United States · United States Congress · 25 July 2019
Renewable Energy Extension Act of 2019 This bill extends the energy tax credit for certain renewable resources and the credit for residential energy efficient property for five years.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 2019
Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act of 2019 This bill accelerates and expands certain changes that are scheduled to take effect relating to the coverage of cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under Medicare. Currently, such programs require physician supervision. Effective January 1, 2024, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists may also supervise these programs. The bill expedites the effective date of these changes to January 1, 2020, and also allows these practitioners to administer programs in their offices, prepare and sign treatment plans, and prescribe exercise.
United States · United States Congress · 18 July 2019
Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2019 This bill extends funding for Brand USA, the Corporation for Travel Promotion, through FY2027 and raises the fee for using the electronic system for travel authorization.
United States · United States Congress · 12 July 2019
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2019 This bill provides funding for (1) the conservation or restoration of wildlife and plant species of greatest conservation need; (2) the wildlife conservation strategies of states, Indian tribes, or territories; or (3) wildlife conservation education and recreation projects. The Department of the Interior must use a portion of the funding for a grant program. The grants must be used for innovative recovery efforts for species of greatest conservation need, species listed as endangered or threatened species, or the habitats of such species.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
Fair and Open Skies Act This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation (DOT) from issuing a foreign air carrier permit or an exemption from certain air carrier certificate requirements under the United States-European Union Air Transport Agreement of April 2007, unless DOT finds that issuing the permit or exemption would be consistent with Article 17 bis of the agreement, which provides that opportunities created by the agreement do not undermine labor standards or the labor-related rights and principles contained in the laws of the respective parties to the agreement; and imposes conditions on the permit or exemption necessary to ensure compliance with Article 17 bis . The bill modifies policy considerations relating to air carrier certificates to require DOT to consider preventing entry into U.S. markets by flag of convenience carriers (i.e., foreign air carriers established in a country other the home country of their majority owner in order to avoid regulations of the home country) and preventing the undermining of labor standards. In carrying out such air carrier certificate requirements, DOT must consider preventing entry of flag of convenience carriers into U.S. markets as being in the public interest and consistent with public convenience and necessity for safety in air transportation and air commerce. In formulating U.S. international air transportation policy relating to the elimination of discrimination and unfair competition, the Department of State and DOT must include in their considerations the undermining of labor standards.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
This bill authorizes the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center Foundation to use, or enter into a lease or agreement to use for public outdoor recreation, up to 40 acres of the land in Nebraska City, Nebraska, that was conveyed for use as an historic site and an interpretive center for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail under conditions that the land shall continue to be maintained in a manner compatible with the use of the conveyed land as an historic site and interpretive center, the nature trail around the perimeter of the land shall remain in place and may be enhanced with educational signage about the flora and fauna that are native to the land and the planting of native flora, and revenue from any use of the land for public outdoor recreation shall be used to offset maintenance and operating costs of the interpretive center.
United States · United States Congress · 9 July 2019
Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2019 This bill expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine.
