H.R. 5585 · 117th Congress · House

ARPA–H Act

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced
Oct 15, 21
Passed House
Jun 22, 22
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health Act or the ARPA-H Act

This bill establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health to accelerate health and medical innovation by investing in high-risk, high-reward research. The bill also establishes a committee to advise on agency activities.

HHS must transfer all authorities, functions, funds, and personnel from a similar entity within the National Institutes of Health to a new, independent agency.

Additionally, the President must appoint a director to lead the agency. The director may submit testimony and recommendations concerning the agency to Congress without review or approval by other federal officers or agencies.

The director must appoint personnel to administer the agency's research programs, including by selecting projects to support and making recommendations about terminating or continuing projects.

The agency may use grants, prize competitions, and a variety of other mechanisms to support the research projects. The agency's budget is separate from that of HHS.

The agency must coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expedite development and coverage of high-need cures. Additionally, the agency may partner with other public and private entities (e.g., institutions of higher education and patient advocacy organizations).

The bill also requires the agency to develop and periodically update a strategic plan and annually report on its activities. Furthermore, (1) the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine must evaluate the agency's performance; and (2) the Government Accountability Office must review the research portfolio of HHS and its components, including the new agency.

Previous Versions

07Jun 13, 2022

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health Act or the ARPA-H Act

This bill establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health to accelerate health and medical innovation by investing in high-risk, high-reward research. The bill also establishes a committee to advise on agency activities.

HHS must transfer all authorities, functions, funds, and personnel from a similar entity within the National Institutes of Health to a new, independent agency.

Additionally, the President must appoint a director to lead the agency. The director may submit testimony and recommendations concerning the agency to Congress without review or approval by other federal officers or agencies.

The director must appoint personnel to administer the agency's research programs, including by selecting projects to support and making recommendations about terminating or continuing projects.

The agency may use grants, prize competitions, and a variety of other mechanisms to support the research projects. The agency's budget is separate from that of HHS.

The agency must coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expedite development and coverage of high-need cures. Additionally, the agency may partner with other public and private entities (e.g., institutions of higher education and patient advocacy organizations).

The bill also requires the agency to develop and periodically update a strategic plan and annually report on its activities. Furthermore, (1) the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine must evaluate the agency's performance; and (2) the Government Accountability Office must review the research portfolio of HHS and its components, including the new agency.

00Oct 15, 2021

Advanced Research Project Agency-Health Act or the ARPA-H Act

This bill establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health to accelerate innovation in health and medicine by investing in high-risk, high-reward research projects. The bill also establishes an interagency committee to inform, and a fund in the Treasury to support, the agency's activities.

The President must appoint from the personnel of HHS a director to lead the agency. The director may submit testimony and recommendations concerning the agency to Congress without review or approval by other federal officers or agencies.

The director must designate personnel to serve as program managers who administer the agency's research programs, including by selecting projects to support, setting progress milestones for projects, and making recommendations about terminating or continuing projects.

The agency may use a variety of mechanisms to support the research projects, including grants, contracts, and prize competitions. The agency's budget is separate from that of HHS.

The agency must coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expedite development and coverage of high-need cures. Additionally, the agency may partner with other public and private entities, such as institutions of higher education and patient advocacy organizations.

The bill also requires the agency to develop and periodically update a strategic plan and annually report on its activities. Furthermore, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine must evaluate the agency's performance.

Action Timeline

24
  1. JUN 23, 2022IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  2. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1191. (consideration

    CR H5795-5803; text: CR H5795-5798)

    5795Yea
    5803Nay
    0NV
  3. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R

    4176, H.R. 5585 and H.R. 7666. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 4176, H.R. 5585 and H.R. 7666. Rule provides for one motion to recommit each for H.R. 4176, H.R. 5585 and H.R. 7666. Rule provides that proceedings may be postponed through July 15, 2022, on measures that were the object of motions to suspend the rules on the legislative days of June 21, 2022, June 22, 2022, June 23, 2022, or June 24, 2022, and on which the yeas and nays were ordered.

  4. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5585.

  5. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res. 1170, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Eshoo amendment No. 1.

  6. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Eshoo amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Boebert demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  7. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on H.R. 5585 would be postponed.

  8. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on H.R. 5585 would resume.

  9. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H5808-5809)

    5808Yea
    5809Nay
    0NV
  10. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #288

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 336 - 85 (Roll no. 288).

    336Yea
    85Nay
    0NV
  11. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #288

    336 - 85 (Roll no. 288).

    336Yea
    85Nay
    0NV
  12. JUN 22, 2022Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. JUN 21, 2022Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 1191 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4176, H.R. 5585 and H.R. 7666. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 4176, H.R. 5585 and H.R. 7666. Rule provides for one motion to recommit each for H.R. 4176, H.R. 5585 and H.R. 7666. Rule provides that proceedings may be postponed through July 15, 2022, on measures that were the object of motions to suspend the rules on the legislative days of June 21, 2022, June 22, 2022, June 23, 2022, or June 24, 2022, and on which the yeas and nays were ordered.

  14. JUN 13, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-365.

    117Yea
    365Nay
    0NV
  15. JUN 13, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 117-365.

    117Yea
    365Nay
    0NV
  16. JUN 13, 2022Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 277.

  17. MAY 18, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  18. MAY 18, 2022Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 53 - 3.

    53Yea
    3Nay
    0NV
  19. MAY 11, 2022Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  20. MAY 11, 2022Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

  21. OCT 18, 2021Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  22. OCT 15, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  23. OCT 15, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  24. OCT 15, 2021IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Committees

7

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

sshr00

Referred: Jun 23, 2022

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Jun 13, 2022

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: May 18, 2022

Active

Health Subcommittee

hsif14

Referred: May 11, 2022

Active

Health Subcommittee

hsif14

Referred: May 11, 2022

Active

Health Subcommittee

hsif14

Referred: Oct 18, 2021

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Oct 15, 2021

Active