On November 20, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act (H.R. 669), after approving a substitute amendment by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA). The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee approved the legislation by unanimous consent on November 19; the House approved its version of the bill on September 9 (see The Source, 9/12/14).
According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee report, the legislation would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue activities relating to stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and unexpected death in childhood. In addition, it would allow the attorney general to conduct and support training for standard protocols for death scene investigation and autopsies.
