H.R. 4348 — To reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other purposes
Executive Summary
H.R. 4348 provides a clean, bipartisan five-year reauthorization (2026-2030) of the Kay Hagan Tick Act, extending critical federal support for vector-borne disease strategies and regional centers of excellence. The bill updates the Public Health Service Act by removing outdated statutory references to the expired Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, replacing it with a broader mandate to consult 'appropriate individuals.' Crucially, it explicitly expands the program's mandate to increase state and local capacity for identifying, reporting, preventing, and responding to vector-borne diseases, addressing the geographic spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
Arguments For
- Constituent Deliverable: Lyme disease is a highly salient, bipartisan issue, particularly in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. Reauthorizing this provides a tangible, non-controversial 'win' for Members in suburban and rural districts.
- State Capacity Building: Funnels resources directly to state and local health departments, shifting the burden of vector-borne disease management away from underfunded local municipalities and earning goodwill from local officials.
- Streamlined Bureaucracy: Removing the expired, formalized Working Group in favor of consulting 'appropriate individuals' gives HHS more flexibility and reduces administrative overhead.
Likely Supporters
Arguments Against
- Optics of Diluting Patient Voices: Removing the statutory requirement for the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group could trigger backlash from highly vocal Lyme disease patient advocacy groups who viewed the working group as their primary vehicle for federal influence.
- Baseline Spending Concerns: Hardline fiscal conservatives may object to a clean five-year reauthorization without corresponding offsets in the broader HHS budget.
Likely Opponents
📋 Key Provisions
- Reauthorizes the National Strategy and Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease through 2030.
- Reauthorizes enhanced support to assist health departments in addressing vector-borne diseases through 2030.
- Removes statutory references to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group established under the 21st Century Cures Act, replacing it with a directive to consult 'appropriate individuals.'
- Adds explicit language directing efforts to increase capacity to identify, report, prevent, and respond to vector-borne diseases.
search
Verification Guide
BETA
expand_more
Don't trust AI? Don't worry, neither do I. Verify the claims yourself.
Removes the statutory reference to the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group.
"striking ‘‘the Tick-Borne Disease"
Adds a mandate to increase capacity to identify and respond to vector-borne diseases.
"capacity to identify, report, pre-"
Reauthorizes the National Strategy and Regional Centers through 2030.
"inserting ‘‘2026 through 2030’’"
Reauthorizes enhanced support for health departments through 2030.
"inserting ‘‘2026 through 2030’’"