[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 15, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4370-S4371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Smith, and Mr. King):
  S. 2294. A bill to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague from 
Minnesota Senator Smith to introduce the Kay Hagan Tick Act 
Reauthorization. I would also like to recognize Senator King, who is 
joining as an original cosponsor. Our bill is named after our 
colleague, former Senator Kay Hagan, who passed away in October 2019 
due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan 
virus. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize Federal programs 
that provide local communities and States with resources for 
prevention, early detection, and treatment of tick-borne and other 
vector-borne diseases.
  Tick-borne diseases like Lyme have become a significant public health 
concern, with the incidence exploding over the past 20 years. The 
number of Americans with tick-borne diseases has been rising at an 
alarming rate. In 2003, Lyme disease infected around 30,000 Americans. 
Last year, there were an estimated 500,000 cases, an increase of 1,400 
percent. In my Sate of Maine, we recorded a record 3,200 cases of Lyme 
disease in 2024, and experts predict a increase in tick populations 
this year after a winter that was not consistently cold enough to 
reduce their numbers.
  Far too many Americans with Lyme disease experience a complex 
diagnostic odyssey that takes months or even years. One of my 
constituents, Adina Bercowicz from Yarmouth, shared with me her 
harrowing journey of diagnosis and treatment after a tick bite during 
her pregnancy. Prior to getting sick, Adina was working full-time and 
regularly attended yoga and martial arts classes, had an active social 
life, and traveled frequently for work. She then began to experience 
symptoms such as chronic fatigue, sharp joint pain, memory loss, 
cognitive decline, and migraines. It took several doctors and dozens of 
tests for Adina to be diagnosed with late-stage, chronic Lyme disease, 
but at this point, her symptoms were debilitating. She still struggles 
with daily symptoms, but along with her husband Yan, has worked to 
found LymeTV, a nonprofit in Maine that seeks to raise awareness about 
Lyme disease.
  In addition to the physical and emotional toll that Lyme disease can 
impose, it also can be expensive. Medical costs of Lyme disease are 
estimated at $2 billion per year. When accounting for indirect medical 
costs, including inability to work, in some cases, the annual costs 
balloon to $75 billion per year.
  A correct and early diagnosis can reduce costs and improve the 
prognosis. We have a long way to go, but I am encouraged that we have 
made progress since the original Kay Hagan Tick Act was signed into law 
in 2019. For example, a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine for 
people is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research. 
Reauthorizing the Tick Act would allow crucial developments such as 
these to continue.
  The Tick Act uses a three-pronged approach to address Lyme and other 
tick and vector-borne diseases. First, it would require HHS to continue 
to implement and update as appropriate its National Strategy for 
Vector-Borne Disease. This strategy was required by the original 
legislation and released in 2024. I look forward to working with the 
Department to achieve its target of reducing the number of Lyme disease 
cases by 25 percent by 2035.
  Second, the Tick Act would reauthorize the Regional Centers of 
Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease, which Congress established in 2017 
in response to Zika. Since then, tick-borne diseases have accounted for 
three in four vector-borne diseases in the U.S., and

[[Page S4371]]

these centers have led the scientific response. Our legislation would 
reauthorize funding for these centers for another 5 years.
  Finally, the bill would reauthorize funding for CDC grants, awarded 
to State Health Departments, to improve data collection and analysis, 
support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise 
awareness for vector-borne diseases.
  The Kay Hagan Tick Act takes a comprehensive approach to address 
tick-borne diseases. I urge all my colleagues to support this important 
legislation.

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