WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 1497 · 119th Congress

NIH Reform Act

IntroducedHealth
IntroducedFeb 21, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

Where it stands

Introduced. Latest step, Feb 21, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It would change 7 sections of existing law.

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 1497 would change 7 sections of existing law. Read from the bill text as introduced in the House (Feb 21, 2025).

42 U.S.C. 281 Organization of National Institutes of Health

  • (b) National research institutes and national centers added to · Sec. 2(a) · see the words
  • (d) Organization changed · Sec. 2(a) · see the words

42 U.S.C. 284

42 U.S.C. 285f Purpose of Institute

42 U.S.C. 285

42 U.S.C. 283d Children's Vaccine Initiative

42 U.S.C. 283k Biomedical and behavioral research facilities

  • The section as a whole changed · Sec. 2(d) · see the words
  • (a) Modernization and construction of facilities changed · Sec. 2(d) · see the words

42 U.S.C. 285d-8 Juvenile arthritis and related conditions

  • (a) Expansion and coordination of activities changed · Sec. 2(d) · see the words
What the words would change: every change, in place (15)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. 42 U.S.C. 281(b)(6)changedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(a)

    (6) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesAllergic Diseases.

    The bill says: in paragraph (6), by striking "Allergy and Infectious Diseases" and inserting "Allergic Diseases";

  2. 42 U.S.C. 281(b)renumberedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(a)

    The bill says: by redesignating paragraph (25) as paragraph (27); and

  3. 42 U.S.C. 281(b)added (25)by H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(a)

    (25) The National Institute of Infectious Diseases.(26) The National Institute of Immunologic Diseases.

    The bill says: by inserting after paragraph (24) the following:

  4. 42 U.S.C. 281(d)(1)changedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(a)

    (1) Number of institutes and centers. In the National Institutes of Health, the number of national research institutes and national centers may not exceed a total of 2729, including any such institutes or centers established under authority of paragraph (2) or under authority of this subchapter as in effect on the day before January 15, 2007.

    The bill says: in subsection (d)(1), by striking "27" and inserting "29".

  5. 42 U.S.C. 284(a)(1)a new sectionchangedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(b)

    (1) In general. The Director of the National Cancer Institute , the Director of the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the Director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the Director of the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases shall be appointed by the President, and the Directors of the other national research institutes and national centers shall be appointed by the Secretary, acting through the Director of National Institutes of Health. Each Director of a national research institute or national center shall report directly to the Director of National Institutes of Health.

    The bill says: by inserting ", the Director of the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the Director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the Director of the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases" after "National Cancer Institute"; and

  6. 42 U.S.C. 284(a)(1)a new sectionchangedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(b)

    (1) In general. The Director of the National Cancer Institute shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and the Directors of the other national research institutes and national centers shall be appointed by the Secretary, acting through the Director of National Institutes of Health. Each Director of a national research institute or national center shall report directly to the Director of National Institutes of Health.

    The bill says: by inserting "by and with the advice and consent of the Senate," after "the President,".

  7. 42 U.S.C. 284(a)a new sectionadded (4)by H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(b)

    (4) Certain appointments by the President.— The appointments by the President of the Director of the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the Director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the Director of the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases shall be for terms of 5 years. Each such Director may be reappointed for not more than 1 additional term, in accordance paragraph (1).

    The bill says: Section 405(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

  8. 42 U.S.C. 285fchangedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(c)

    The bill says: in the subpart heading, by striking "Allergy and infectious diseases" and inserting "Allergic Diseases"; and

  9. 42 U.S.C. 285fchangedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(c)

    The general purpose of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesAllergic Diseases is the conduct and support of research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to allergic and immunologic diseases and disorders and infectious diseases, including tropical diseases.

    The bill says: by striking "Allergy and Infectious Diseases" and inserting "Allergic Diseases"; and

  10. 42 U.S.C. 285fchangedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(c)

    The general purpose of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is the conduct and support of research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to allergic and immunologic diseases and disorders and infectious diseases, including tropical diseasesallergic diseases and disorders.

    The bill says: by striking "allergic and immunologic diseases and disorders and infectious diseases, including tropical diseases" and inserting "allergic diseases and disorders".

  11. 42 U.S.C. 285a new sectionadded 21by H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(c)

    21 National Institute of Infectious Diseases.—464z–10. Purpose of the Institute.— The general purpose of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is the conduct and support of research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to infectious diseases, including tropical diseases.

    The bill says: Part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

  12. 42 U.S.C. 283dchangedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(d)

    The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Vaccine Program under subchapter XIX and acting through the Directors of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious DiseasesNational Institute of Infectious Diseases, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute for Aging, and other public and private programs, shall carry out activities, which shall be consistent with the global…

    The bill says: Section 404B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 283d) is amended by striking "National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases" and inserting "National Institute of Infectious Diseases".

  13. 42 U.S.C. 283k(a)(1)changedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(d)

    (1) In general. The Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH or the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, may make grants or contracts to public and nonprofit private entities to expand, remodel, renovate, or alter existing research facilities or construct new research facilities, subject to the provisions of this section.

