Legislation

Federal Legislation

CALDA is one of over 80 groups representing more than 30 states supporting the "Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007," companion bills H.R. 741 (Smith/Stupak) and S. 1708 (Dodd/Schumer/Hagel). This federal legislation authorizes an additional $100 million over five years for Lyme and tick-borne disease research, physician education, prevention, and task force formation. The Lyme community has been trying to pass federal legislation since 1998. Lyme disease research is seriously underfunded compared to other diseases, such as West Nile virus. Click here to view funding of West Nile Virus vs. Lyme Disease.

To read the actual bill language, download the bills from the lefthand side of this page or go to the Library of Congress website http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.html, which also provides the latest updates on the bills' status, including cosponsors.

CALDA urges people to contact their US Congress members to co-sponsor H.R. 741 and S. 1708. For form letters and instructions on how to contact your congress members, go to the national Lyme Disease Association website at http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/IB_Federal.html