Bill Summary

Summary HR 1179

"Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Prevention, Education & Research Act of 2009"

Sponsors

Goals

Establish Advisory Committee
- Purpose
  - Communication among government agencies & constituency groups (including patient groups) that deal with Lyme disease policies
  - Advise agencies on priorities concerning tick-borne diseases
  - Minimize overlap of activities
  - Ensure broad spectrum scientific viewpoint represented in publich health policies
  - Advise Health & Human Services (HHS) concerning ongoing activities and what needs to be accomplished
- Duties/Responsibilities
  - Committee meetings
    - shall be public
    - meet 2 times per year or more
    - keep records
  - Committee
    - submit detailed reports to HHS Secretary
  - HHS Secretary
    - shall report on meetings to Congress & include
      - committee function, members, activities in the recent year, and issues regarding functioning of committee
- Members
  - HHS Secretary ensures committee diversity & broad viewpoints
    - Doctors, Scientists from broad spectrum of viewpoints
    - Patients, Volunteer Organizations
    - Government members - non-voting
- Authorizes appropriations of $20 million a year for each of 5 years in addition to any other authorization of appropriations for such purposes