Department of Defense Lyme Disease Research and Education Act of 1991

Department of Defense Lyme Disease Research and Education Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, to carry out a research and education (R&E) program regarding Lyme disease. Specifies actions to be taken by the Secretary as part of such R&E program, including: (1) assessing the risk of Lyme disease at military installations; (2) providing lab support for identifying and assaying deer ticks for Lyme disease; (3) providing information regarding Lyme disease to military personnel at installations at which there are sizable populations of deer ticks, as well as to dependents of such personnel; (4) establishing and maintaining a data repository on information collected by the Department of Defense regarding the disease; (5) conducting operational testing; and (6) testing candidate deer tick repellent compounds for effectiveness and toxicity to humans.

Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for conducting the R&E program. Earmarks specified amounts of such appropriations for each of the R&E activities undertaken.

Directs the Secretary to print and distribute to appropriate military personnel wallet-sized cards that identify the ticks that transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, listing symptoms and methods of prevention. Allows the Secretary to make 25 percent of such cards available to Federal health agencies and the public. Authorizes appropriations.

Directs the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research to conduct research to develop a ribosomal RNA probe to detect Borrella burgdorferi in arthropods, animal reservoirs, and laboratory samples. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Defense for such research.

 
HR 2173 IH
102d CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 2173
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a research and education
program in the Department of Defense regarding Lyme disease.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 1, 1991
Mr. HOCHBRUECKNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a research and education
program in the Department of Defense regarding Lyme disease.
  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 `Department of Defense Lyme Disease Research
  and Education Act of 1991'.
SEC. 2. RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.
  (a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED- Chapter 355 of title 10, United States Code,
  is amended by inserting before section 3723 the following new section:
`Sec. 3721. Lyme disease research and education
  `(a) GENERAL PROGRAM- (1) The Secretary of the Army, acting through the
  Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, shall carry out a research and education
  program regarding Lyme disease. As part of such research and education
  program, the Secretary shall--
  `(A) assess the risk of Lyme disease at military installations;
  `(B) provide laboratory support for the Department of Defense to identify
  and assay deer ticks for Lyme disease;
  `(C) provide information and informational materials regarding Lyme
  disease to members of the Armed Forces stationed at military installations
  determined by the Secretary to have sizable populations of deer ticks
  and to the dependents of such members and (to the extent practicable)
  other persons living in the vicinity of such installations;
  `(D) establish and maintain a data repository for epidemiological and
  ecological data regarding Lyme disease collected by the Department of
  Defense;
  `(E) conduct operational testing of vector control measures and personal
  protective measures, including experiments on deer using the antiparasitic
  drug, Invermectin; and
  `(F) test candidate deer tick repellent compounds for efficacy and toxicity
  to humans.
  `(2) The Secretary of the Army shall assign not less than 10 employees of
  the Army Environmental Hygiene Agency to full-time duty in support of the
  research and education program required by this subsection.
  `(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Army
  to carry out this subsection $712,000 for each fiscal year. Of the amounts
  appropriated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year--
  `(A) 23 percent of such amounts shall be used to carry out paragraph (1)(A);
  `(B) 31 percent of such amounts shall be used to carry out paragraph (1)(B);
  `(C) 4 percent of such amounts shall be used to carry out paragraph (1)(C);
  `(D) 7 percent of such amounts shall be used to carry out paragraph (1)(D),
  of which 50 percent of the amount set aside under this subparagraph shall
  be used to conduct experiments on deer using the antiparasitic drug,
  Invermectin;
  `(E) 28 percent of such amounts shall be used to carry out paragraph
  (1)(E); and
  `(F) 7 percent of such amounts shall be used to carry out paragraph (1)(F).
  `(b) PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF TICK CARDS- (1) The Secretary of the Army,
  acting through the Army Health Service Command, shall print and distribute
  to appropriate members of the armed forces wallet-size cards that identify
  the ticks that transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever and
  list the symptoms of, and methods to prevent, that disease and that fever.
  `(2) The Secretary of the Army may make available to Federal health agencies
  and members of the public not more than 25 percent of the cards printed
  pursuant to this subsection.
  `(3) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Army
  to carry out this subsection $21,000 for each fiscal year.
  `(c) RIBOSOMAL RNA PROBE- (1) The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
  shall conduct research to develop a ribosomal RNA probe to detect Borrella
  burgdorferi in arthropods, animal reservoirs, and laboratory samples.
  `(2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense
  to carry out this subsection $67,000 for each fiscal year.'.
  (b) CLERICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- (1) The heading of chapter 355 of
  such title is amended to read as follows:
`CHAPTER 355--HEALTH MATTERS'.
  (2) The items relating to such chapter in the table of chapters at the
  beginning of subtitle B of such title and part II of such subtitle are
  amended to read as follows:
3721'.
  (3) The heading of section 3723 of such title is amended to read as follows:
`Sec. 3723. When Secretary may require hospitalization'.
  (4) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended
  by striking out the item relating to section 3723 and inserting in lieu
  thereof the following new items:
`3721. Lyme disease research and education.
`3723. When Secretary may require hospitalization.'.
  (c) EFFECTIVE DATE- Section 3721 of title 10, United States Code, as added
  by subsection (a), shall take effect on October 1, 1991.