Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on HELP.
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 14, 1999
Health Research and Quality Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the Public Health Service (PHS) an Agency for Health Research and Quality, headed by a director (Agency Director) appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to replace the current Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Directs the Secretary to carry out the provisions of this Act relating to the new Agency and its mission and duties through the Agency Director.(Sec. 2) Directs the Agency to identify and disseminate methods or systems used to assess health care research results, particularly to rate the strength of the scientific evidence behind health care practice and technology recommendations in the research.Requires the Agency to employ research strategies and mechanisms that will link research directly with clinical practice in geographically diverse locations throughout the United States, including: (1) Health Care Improvement Research Centers that combine demonstrated multidisciplinary expertise in outcomes or quality improvement research with linkages to relevant sites of care; (2) Provider-based Research Networks, including plan, facility, or delivery system sites of care (especially primary care), that can evaluate and promote quality improvement; and (3) other innovative mechanisms or strategies.Authorizes the Agency to provide specified scientific and technical support for private and public efforts to improve health care quality, including accrediting organizations.Directs the Secretary, acting through the Agency Director, to establish a program of grants for one or more centers to conduct: (1) state-of-the-art research on drugs, biological products, and devices; (2) research on the comparative effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and safety of drugs, biological products, and devices; and (3) other appropriate activities (excluding the review of new drugs).Requires the Agency Director to: (1) collect certain data on the cost and quality of health care; (2) support research on and initiatives to advance the use of information systems for the study of health care quality; and (3) provide ongoing administrative, research, and technical support for the Preventive Services Task Force, which shall review scientific evidence on the effectiveness, appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness of clinical preventive services regarding their usefulness in daily clinical practice.Establishes within the Agency a Center for Primary Care Research to serve as the principal funding source for Department of Health and Human Services primary care delivery research and demonstrations with respect to the first contact when illness or health concerns arise, the diagnosis, treatment or referral to specialty care, preventive care, and the relationship between the clinician and the patient in the context of the family and community.Requires the Agency Director by specified activities to promote innovation in evidence-based clinical practice and health care technologies.Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director, to coordinate all research, evaluations, and demonstrations related to health services research and quality measurement and improvement activities undertaken and supported by the Federal Government. .Establishes an Advisory Council for Health Care Research and Quality to replace the current Advisory Council for Health Care Policy, Research, and Evaluation.Requires the Agency Director to establish technical and scientific peer review groups to review each application for a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under the provisions of this Act relating to the new Agency and its mission and duties.Repeals the mandates for: (1) a demonstration program regarding centers for education and research on therapeutics; and (2) the Office of the Forum for Quality and Effectiveness in Health Care.Authorizes appropriations.(Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary, acting through appropriate PHS agencies, to make grants to public or nonprofit private entities for the establishment and operation of regional centers to identify particular populations of patients and facilitate appropriate patient utilization of preventive health services through developing and disseminating strategies to improve the methods used by public and private health care programs and providers in interacting with such patients. Requires applicant entities to meet certain requirements with regard to quality management in order to be eligible to receive such a grant. Authorizes appropriations.
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on HELP.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2506.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 417 - 7 (Roll no. 457).
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2506.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Traficant.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Thompson of California.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. McGovern.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Stearns.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Tierney.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Tierney.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Pascrell.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Thompson of California.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Davis of Illinois.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Davis of Illinois.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendments offered by Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Davis of Illinois.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the amendment offered by Mr. Andrews.
DEBATE - The Committee is debating the en bloc amendment offered by Mr. Bilirakis.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2506.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Edward A. Pease to act as Chairman of the Committee.
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 299 and Rule XXIII.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2506 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Commerce now printed in the bill. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 299. (consideration: CR H8911-8941)
Rule H. Res. 299 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 299 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2506 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Commerce now printed in the bill. Measure will be read by section. Specified amendments are in order.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 183.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 106-305.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Commerce. H. Rept. 106-305.
Ms. Pryce (OH) asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce have until midnight on Sept. 7 to file a report on H.R. 2506. Agreed to without objection.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1540-1541)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Bill text & related measures
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Explore the bill from different angles
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Neutral evidence review
Objective
Analyze H.R.2506 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact
Progressive lens
Examine H.R.2506 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope
Conservative lens
Examine H.R.2506 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power
Liberty lens
Examine H.R.2506 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.