United States · United States Congress · 2 July 2019
Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a grant program to research, develop, and evaluate wind energy technologies and systems.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 2019
Solar Energy Research and Development Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy to carry out a grant program to research, develop, and evaluate solar energy technologies and systems.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
This bill reauthorizes through FY2028 funding to assist with the operations of the historic site, visitor center, and interpretive center for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Nebraska City, Nebraska.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Increasing and Mobilizing Partnerships to Achieve Commercialization of Technologies for Energy Act or the IMPACT for Energy Act This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a nonprofit corporation named the IMPACT for Energy Foundation to channel private sector investment into commercial innovative technologies in energy. The foundation may establish one or more for-profit subsidiaries, including an impact investment fund to (1) stimulate economic development activities, and (2) attract for-profit investment partners for technology translation and commercialization activities.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Veterans Health Savings Account Act This bill allows veterans who receive hospital care or medical services under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to remain eligible to participate in or contribute to a health savings account.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 2019
Farm to School Act of 2019 This bill modifies and expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Farm to School Program. The program currently provides grants and technical assistance to schools, state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers, and nonprofit entities to improve access to local foods in schools. Among other things, the bill reauthorizes the program through FY2025; permits USDA to provide land-grant colleges and universities with grants, research, evaluation, and technical assistance under the program; expands the purposes for grants awarded under the program to include implementing educational activities relating to agriculture, nutrition, or food; requires USDA to provide technical assistance, research, and information to increase awareness of and participation in farm to school programs among agricultural producers, including beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers; directs USDA to seek to improve local food procurement and distribution options for agricultural producers and eligible institutions; authorizes USDA to fund projects that include innovative approaches to aggregation, processing, transportation, and distribution; establishes new limitations on the amount and duration of grants; and limits funds that may be used for administrative costs.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 2019
Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award grants for a period of three years to eligible entities for the provision of suicide prevention services to veterans and their families. Under the bill, eligible entities include tribally designated housing entities, community-based organizations, and other private entities that meet certain requirements. Entities must submit an application to receive financial assistance that includes a description of the services they propose to provide, among other elements. The bill requires the VA to equitably distribute grants across geographic regions and areas with the most need. Additionally, the VA shall give preference to entities that are experienced in providing suicide prevention services. Entities receiving funding must notify service recipients that funding is wholly or partially from the VA.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
Stopping Bad Robocalls Act This bill updates various policies and regulations relating to robocalls. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to protect consumer privacy as it relates to robocalls. The FCC must update regulations involving certain robocalls that are exempt from criminal liability to include specific requirements identifying classes of parties who may make such calls, parties who may be called, and how many times they may be called. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that a citation be issued prior to a forfeiture penalty being imposed in cases where violations involving illegal robocalls have been intentional and where inaccurate caller identification information has been provided. The bill also implements a three-year statute of limitation for such violations requiring notice, and a four-year statute of limitation where an intentional violation has occurred. The FCC must promulgate regulations to address requirements for effective call authentication technology as well as to establish a process to streamline the ways in which a private entity may voluntarily share with FCC information relating to an illegal call or text or for calls with misleading or inaccurate caller identification information. Finally, the bill requires the FCC to ensure robocall blocking services provided on an opt-out basis are provided free of cost with transparency and redress options for consumers and callers.
United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2019
This resolution celebrates U.S.-Armenia relations and honors the people of Armenia on their peaceful and constitutional leadership transition and the December 9, 2018, democratic parliamentary elections.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Active Cyber Defense Certainty Act This bill limits the prosecution of computer fraud and abuse offenses where the conduct constituting an offense involves a response to, or defense against, a cyber intrusion.
United States · United States Congress · 13 June 2019
Constitutional Amendment This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the U.S. flag.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Extension Act This bill revises the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. The program is a cooperative agreement among Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and the Bureau of Reclamation to protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats in the Central and Lower Platte River Basin. The bill extends Reclamation's authority to implement the first increment of the program through FY2033.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2019 This bill establishes restrictions on businesses that relocate call centers or redirect customer service calls to locations outside the United States. Specifically, a business must notify the Department of Labor that it intends to move its customer service call center overseas and Labor must maintain a publicly available list of such businesses. Subject to narrow exceptions, a business appearing on such list is ineligible to receive federal grants or guaranteed loans for five years after the business is added to the list. Further, agencies must condition the awarding of government contracts on the requirement that any call center activity pursuant to the contract must be performed in the United States. Additionally, the bill requires call center employees to disclose their physical location at the beginning of each call initiated or received, unless all employees of the business participating in the communication are located in the United States, among other exceptions.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Equal Campus Access Act of 2019 This bill prohibits funding for any public institution of higher education (IHE) that denies to religious student organizations any right, benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to other student organizations at the IHE because of the religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or standards of conduct of the religious student organization.
United States · United States Congress · 12 June 2019
Kids Eat Local Act This bill modifies Department of Agriculture requirements for the national school food programs relating to the purchases of locally produced food. The bill allows institutions participating in the school food programs to use locally grown, locally raised, or locally caught as a product specification in food procurement requests.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 2019
Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act This bill makes permanent, beginning in FY2020, funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The President shall annually submit to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds to the LWCF. Congress may provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.
