This bill extends and renews funding for federal programs that combat tick-borne and other vector-borne illnesses, originally established under the Kay Hagan Tick Act. It reauthorizes the national strategy and regional centers of excellence dedicated to studying and addressing vector-borne diseases, as well as a program that helps state and local health departments respond to these illnesses, pushing their funding authorization from the 2021-2025 period to 2026 through 2030. The bill also makes a technical change to how the national strategy program operates, removing a specific reference to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group in favor of broader language allowing input from "appropriate individuals," and adjusts how the program coordinates with other federal efforts. This legislation primarily affects public health agencies, researchers, and health departments working on tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, as well as patients and communities affected by these illnesses. The bill does not create new programs but ensures continued federal support for existing vector-borne disease initiatives for an additional five years.
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