    The bill says: in subsection (a)(1), by striking "or the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases"; and

  14. 42 U.S.C. 283kchangedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(d)

    …compensation at the same rate received by members of other national advisory councils established under this subchapter. (c) Requirements for grants. (1) In general. The Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, may make a grant under subsection (a) only if the applicant for the grant meets the following conditions: (A) The applicant is determined by such Director to be competent to engage in the type of research for which the proposed facility is to be constructed. (B) The applicant provides assurances satisfactory to the Director that— (i) for not less than 20 years after completion of the construction involved, the facility will be used for the purposes of the research for which it is to be constructed; (ii) sufficient funds will be available to meet the non-Federal share of the cost of constructing the facility; (iii) sufficient funds will be available, when construction is completed, for the effective use of the facility for the research for which it is being constructed; and (iv) the proposed construction will expand the applicant's capacity for research, or is necessary to improve or maintain the quality of the applicant's research. (C) The applicant meets reasonable qualifications established by the Director with respect to— (i) the relative scientific and technical merit of the applications, and the relative effectiveness of the proposed facilities, in expanding the capacity for biomedical or behavioral research and in improving the quality of such research; (ii) the quality of the research or training, or both, to be carried out in the facilities involved; (iii) the congruence of the research activities to be carried out within the facility with the research and investigator manpower needs of the United States; and (iv) the age and condition of existing research facilities. (D) The applicant has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and expanding the research productivity of the applicant. (2) Institutions of emerging excellence. From the amount appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year up to $50,000,000, the Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH, shall make available 25 percent of such amount, and from the amount appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year that is over $50,000,000, the Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH, shall make available up to 25 percent of such amount, for grants under subsection (a) to applicants that in addition to meeting the requirements established in paragraph (1), have demonstrated emerging excellence in biomedical or behavioral research, as follows: (A) The applicant has a plan for research or training advancement and possesses the ability to carry out the plan. (B) The applicant carries out research and research training programs that have a special relevance to a problem, concern, or unmet health need of the United States. (C) The applicant has been productive in research or research development and training. (D) The applicant— (i) has been designated as a center of excellence under section 293c 1 of this title; (ii) is located in a geographic area whose population includes a significant number of individuals with health status deficit, and the applicant provides health services to such individuals; or (iii) is located in a geographic area in which a deficit in health care technology, services, or research resources may adversely affect the health status of the population of the area in the future, and the applicant is carrying out activities with respect to protecting the health status of such population. (d) Requirement of application. The Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, may make a grant under subsection (a) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Director and the application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurances, and information as the Director determines to be necessary to carry out this section. (e) Amount of grant; payments. (1) Amount. The amount of any grant awarded under subsection (a) shall be determined by the Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,,2 except that such amount shall not exceed— (A) 50 percent (or, in the case of the Institute, 75 percent) of the necessary cost of the construction of a proposed facility as determined by the Director; or (B) in the case of a multipurpose facility, 40 percent (or, in the case of the Institute, 75 percent) of that part of the necessary cost of construction that the Director determines to be proportionate to the contemplated use of the facility. (2) Reservation of amounts. On the approval of any application for a grant under subsection (a), the Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, shall reserve, from any appropriation available for such grants, the amount of such grant, and shall pay such amount, in advance or by way of reimbursement, and in such installments consistent with the construction progress, as the Director may determine appropriate. The reservation of any amount by the Director under this paragraph may be amended by the Director, either on the approval of an amendment of the application or on the revision of the estimated cost of construction of the facility. (3) Exclusion of certain costs. In determining the amount of any grant under subsection (a), there shall be excluded from the cost of construction an amount equal to the sum of— (A) the amount of any other Federal grant that the applicant has obtained, or is assured of obtaining, with respect to construction that is to be financed in part by a grant authorized under this section; and (B) the amount of any non-Federal funds required to be expended as a condition of such other Federal grant. (4) Waiver of limitations. The limitations imposed under paragraph (1) may be waived at the discretion of the Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, for applicants meeting the conditions described in subsection (c). (f) Recapture of payments. If, not later than 20 years after the completion of construction for which a grant has been awarded under subsection (a)— (1) in the case of an award by the Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH, the applicant or other owner of the facility shall cease to be a public or non profit 3 private entity; or (2) the facility shall cease to be used for the research purposes for which it was constructed (unless the Director of NIH, acting through the Office of the Director of NIH or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, determines, in accordance with regulations, that there is good cause for releasing the applicant or other owner from obligation to do so), (g) Guidelines. Not later than 6 months after June 10, 1993, the Director of NIH, acting through…

    The bill says: by striking "or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases" each place it appears.

  15. 42 U.S.C. 285d-8(a)changedby H.R. 1497 Sec. 2(d)

    (a) Expansion and coordination of activities. The Director of the Institute, in coordination with the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesImmunologic Diseases, shall expand and intensify the programs of such Institutes with respect to research and related activities concerning juvenile arthritis and related conditions.

    The bill says: Section 442A(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285d–8(a)) is amended by striking "Allergy and Infectious Diseases" and inserting "Immunologic Diseases".

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, 2024 edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

NIH Reform Act

This bill separates the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) into three separate institutes: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases.

The bill also requires that the President appoint the directors of the new institutes (under current law, the Director of NIAID is appointed by the Director of the National Institutes of Health). It further requires that the Senate confirm the appointment of the directors of the new institutes and the National Cancer Institute.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Feb 21, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. Feb 21, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Show all 3 recorded actions

Cosponsors

  • Josh Brecheen R-OK-2
  • Elijah Crane R-AZ-2
  • Paul A. Gosar R-AZ-9
  • H. Morgan Griffith R-VA-9
  • Harriet M. Hageman R-WY-At Large
  • Andy Harris R-MD-1