[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5260 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5260
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out
research and data collection to improve the quality of stroke care, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 5, 2026
Mr. Lujan (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Fetterman, Mrs.
Shaheen, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms.
Smith, and Ms. Rosen) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out
research and data collection to improve the quality of stroke care, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Stroke Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a
stroke.
(2) Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term
disability and the fifth-leading cause of death in the United
States, causing more than 160,000 deaths each year.
(3) In 2023, stroke accounted for approximately 1 of every
19 deaths in the United States.
(4) Stroke caused 166,852 deaths in the United States in
2024.
(5) Nearly half of adults in the United States have high
blood pressure, which is a leading cause and controllable risk
factor for stroke.
(6) Quick identification and treatment for stroke results
in a higher chance of survival and reduces recovery time for
individuals experiencing a stroke.
(7) Treatment depends on the type of stroke someone is
having, which must be diagnosed by a health care professional.
(8) When dealing with a time-sensitive medical emergency
services like a stroke, the right care, at the right time, at
the right facility, is of the utmost importance.
(9) A system of care allows for scientifically proven
measures to be applied to every patient, every time.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH RELATING TO THE DELIVERY OF STROKE CARE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with
the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, may
conduct or support research relating to the delivery of stroke care,
including research relating to--
(1) inconsistencies in inpatient and pre-hospital care;
(2) obstacles to stroke research participation and
communication of research findings;
(3) public education about stroke and stroke symptoms;
(4) access to hyperacute and acute stroke care and quality
stroke rehabilitation;
(5) discrepancies in stroke rehabilitation referral
patterns;
(6) differences in the use of inpatient procedures; and
(7) demographic variations in diagnostic procedures and
secondary stroke prevention medication.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2032.
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR DATA COLLECTION RELATING TO STROKE CARE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to, or
enter into cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit
entities--
(1) to support the expansion, maintenance, and enhancement
of a national stroke registry that collects standardized data
on stroke care and outcomes across the United States; and
(2) to encourage the participation in such registry of--
(A) comprehensive stroke centers;
(B) thrombectomy-capable stroke centers or the
equivalent that offer mechanical endovascular
therapies;
(C) primary stroke centers; and
(D) acute stroke-ready hospitals.
(b) Requirements.--A national stroke registry supported under
subsection (a) shall--
(1) collect and report standardized data on stroke care,
treatment, quality measures, and patient outcomes from
participating hospitals across the United States;
(2) build upon existing national stroke registry
infrastructure to minimize duplication and maximize hospital
participation;
(3) support quality improvement, benchmarking, and research
activities to improve stroke care and patient outcomes
nationally;
(4) facilitate data sharing and reporting with State,
territorial, Tribal, and local public health agencies, as
appropriate; and
(5) maintain applicable patient privacy, security, and
confidentiality standards.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2032.
SEC. 5. GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN SYSTEMS OF STROKE CARE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to public
or nonprofit entities to carry out activities to improve the quality of
stroke care across the continuum of care.
(b) Requirements.--An entity that receives a grant under subsection
(a) may use the grant funds--
(1) to coordinate and disseminate stroke messaging and
education within communities and clinical settings;
(2) to provide training to emergency medical services
personnel, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians on,
and to encourage the adoption of, best practices and protocols
relating to the transport of, and pre-hospital care for,
individuals suspected of having a stroke;
(3) to improve the coordination and provision of post-
stroke care and rehabilitation services across community and
clinical settings and across different types of health care
coverage;
(4) to coordinate, develop, and implement professional and
workforce development opportunities to improve evidence-based
knowledge for stroke care, recognition of inconsistencies in
stroke care, and implementation of activities to address such
inconsistencies; and
(5) to provide training and technical assistance to
increase the use of telestroke care for stroke patients in
facilities located in regions in need of medical resources.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2032.
SEC. 6. GRANTS FOR STROKE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may award grants to, or
enter into cooperative agreements with, public or private nonprofit
entities to carry out a national education and information campaign to
promote stroke prevention and to increase the number of stroke patients
who seek immediate treatment.
(b) Requirement.--The Secretary shall ensure that the campaign
carried out pursuant to subsection (a) does not duplicate existing
stroke education efforts carried out by other Federal agencies.
(c) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary may
consult with national and local organizations that are dedicated to
increasing public awareness of strokes, consumers of stroke awareness
products, and providers of stroke care.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2032.
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