The House of Representatives has passed a bill authored by a New York Congressman for tick-borne disease research.
Republican Congressman Chris Gibson authored the Tick-borne Disease Research Transparency and Accountability Act, which advances federal research while giving patients a voice. The bipartisan legislation, which passed the House Energy & Commerce Committee in July, prioritizes federal research on Lyme and related diseases and gives patients, advocates, and physicians a seat at the table. The bill calls for the formation of an interagency working group consisting of federal agencies and non-federal partners. The legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consult with the working group to submit a strategic plan to Congress within three years. The bill has 19 co-sponsors, including Democrats Sean Patrick Maloney and Paul Tonko of New York and Peter Welch of Vermont. Such a bill has not been introduced in the Senate.
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