2009/2010 Lyme Bill Text & Summary
Understand what the Lyme Bill is about. Then share it with all your federal, state & local legislators and encourage them to get involved!
HR 1179 / S 1352
“Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Prevention, Education & Research Act of 2009”
Sponsors
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Sponsor: Christopher Smith (NJ)
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Original co-sponsors: Tim Holden (PA), Bart Stupak (MI), Frank Wolf (VA)
Goals
- Establish Advisory Committee
- Purpose
- Communication among government agencies & constituency groups (including patient groups) that deal with Lyme disease policies
- Advise agencies on priorities concerning tick-borne diseases
- Minimize overlap of activities
- Ensure broad spectrum scientific viewpoint represented in publich health policies
- Advise Health & Human Services (HHS) concerning ongoing activities and what needs to be accomplished
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Duties/Responsibilities
- Committee meetings
- shall be public
- meet 2 times per year or more
- keep records
- Committee
- submit detailed reports to HHS Secretary
- HHS Secretary
- shall report on meetings to Congress & include
- committee function, members, activities in the recent year, and issues regarding functioning of committee
- shall report on meetings to Congress & include
- Committee meetings
- Members
- HHS Secretary ensures committee diversity & broad viewpoints
- Doctors, Scientists from broad spectrum of viewpoints
- Patients, Volunteer Organizations
- Government members – non-voting
- HHS Secretary ensures committee diversity & broad viewpoints
- Purpose
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Authorizes appropriations of $20 million a year for each of 5 years in addition to any other authorization of appropriations for such purposes
- Priorities
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Research (gold standard diagnostic tests, clinical outcomes research)
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Examine current surveillance & reporting
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Physician & public education
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Prevention
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- Priorities