STATE PROGRAMS REGARDING DATA ON BIRTH DEFECTS.

SEC. 306. STATE PROGRAMS REGARDING DATA ON BIRTH DEFECTS. (a) In General.— Part A of title III of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by section 303(b) of this Act, is amended by inserting after section 317B the following section: 106 STAT. 3495 “collection of data on birth defects “Sec. 317C. (a) State Programs.— “(1) In general.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall encourage States to establish or improve programs for the collection and analysis of epidemiological data on birth defects. “(2) Provision of assistance.— The Secretary may, directly or through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts, provide assistance to States regarding the purpose specified in subsection (a). “(b) National Clearinghouse.— The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish and maintain a National Information Clearinghouse on Birth Defects to collect and disseminate to health professionals and the general public information on birth defects, including the prevention of such defects. “(c) Report.— Not later than July 1, 1993, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, a report describing activities carried out under this section and containing any recommendations of the Secretary regarding this section. “(d) Authorization of Appropriations.— For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1994 and 1995.”.