The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering becomes a reality

Abstract

A 5-year campaign came to a successful conclusion on December 29, 2000, when President Clinton signed H.R. 1795, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Establishment Act, into law. With the President's signature, H.R. 1795 became Public Law 106-580. It was the last bill, of more than 600 passed by the 106th Congress and sent to the White House in 1999-2000, that the President signed during his final term ill office. The weeks leading up to enactment of this legislation were marked by alternating successes and setbacks. As we reported in earlier articles (I,2), the House of Representatives had approved H.R. 1795 by voice vote oil September 27, 2000. The bill then went to the Senate, where no action was taken until the Congress returned to Washington for a 'lame duck session following the November election. When the Congress met in December, the partisan conflicts that had plagued the legislators in October resurfaced and further delayed final action on several controversial bills, as well as the remaining appropriations required to permit the federal government to continue operating. It became apparent that all of the must pass bills would be combined into a single, omnibus legislative package ill an effort to maximize the prospects for passage. As Congressional and Administration negotiators began to reach agreements on the provisions to be included in the final omnibus bill, the chief sponsor of the Senate version of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Establishment Act, Majority Leader Trent Lott