United States · United States Congress · 10 June 2019
Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act or the FEEDD Act This bill modifies the federal crop insurance program to authorize agricultural producers who harvest second crops as a result of a prevented planting to be eligible for specific crop insurance if certain conditions are met. Specifically, a producer may collect an indemnity that is equal to 100% of the prevented planting guarantee for the acreage of the first crop if (1) the acres planted are in an area with low hay or forage supplies due to widespread excessive moisture, flood, or drought; (2) the second crop will be planted with an intended use of animal feed that is hayed, gazed, or chopped; and (3) the second crop will be donated or used by the producer.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 2019
75th Anniversary of the End of World War II Commemorative Coin Act This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 50,000 $5 coins, 500,000 $1 coins, and 750,000 half-dollar coins in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The coins shall be emblematic of the sacrifices made by millions of people of the United States 75 years ago in bringing an end to World War II. The design on each coin shall represent the World War II Victory Medal, which was awarded to all 16 million U.S. military personnel who served from December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946. The bill requires all sales of such coins include specified surcharges, which shall be paid by Treasury to the congressionally designated National WWII Museum to fund its educational mission of telling the story of the U.S. experience in World War II.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Protecting Americans from the Risks of Keyless Ignition Technology Act or the PARK IT Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to finalize regulations relating to automatic shutoff systems for motor vehicles and standards to prevent the movement of vehicles in specific situations. Specifically, DOT must require manufacturers to install technology in each motor vehicle with a keyless ignition device and an internal combustion engine to automatically shut off the motor vehicle after the motor vehicle has idled for a period necessary to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning; and a keyless ignition device and automatic transmission to prevent movement (i.e., rollaway) of the motor vehicle if (1) the transmission of the motor vehicle is not in the park setting, (2) the motor vehicle does not exceed the speed determined by DOT, (3) the door for the operator of the motor vehicle is open, (4) the seat belt of the operator of the motor vehicle is unbuckled, and (5) the service brake of the motor vehicle is not engaged.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
This bill directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to continue to sell the Alzheimer's disease semipostal stamp for an additional six years. The USPS must continue to transfer proceeds from the sale of the stamp to the National Institutes of Health to fund medical research relating to Alzheimer's disease.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2019 This bill establishes several prohibitions, requirements, and standards relating to prior authorization processes under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Specifically, the bill prohibits MA plans from instituting additional prior authorization requirements for surgeries (including related items) that are furnished to a patient during other surgeries for which prior authorization was not required or was already received. Additionally, MA plans must (1) establish an electronic prior authorization program that meets specified standards, including the ability to provide real-time decisions in response to requests for items and services that are routinely approved; (2) annually publish specified prior authorization information, including the percentage of requests approved and the average response time; and (3) meet other standards, as set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, relating to the quality and timeliness of prior authorization determinations.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Partnership Fund for Peace Act of 2019 This bill requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to establish the Partnership Fund for Peace for promoting economic development in Palestine and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. Specifically, the bill directs the USAID to establish this fund to finance (1) small and medium-sized Palestinian entrepreneurs and companies in order to promote the private sector and create jobs in Palestinian territories, and (2) people-to-people peacebuilding programs that support reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis. An economic partnership, entrepreneur, or company requesting support from the fund must include a Palestinian entrepreneur or company as a partner. A people-to-people partnership requesting support from the fund must include a nonprofit organization that brings Palestinians and Israelis together for reconciliation or nonprofit organizations that further reconciliation between Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 2019
Challenges & Prizes for Climate Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a Climate Solutions Challenges program. Under the program, DOE must carry out competitions that award cash and other incentives for climate and energy solutions, such as capturing carbon and converting the carbon into a beneficial use, achieving transformative increases in energy efficiency, achieving implementation or grid integration of advanced energy storage technology, providing approaches to mitigating or adapting to the effects of climate change, or providing data analytics on the climate and related phenomena.
