Faso Engages in Effort to Elevate Tick-Borne Related Illnesses in Health and Human Services Department Priorities

Washington D.C. – Congressman John Faso (R-Kinderhook) joined Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Collin Peterson (D-MN) in putting forth new legislation to establish a national strategy for Lyme disease and to strengthen treatment and prevention of Lyme.

“This bill is about turning the tide on a disease that has truly taken its toll on Upstate New York and other vulnerable regions across the nation,” said Faso. “Lyme Disease is spreading, and it is more important than ever that the federal government update its Lyme and TBD strategy on behalf of the millions impacted and lives destroyed.”

H.R. 5900, the National Tick-Borne Diseases Control and Accountability Act comprehensively changes the federal government’s approach to Lyme and other Tick-Borne Diseases (TBD).  This bill would require the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) to submit an extensive report and strategy to Congress on government-wide Lyme funding programs, activities, and research. 

Additionally, the Office of Oversight and Coordination for TBD (TBD Office) would be created to oversee and assess this proposed strategy and all other Lyme activities under HHS.  The HHS Secretary and TBD Office would be instructed to coordinate various government agencies, including the official HHS TBD Working Group created by the 21st Century Cures Act, to focus on addressing the Lyme epidemic in full through research and education.

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