[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6746 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6746
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a public
awareness campaign with respect to iron deficiency.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 13, 2023
Ms. Caraveo (for herself, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Clarke of New
York, Ms. Pettersen, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Davis
of North Carolina, and Mr. Garcia of Illinois) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a public
awareness campaign with respect to iron deficiency.
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 ``Iron Deficiency Education and
Awareness Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Iron deficiency occurs when there are insufficient
amounts of iron in the body. Without enough iron, the body
cannot produce sufficient amounts of hemoglobin, which is the
protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen.
(2) Menstrual bleeding and pregnancy are major reasons for
lower levels of iron in the body. The symptoms of iron
deficiency include fatigue, cold extremities, hair loss,
cognitive issues, shortness of breath, headaches, and sleep
disorders.
(3) Iron deficiency often goes undiagnosed due to
difficulty recognizing symptoms and lack of urgency in
diagnosing. When left untreated, the condition can progress to
iron-deficiency anemia. This may increase the risk of
developing organ complications, such as an abnormally fast
heartbeat, or tachycardia, and heart failure.
(4) Among pregnant women, iron deficiency and iron-
deficiency anemia has been linked to increased maternal
illness, premature birth and low birth weight among babies, and
intrauterine growth restriction.
(5) Approximately 35 percent of women of reproductive age
in the United States do not have a sufficient amount of iron in
their bodies. Additionally, nearly 40 percent of girls and
young women ages 12 to 21 are affected by iron deficiency, and
6 percent are iron-deficient anemic.
(6) Children under the age of two are at a high risk for
iron deficiency. About 6 percent of children ages 1-2 have iron
deficiency.
(7) Eliminating barriers to awareness, education, and
screening will assist in preventing and treating iron
deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and related health issues
among women and children under the age of two.
SEC. 3. IRON DEFICIENCY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(o) Iron Deficiency Public Awareness Campaign.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a national
campaign to--
``(A) increase awareness of the importance of iron
deficiency screening;
``(B) combat misconceptions about iron deficiency,
including misconceptions in diagnosis and management of
iron deficiency;
``(C) increase awareness about missed diagnoses due
to inadequate screening tests; and
``(D) increase iron deficiency screening among
women and children under the age of two.
``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out the national campaign
required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with the
National Academy of Medicine, health care providers, public
health associations, nonprofit organizations, State and local
public health departments, and institutions of higher education
to solicit advice on evidence-based information for policy
development and program development, implementation, and
evaluation.
``(3) Requirements.--The national campaign required by
paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) include the use of evidence-based media and
public engagement;
``(B) be carried out through competitive grants or
cooperative agreements awarded to 1 or more private,
nonprofit entities with a history developing and
implementing similar campaigns;
``(C) include the development of culturally and
linguistically competent resources that shall be
tailored for--
``(i) women who are pregnant, recently gave
birth, or are breastfeeding;
``(ii) women who menstruate, especially if
menstrual periods are heavy;
``(iii) women who have undergone major
surgery or physical trauma;
``(iv) women with limited English
proficiency;
``(v) women with gastrointestinal diseases,
such as Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel
diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
disease;
``(vi) women with peptic ulcer disease;
``(vii) populations with a high prevalence
of iron deficiency (such as Black and Hispanic
women);
``(viii) parents with children under the
age of two;
``(ix) rural communities; and
``(x) such other communities as the
Secretary determines appropriate;
``(D) include the dissemination of iron deficiency
information and communication resources to health care
providers and health care facilities (including
pediatricians, primary care providers, community health
centers, dentists, obstetricians, and gynecologists),
State and local public health departments, elementary
and secondary schools, child care centers, and colleges
and universities;
``(E) be complementary to, and coordinated with,
any other Federal efforts with respect to iron
deficiency awareness;
``(F) include message testing to identify
culturally competent and effective messages for
behavioral change; and
``(G) include the award of grants or cooperative
agreements to State, local, and Tribal public health
departments to engage with--
``(i) communities specified in subparagraph
(C);
``(ii) local educational agencies;
``(iii) health care providers;
``(iv) community organizations; or
``(v) other groups the Secretary determines
are appropriate to develop and deliver
effective strategies to decrease iron
deficiency rates.
``(4) Options for dissemination of information.--The
national campaign required by paragraph (1) may--
``(A) include the use of--
``(i) social media, television, radio,
print, the internet, and other media;
``(ii) in-person or virtual public
communications; and
``(iii) recognized, trusted figures;
``(B) be targeted to specific communities specified
in paragraph (3)(C); and
``(C) include the dissemination of information
highlighting--
``(i) appropriate screening for iron
deficiency, including the recommended
populations to be screened by age range or
other criteria;
``(ii) the prevalence of iron deficiency;
``(iii) symptoms of iron deficiency; and
``(iv) mechanisms of preventing and
managing iron deficiency.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $7,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.''.
(b) Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than the end of fiscal year
2027, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate a report on the campaign under
section 317(o) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by
subsection (a).
(2) Qualitative assessment.--The report under paragraph (1)
shall include a qualitative assessment of--
(A) the overall campaign under section 317(o) of
the Public Health Service Act, as added by subsection
(a); and
(B) the impacts of the activities conducted through
the campaign, including such impacts on iron
deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia, among women and
children under the age of two.
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