To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a program to provide screenings and treatment for cancer to minority and other populations served by health centers under section 330 of such Act, and for other purposes.

April 29, 2003

Ms. WATERS (for herself, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. LEE, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, and Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a program to provide screenings and treatment for cancer to minority and other populations served by health centers under section 330 of such Act, 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 `Cancer Testing, Education, Screening, and Treatment Act'.

SEC. 2. CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR UNDERSERVED MINORITY OR OTHER POPULATIONS.

Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 330H the following:

`SEC. 330L. CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT FOR UNDERSERVED MINORITY OR OTHER POPULATIONS.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may make grants to qualifying health centers for the development, expansion, or operation of programs that, for individuals otherwise served by such centers, provide--

`(1) information and education on cancer prevention;

`(2) screenings for cancer;

`(3) counseling on cancer, including counseling upon a diagnosis of cancer; and

`(4) treatment for cancer.

`(b) QUALIFYING HEALTH CENTERS- For purposes of this section, the term `qualifying health center' means health centers receiving grants under section 330, including community health centers, migrant health centers, health centers for the homeless, and health centers for residents of public housing.

`(c) PREFERENCE IN MAKING GRANTS- In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give preference to applicants that--

`(1) have service populations under section 330 that include a significant number of low-income minority individuals who are at-risk for cancer;

`(2) will, through programs under subsection (a)--

`(A) emphasize early detection of and treatment for cancer;

`(B) provide comprehensive treatment services for cancer in its earliest stages; and

`(C) carry out subparagraphs (A) and (B) for two or more types of cancer;

`(3) provide health services in a manner that is convenient to individuals in the communities served by the applicants; and

`(4) in order to provide treatment for cancer, have established or will establish referral arrangements with entities that provide screenings for low-income individuals.

`(d) APPROPRIATE CULTURAL CONTEXT- A condition for the receipt of a grant under subsection (a) is that the applicant involved agree that, in the program carried out with the grant, services will be provided in the languages and cultural contexts most appropriate for the individuals for whom the services are provided.

`(e) OUTREACH SERVICES- A condition for the receipt of a grant under subsection (a) is that the applicant involved agree to provide outreach activities to inform the public of the services of the program, and to provide offsite information on cancer; and

`(f) APPLICATION FOR GRANT- A grant may be made under subsection (a) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section.

`(g) DESIGNATION OF TYPE OF CANCER- In making a grant under subsection (a), the Secretary shall designate the type or types of cancer with respect to which the grant is being made.

`(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008.'.

END