H.R. 4709

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs under part A of title XI of such Act relating to genetic diseases, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · July 23, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Morrison · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

H.R. 4709

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Improved newborn and child screening and follow-up for heritable disorders

(a) Purposes
- Section 1109(a) of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 300b–8(a)
  - in paragraph (1), by striking enhance, improve orand inserting facilitate, enhance, improve, or;
    - to develop, and deliver to parents, families, and patient advocacy and support groups, educational programs that—
      - address newborn screening counseling, testing (including newborn screening pilot studies), follow-up, treatment, specialty services, and long-term care;
      - assess the target audience’s current knowledge, incorporate health communications strategies, and measure impact; and
      - are at appropriate literacy levels;
  - by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
  - in paragraph (4)—
    - by striking followupand inserting follow-up; and
    - by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: .
(b) Approval factors
- Section 1109(c) of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 300b–8(c)
  - by striking or will useand inserting will use; and
  - by inserting before .

SEC. 3. Advisory committee on heritable disorders in newborns and children

Section 1111 of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 300b–10
- in subsection (b)—
  - in paragraph (5), by inserting after ;
  - in paragraph (7) by striking and at the end;
  - by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9);
    - develop, maintain, and publish on a publicly accessible website consumer-friendly materials detailing—
      - the uniform screening panel nomination process, including data requirements, standards, and the use of international data in nomination submissions; and
      - the process for obtaining technical assistance for submitting nominations to the uniform screening panel and detailing the instances in which the provision of technical assistance would introduce a conflict of interest for members of the Advisory Committee; and
  - by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
  - in paragraph (9), as redesignated—
    - (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (K) and (L) as subparagraphs (L) and (M), respectively; and
    - (ii) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
      - the appropriate and recommended use of safe and effective genetic testing by health care professionals in newborns and children with an initial diagnosis of a disease or condition characterized by a variety of genetic causes and manifestations;
- in subsection (g)—
  - in paragraph (1) by striking and inserting ; and
  - in paragraph (2) by striking and inserting .

SEC. 4. Clearinghouse of newborn screening information

Section 1112(c) of the Public Health Service Act () is amended by striking and supplement, not supplant, existing information sharing effortsand inserting and complement other Federal newborn screening information sharing activities. 42 U.S.C. 300b–11(c)

SEC. 5. Laboratory quality and surveillance

Section 1113 of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 300b–12
- in subsection (a)—
  - in paragraph (1)—
    - (i) by striking performance evaluation services,and inserting development of new screening tests,; and
    - (ii) by striking and at the end;
  - in paragraph (2)—
    - (i) by striking performance test materialsand inserting test performance materials; and
    - (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
      - performance evaluation services to enhance disease detection, including the development of tools, resources, and infrastructure to improve data analysis, test result interpretation, data harmonization, and dissemination of laboratory best practices.
  - by adding at the end the following:
  - (b) Surveillance activities
    - The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and taking into consideration the expertise of the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children established under section 1111, shall provide for the coordination of national surveillance activities, including—
      - standardizing data collection and reporting through the use of electronic and other forms of health records to achieve real-time data for tracking and monitoring the newborn screening system, from the initial positive screen through diagnosis and long-term care management; and
      - by promoting data sharing linkages between State newborn screening programs and State-based birth defects and developmental disabilities surveillance programs to help families connect with services to assist in evaluating long-term outcomes.
- in subsection (b) to read as follows:

SEC. 6. Hunter Kelly research program

Section 1116 of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 300b–15
- in subsection (a)(1)—
  - by striking mayand inserting shall; and
  - in subparagraph (D)—
    - (i) by inserting after ; and
    - (ii) by striking that screenings are ready for nationwide implementationand inserting that reliable newborn screening technologies are piloted and ready for use; and
  - (b) Funding
    - In carrying out the research program under this section, the Secretary and the Director shall ensure that entities receiving funding through the program will provide assurances, as practicable, that such entities will work in consultation with State departments of health, as appropriate.
- in subsection (b) to read as follows:

SEC. 7. Authorization of appropriations for newborn screening programs and activities

Section 1117 of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 300b–16
- in paragraph (1)—
  - by striking striking1,900,000and inserting 0,883,000;
  - by striking and inserting ; and
- in paragraph (2)—
  - by striking $8,000,000and inserting 2,250,000;
  - by striking and inserting ; and
  - by striking and inserting .

SEC. 8. Institutional review boards; ethics guidance program

Section 12 of the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2014 ( note) is amended to read as follows: 42 U.S.C. 289
- Research on nonidentified newborn dried blood spots shall be considered secondary research (as that term is defined in section 46.104(d)(4) of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)) with nonidentified biospecimens for purposes of federally funded research conducted pursuant to the Public Health Service Act (). 42 U.S.C. 200 et seq.