonprofit entities for the cost of establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support for centers of excellence regarding MD research; and (3) provide for donation, collection, and preservation of tissues and genetic materials for such research.

Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Muscular Dystrophy Coordinating Committee to coordinate all Federal MD health programs and activities. Requires such Committee to: (1) develop a plan for conducting and supporting MD research and education through the national research institutes which provides for a broad range of research and education activities relating to biomedical, epidemiological, psychosocial, and rehabilitative issues, including studies of the impact of such diseases in rural and underserved communities; and (2) biennially submit a report to Congress that describes the research, education, and other activities on MD being conducted or supported through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Requires the Secretary to provide for a means through which the public can obtain information and comment on HHS MD programs and activities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2002 through 2006.

Authorizes the Secretary, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award grants and cooperative agreements to public or nonprofit entities for: (1) the collection, analysis, and reporting of MD data; and (2) carrying out MD epidemiological activities, including collecting and analyzing information on the number, incidence, correlates, and symptoms of cases, through a national surveillance program. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Secretary to establish a MD education and information program. Allows the Secretary to provide stipends for health professionals who are enrolled in training programs under such program. Authorizes appropriations.

Requires the Secretary to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the implementation of this Act.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study and make recommendations on the impact of, need for, and other issues associated with Centers of Excellence at NIH, including the cost effectiveness of such Centers and alternative research models; and (2) report the results to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.

  1. Dec 18, 2001Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 107-84.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Dec 6, 2001PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Nov 29, 2001Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Tauzin asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
  7. Nov 15, 2001FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  8. Oct 30, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  9. Oct 16, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  10. Sep 25, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  11. Sep 24, 2001FloorFloor · The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  12. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  13. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 383 - 0 (Roll no. 349).House roll call 349
  14. FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
  15. FloorFloor · Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  16. Sep 5, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
  17. Jul 19, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
  18. Jul 11, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  19. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  20. Mar 14, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  21. Feb 14, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
  22. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.