To reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other purposes.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would renew and continue a federal program focused on fighting tick-borne diseases in the United States. The original Kay Hagan Tick Act, named after the late U.S. Senator Kay Hagan who suffered from a tick-borne illness, was first passed in 2019 and established a coordinated national effort to address the growing public health threat posed by ticks and the diseases they carry, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and others. Reauthorizing the act means Congress would extend funding and keep these programs running.

The original law directed federal agencies — primarily the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies — to work together on researching tick-borne illnesses, improving how they are diagnosed and treated, and educating the public about prevention. It also supported efforts to better track how many people are getting sick from tick bites across the country. This reauthorization would allow those activities to continue for additional years.

This bill affects a wide range of Americans, particularly those who spend time outdoors in wooded or grassy areas where ticks are common. Tick-borne diseases affect hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. every year and can cause serious, long-lasting health problems. Healthcare providers, researchers, and public health officials would also be impacted, as the bill supports funding for medical research and improved guidance on these diseases.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which is the standard first step in the legislative process. No official description or detailed text has been publicly released yet, so the full scope of any changes to the original law remains unclear.