107th Congress

Lyme and Infectious Disease Information and Fairness in Treatment (LIFT) Act

S. 969 and H.R. 2118

Background

Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT) introduced S. 969, the Lyme and Infectious Disease Information and Fairness in Treatment (LIFT) Act, to require the establishment of a Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). A companion measure, H.R. 2118, was introduced by Representative Jim Greenwood (R-PA).

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

In general, S. 969 and H.R. 2118 would have required the establishment of an advisory committee in the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to advise the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) on the best ways to 1) provide opportunities for and inclusion of public comment in agency planning and execution of tick-borne disorder activities, 2) ensure interagency coordination and communication and minimize duplication of effort, 3) identify opportunities for cross-agency coordination and coordination with relevant national nonprofits, and 4) develop informed responses to advocacy groups on DHHS and SSA activities and progress.

The Advisory Committee would have had 11 voting members and 10 ex officio members (including 3 from the National Institutes of Health [NIH], 2 of whom were specified). The Advisory Committee would have been cochaired by the Secretary of HHS and a public cochairperson. A report to Congress would have been required from the Secretary not later than 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter. The report would have provided details on activities and progress, promotion of public awareness and physician education initiatives, improvement of access to tick-borne disorders disability benefits policies, and recommendations for resolving differences of medical and scientific opinions as they relate to insurance and medical licensure board reviews of Lyme disease clinicians.

The Director of NIH, working with the Advisory Committee, would also have been required to coordinate activities and encourage collaborative research on tick-borne diseases across research institutes.

S. 969 and H.R. 2118 would also have authorized $14.5 million for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for increased focus on the development of better diagnostic tools and tests and education activities, and $7 million for CDC to collaborate with NIH and other appropriate agencies for further research on tick-borne disorders, including methods to prevent exposures.

Status and Outlook

S. 969, which had 10 cosponsors, was introduced on May 25, 2001, and was referred to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. S. 969 was discharged from the Committee and passed by the Senate on October 17 under unanimous consent. There was no House action on this measure. H.R. 2118, which had 38 cosponsors, was introduced on June 8, and was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. On June 18, H.R. 2118 was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. There was no further action on this legislation during the 107th Congress.