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US House Lyme Bills 2013

Currently there are several Lyme disease bills in the House of Representatives in Washington DC.  Learn about these bills, share the information with your federal legislators, and encourage them to co-sponsor them! Click on the Cosponsor link to see if your legislator is already signed onto the bill.

Currently there are several Lyme disease bills in the House of Representatives in Washington DC.  Learn about these bills, share the information with your federal legislators, and encourage them to co-sponsor them!

Click on the Cosponsor link to see if your legislator is already signed onto the bill.  


H.R.611  Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2013

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/12/2013) Cosponsors


Related Bills: H.R.610

Latest Major Action: 2/15/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2013 – Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee. Requires the Committee to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding how officials can: (1) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne diseases, (2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts with other federal agencies and private organizations addressing such diseases, (3) ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups, (4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints is represented in public heath policy decisions and that information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced, and (5) advise relevant federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

Requires the Secretary, acting through the appropriate federal officials, to provide for the coordination of all federal programs and activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases and the conduct or support of specified activities, including: (1) developing sensitive and accurate diagnostic tools and tests, (2) improving the efficient utilization of diagnostic testing currently available, (3) accurately determining the prevalence of such diseases, (4) evaluating the feasibility of creating a national uniform reporting system, (5) providing and promoting access to a clearinghouse of information on such diseases, (6) increasing public education related to such diseases, (7) creating a physician education program, (8) establishing epidemiological research objectives to determine the long term course of illness for Lyme disease, and (9) determining the effectiveness of different treatment modalities by establishing treatment outcome objectives.

Authorization of Appropriations- For the purposes of carrying out this section and providing for additional research, prevention, and educational activities for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018. Such authorization of appropriations is in addition to any other authorization of appropriations available for such purpose.

Bill Text


H.R.610    To provide for the establishment of the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/12/2013) Cosponsors

Related Bills: H.R.611

Latest Major Action: 2/15/2013 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee to advise the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for Health regarding the manner in which they can: (1) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize overlap regarding efforts to address tick-borne diseases, (2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts with other federal agencies and private organizations addressing such diseases, (3) ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups, (4) ensure that a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints is represented in public health policy decisions and that information disseminated to the public and physicians is balanced, and (5) advise relevant federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

Bill Text