February 20, 2025
Mr. Paul (for himself and Mr. Tuberville) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
To replace the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with 3 separate national research institutes.
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 NIH Reform Act
.
Sec. 2. Division of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(a) Organization of national research institutes
Section 401 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (6), by striking Allergy and Infectious Diseases
and inserting Allergic Diseases
;
(B)
by redesignating paragraph (25) as paragraph (27); and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (24) the following:
(25)
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases.
(26)
The National Institute of Immunologic Diseases.; and
(2)
in subsection (d)(1), by striking 27
and inserting 29
.
(b) Appointment of directors
(1) In general
Section 405(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284(a)(1)) is amended—
(A)
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
(B)
by inserting by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
after the President,
.
(2) Terms
Section 405(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(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).
(3) Transition
Effective on the date of enactment of this Act, the position of Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is terminated, and the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases shall be overseen by the Director of the National Institutes of Health until such time as the directors of each such national institutes is appointed pursuant to section 405(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284(a)(1)), as amended by paragraph (1).
(c) Duties of the National Institutes
(1) National Institute of Allergic Diseases
Subpart 6 of part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285f et seq.) is amended—
(A)
in the subpart heading, by striking Allergy and infectious diseases
and inserting Allergic Diseases
; and
(B)
in section 446—
(i)
by striking Allergy and Infectious Diseases
and inserting Allergic Diseases
; and
(ii)
by striking allergic and immunologic diseases and disorders and infectious diseases, including tropical diseases
and inserting allergic diseases and disorders
.
(2) National Institute of Infectious Diseases
(A) In general
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:
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.
(B) Transfer of authorities
Sections 447A and 447B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285f–2; 285f–3) are—
(i)
redesignated as sections 464z–11 and 464z–12, respectively; and
(ii)
transferred to appear after section 464z–10 of such Act, as added by subparagraph (A).
(C) Orderly transition
The Director of the National Institutes of Health shall take such steps as are necessary to provide for the orderly transition to the authority of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases established under section 464z–10 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subparagraph (A), from any authority related to infectious diseases of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) National Institute of Immunologic Diseases
(A) In general
Part C of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285 et seq.), as amended by paragraph (2), is further amended by adding at the end the following:
22 National Institute of Immunologic Diseases
464z–15. Purpose of the Institute
The general purpose of the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases is the conduct and support of research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to immunologic diseases and disorders.
(B) Transfer of authorities
Sections 447 and 447C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285f–1; 285f–4) are—
(i)
redesignated as sections 464z–16 and 464z–17, respectively; and
(ii)
transferred to appear after section 464z–15 of such Act, as added by subparagraph (A).
(C) Orderly transition
The Director of the National Institutes of Health shall take such steps as are necessary to provide for the orderly transition to the authority of the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases established under section 464z–15 of the Public Health Service Act, as added by subparagraph (A), from any authority related to immunologic diseases and disorders of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Conforming amendments
(1)
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 for Infectious Diseases
.
(2)
Section 404I of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 283k) is amended—
(A)
in subsection (a)(1), by striking or the Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases
; and
(B
by striking or the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases
each place it appears.
(3)
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
.
(e) References in law
Any reference in any law (including a regulation), guidance, map, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, including with respect to the Director of such Institute, shall be deemed to be a reference to, as applicable, the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, or the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases, including with respect to the Directors of such Institutes.