United States · United States Congress · 4 June 2019
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2019 This bill revises provisions of the low-income housing tax credit and renames it as the affordable housing credit . The bill increases the per capita dollar amount of the credit and its minimum ceiling amount beginning in 2019 and extends the inflation adjustment for such amounts. The bill modifies tenant income eligibility requirements and the average income formula for determining such income. It also revises rules for student occupancy of rental units and tenant voucher payments and prohibits any refusal to rent to victims of domestic abuse. The bill further modifies the credit to establish a 4% minimum credit rate for certain housing projects, repeal the qualified census tract population cap, prohibit local approval and contribution requirements, increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households, increase the credit for certain bond-financed projects designated by state agencies, eliminate the basis reduction for properties that receive certain energy-related tax benefits, and increase the population cap for difficult development areas (i.e., areas with high construction, land, and utility costs relative to area median gross income). The bill also includes Indian and rural areas as difficult development areas and modifies other requirements relating to casualty losses, acquisition credits, and foreclosures.
United States · United States Congress · 3 June 2019
Ticks: Identify, Control, and Knockout Act or the TICK Act This bill establishes the Office of Oversight and Coordination for Vector-Borne Diseases within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The office must develop a national strategy to address, and coordinate the federal response to, Lyme disease and other tick- and vector-borne diseases. The office must support research initiatives, tick- and disease-surveillance programs, and diagnostic-testing development, among other activities. HHS must also award grants to support the establishment of Regional Centers of Excellence in Tick and Vector-Borne Diseases. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must form cooperative agreements with state, local, and tribal health departments to address such diseases.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 2019
This resolution recognizes the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing of the allied forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France, during World War II. The resolution expresses appreciation to the members of the U.S. and allied forces who participated in the operations, as well as all others who contributed to the success of the operations; recognizes the landing as a decisive point in history that led to world leadership and a free people committed to modern liberal democracy and all its tenets; recognizes the importance of World War II history and D-Day as symbols of the costs of freedom, the perils of fascism, and the nature of U.S. global alliances and partnerships; thanks the young people of the allies for their involvement in events celebrating the anniversary of the Normandy landings; calls for expanding educational efforts about the lessons of World War II; recognizes the efforts of France and the people of Normandy to preserve the world heritage represented by the Normandy beaches and the sunken material remains of the landings by inscribing these on the UNESCO World Heritage List; requests the President to issue a proclamation recognizing the living veterans of the campaign; and calls on the people of the United States to observe the 75th anniversary.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Honoring All Veterans Act This bill adds the following as a mission statement for the Department of Veterans Affairs: "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those 'who shall have borne the battle' and for their families, caregivers, and survivors."
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Better Energy Storage Technology Act or the BEST Act This bill addresses grid-scale energy storage systems. The bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish within its Office of Electricity a research, development, and demonstration program for grid-scale energy storage systems. DOE must enter into agreements to carry out not more than five demonstration projects and develop a 10-year strategic plan and cost targets for grid-scale energy storage systems.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Army Security Agency Monument Act This bill directs the Department of the Army to place in Arlington National Cemetery a monument honoring Army Security Agency veterans if the National Army Security Agency Association agrees to certain requirements, including that the association pay the monument's site preparation, construction, and maintenance costs.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act of 2019 This bill revises requirements for exemptions given to small refineries of crude oil under the renewable fuel program, which requires transportation fuel to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuel. Specifically, the bill establishes an annual deadline for petitions by small refineries for exemptions and subjects information in the petition to public disclosure requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Aviation Incentive Pay Parity Act This bill revises the authority for payment of aviation incentive pay to reserve component officers. It permits the amount of such pay to be equal to that of an officer in the regular component of the particular uniformed service.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 2019
Montgomery GI Bill Parity Act of 2019 This bill authorizes the use of educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve or the Ready Reserve, at the member's election, for payment of tuition under the Department of Defense program of tuition assistance for voluntary off-duty training or education.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 2019
Homecare for Seniors Act This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from health savings accounts (HSAs) to be used for qualified home care. Qualified home care includes a contract to provide three or more of the following services in the residence of the service recipient assistance with eating, assistance with toileting, assistance with transferring, assistance with bathing, assistance with dressing, assistance with continence, and medication adherence. The Department of Health and Human Services must carry out a campaign to increase public awareness of the in-home service expenses that are eligible for tax-free distribution from HSAs.
