US Allocates $150 Million to CDC for Lyme and Tick‑Borne Disease Programs

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act, moving the bill to the Senate calendar. The legislation authorizes $150 million over five years for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand surveillance, research, training and response to Lyme disease and other tick‑borne infections.

Funding will support the CDC’s regional Centers of Excellence in Vector‑Borne Diseases, university‑based hubs, and state, local and tribal health departments in high‑risk areas. The act is named for former North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan, who died from a tick‑borne virus, and has been championed by Representative Chris Smith (R‑NJ) since 1992. Officials say the investment aims to reduce human cases, improve early diagnosis, and accelerate scientific breakthroughs, with anticipated benefits for global public‑health efforts.