The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Wednesday approved three bills that would authorize funds for community health centers and pediatric cancer and tuberculosis research, CQ HealthBeat reports.

The committee approved an unnumbered bill sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that would reauthorize the Community Health Center program at more than $14 billion annually from FY 2008 to FY 2012. The legislation would authorize $2.2 billion for the program in FY 2008, with funds for the program scheduled to increase each fiscal year to $3.5 billion in FY 2012 (Gensheimer/Nylen, CQ HealthBeat, 11/14).

In addition, the bill would authorize $60 million from fiscal year 2008 to FY 2012 for the National Health Service Corps program, which provides scholarships and loan repayments to physicians and nurses who agree to work in underserved areas (Edney, CongressDaily, 11/15).

Additional Bills
The committee by voice vote also passed a bill (S 911) sponsored by Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) that would authorize $30 million annually from FY 2008 to FY 2012 for biomedical studies and education programs in the pediatric cancer research division at the National Cancer Institute. The legislation also would establish a national childhood cancer database to determine trends in childhood cancers and allow for the investigation of genetic factors to identify causes and help in prevention efforts.

In addition, the committee by voice vote approved a bill (S 1551) sponsored by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) that would authorize $300 million for FY 2008 to expand TB research and $100 million for FY 2008 to develop new products to prevent the disease. The legislation would expand efforts by CDC to prevent, detect and fight TB, with a focus on individuals at the highest risk for the disease, and would increase training and education about TB for health care professionals and the public. The bill also would require the HHS secretary to issue regulations within eight months of enactment to revise interstate and foreign quarantine rules (CQ HealthBeat, 11/14).