United States · United States Congress · 17 May 2019
Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2019 This bill increases the rehabilitation tax credit and modifies certain requirements for the credit. The bill increases the rate of the credit to 30% for smaller projects (rehabilitation expenditures not exceeding $3.75 million) and caps the credit for such projects at $750,000 for all taxable years. The bill also allows taxpayers to transfer all or a portion of the credits that are allowable for smaller projects. The bill expands the types of buildings eligible for rehabilitation by decreasing the rehabilitation threshold from 100% to 50% of project expenses. It also eliminates the basis adjustment requirement for the credit and modifies rules relating to the eligibility of tax-exempt use property for the credit.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
This resolution condemns violence against civilians in the Central African Republic and expresses support for efforts to combat the threat posed by armed groups. The resolution also urges relevant federal departments and agencies to provide humanitarian assistance to these civilians and take steps to prioritize a stronger partnership between the United States and the Central African Republic.
United States · United States Congress · 16 May 2019
This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to administer a Federal Invisible Risk Sharing Program that pays health insurers for claims by eligible individuals in order to lower health-insurance premiums in the individual market.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2019
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act This bill modifies the requirements for calculating taxable income to exclude from gross income payments under the federal veterinary medicine loan repayment program or any state loan repayment or forgiveness program that is intended to provide for increased access to veterinary services in such state.
United States · United States Congress · 15 May 2019
Richard Lugar Nonproliferation and Arms Control Legacy Resolution This concurrent resolution (1) specifies that the United States should encourage all parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to comply with it fully, (2) encourages the United States to engage with Russia on strategic stability issues and other arms control and nonproliferation issues, and (3) condemns Russia's nonadherence to its treaty obligations regarding intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for job applicants or employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such job applicants or employees, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; (2) deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations to an applicant or employee; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they do not want, if such accommodation is unnecessary to perform the job; (4) require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to their known limitations; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies under various statutes that cover different types of employees in relation to such unlawful employment practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected job applicants or employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019 This bill provides for the automatic acquisition of citizenship for certain individuals adopted by a U.S. citizen. A child born outside the United States and adopted by a U.S. citizen shall automatically acquire citizenship upon meeting certain requirements, regardless of when the adoption was finalized. Currently, adoptees who were over the age of 18 on February 27, 2001, do not automatically acquire citizenship. An individual born outside the United States and residing in the United States shall automatically acquire citizenship if the individual (1) was adopted by a citizen before becoming 18 years old, (2) was physically present in the United States in the citizen parent's custody pursuant to lawful admission before becoming 18 years old, (3) never acquired citizenship before this bill's enactment, and (4) was lawfully residing in the United States on this bill's enactment date. An individual born outside the United States and residing outside the United States but who otherwise meets all of the requirements shall automatically acquire citizenship upon being physically present in the United States pursuant to lawful admission. Such an individual shall be subject to a background check. If the background check reveals the individual has committed a crime that was not properly resolved, the individual may not receive a visa unless the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State have coordinated with law enforcement to ensure that action was taken to resolve the issue.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 2019
This concurrent resolution (1) specifies that the United States should encourage all parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to comply with it fully, (2) encourages the United States to engage with Russia on strategic stability issues and other arms control and nonproliferation issues, and (3) condemns Russia's nonadherence to its treaty obligations regarding intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
Stop Senior Scams Act This bill establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Council, which shall create model educational materials to educate employees of retailers, financial-services companies, and wire-transfer companies on how to identify and prevent scams that affect seniors.
United States · United States Congress · 9 May 2019
Faster Treatments and Cures for Eye Diseases Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a pilot program that provides for a partial federal guarantee of specified bonds, the sale of which shall finance promising translational vision-impairment research with private investment. The Government Accountability Office must study this program and consider whether similar programs should be established for other areas of biomedical research.