110th Congress

Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007

H.R. 741/S. 1708

Background

Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borellia burgdorferi and transmitted through the bite of deer ticks and their nymphs, continues to be a growing concern across the United States; the same is true for other tick-borne diseases. Surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2005, the most recent year for which data are available, show that cases of Lyme disease have been reported by every State and the District of Columbia, with the highest number of cases in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Over time, various bills targeting Lyme and other tick-borne diseases have been introduced by Members representing high-risk States. In the 110th Congress, two companion bills on this topic have been introduced by Members from Connecticut and New Jersey, focusing on increasing Federal prevention, research, and education efforts.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

H.R. 741 and S. 1708, the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007, would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Directors of CDC, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as additional Federal agencies as deemed appropriate, to provide for the coordination of all Federal programs and activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, including the following activities:

• Development of a sensitive and definitive diagnostic test and tools, including a direct detection test for Lyme disease capable of distinguishing active infection from past infection; improvement of effective utilization of current diagnostic tests; and the timely evaluation and adoption of promising emerging test methods
• Accurate determinations of the prevalence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in the United States and the feasibility of developing a reporting system for physician-diagnosed cases that do not meet CDC criteria
• Access to a comprehensive, up-to-date clearinghouse of peer-reviewed information on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, as provided by the Director of AHRQ, in consultation with the Directors of NIH and CDC
• Public education through the expansion of CDC community-based education programs
• Creation of a physician education program that includes the full spectrum of scientific research related to Lyme and other tick-borne diseases
• Scientific conferences on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases that report on and consider the full spectrum of clinically based knowledge
• Establishment of epidemiological research objectives to determine the long-term course of illness for Lyme disease and determination of the effectiveness of different treatment modalities by establishing treatment outcome objectives

The bills would provide $20 million for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012 for research and educational activities; these funds would be in addition to any other authorization of appropriations for relevant activities. Provisions would also require the Secretary of HHS to establish a Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee within the Office of the Secretary to ensure interagency coordination and communication, minimize overlap, identify opportunities to coordinate with other Federal agencies and private organizations, ensure interagency coordination and communication with constituency groups and representatives of a broad spectrum of scientific viewpoints, and advise relevant Federal agencies on priorities regarding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. The Directors of NIH, CDC, and AHRQ; the Administrator of FDA; and representatives from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and other Federal agencies would serve as ex officio members of the Committee. The Assistant Secretary for Health would be designated by the Secretary of HHS as the co-chair of the Committee, with a public co-chair elected by the Committee members. A total of $250,000 would be authorized for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the expenses and per diem costs incurred by the Committee.

Not later than 18 months after enactment, and annually thereafter, the Secretary would be required to submit to Congress a report encompassing significant diagnosis, treatment, education, and prevention activities; a scientifically qualified assessment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases that includes published peer-reviewed data and recommendations for addressing research gaps; progress in the development of accurate diagnostic tools; and promotion of public awareness and physician education initiatives.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 741 was introduced by Representative Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) on January 31, 2007, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill has 13 original cosponsors and 75 additional cosponsors. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

S. 1708 was introduced by Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT) on June 27, 2007, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The bill has two original cosponsors and three additional cosponsors. No further action has occurred on this legislation.