Ransdell Act

The Ransdell Act (ch. 251, Pub. L.71–251, 46 Stat.379, enacted May 26, 1930, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C.§ 21, 42 U.S.C.§ 22, 42 U.S.C.§§ 23a–23g), reorganized, expanded and redesignated the Laboratory of Hygiene (created in 1887) as the National Institute of Health.

Congress appropriated $750,000 in the bill for construction of facilities and research fellowships. The NIH grew into today's 27-unit National Institutes of Health).

The Ransdell Act was sponsored by and named for Joseph E. Ransdell, a United States senator for the state of Louisiana.