SEC. 4. FEDERAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE DIAGNOSIS, 
SURVEILLANCE, 
PREVENTION, 
AND 
RE-
SEARCH OF LYME AND OTHER TICK-BORNE 
DISEASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting as appro-
priate through the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, the Director of the National Insti-
tutes of Health, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 
and the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research 
and Quality, as well as additional Federal agencies as the 
Secretary determines to be appropriate, and in consulta-
tion with the Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee, 
shall provide for the coordination of all Federal programs 
and activities related to Lyme and other tick-borne dis-
eases, including the activities described in paragraphs (1) 
through (4) of subsection (b). 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities described in this sub-
section are the following: 
(1) DEVELOPMENT
OF
DIAGNOSTIC
TESTS.— 
Such activities include— 
(A) the development of sensitive and more 
accurate diagnostic tools and tests, including a 
direct detection test for Lyme disease capable 
of distinguishing active infection from past in-
fection; 
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(B) improving the efficient utilization of 
diagnostic testing currently available to account 
for the multiple clinical manifestations of both 
acute and chronic Lyme disease; and 
(C) providing for the timely evaluation of 
promising emerging diagnostic methods. 
(2) SURVEILLANCE AND REPORTING.—Such ac-
tivities include surveillance and reporting of Lyme 
and other tick-borne diseases— 
(A) to accurately determine the prevalence 
of Lyme and other tick-borne disease; 
(B) to evaluate the feasibility of developing 
a reporting system for the collection of data on 
physician-diagnosed cases of Lyme disease that 
do not meet the surveillance criteria of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention in 
order to more accurately gauge disease inci-
dence; and 
(C) to evaluate the feasibility of creating a 
national uniform reporting system including re-
quired reporting by laboratories in each State. 
(3) PREVENTION.—Such activities include— 
(A) the provision and promotion of access 
to a comprehensive, up-to-date clearinghouse of 
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peer-reviewed information on Lyme and other 
tick-borne disease; 
(B) increased public education related to 
Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through the 
expansion of the Community Based Education 
Programs of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention to include expansion of informa-
tion access points to the public; 
(C) the creation of a physician education 
program that includes the full spectrum of sci-
entific research related to Lyme and other tick- 
borne diseases; and 
(D) the sponsoring of scientific conferences 
on Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, includ-
ing reporting and consideration of the full spec-
trum of clinically-based knowledge, with the 
first of such conferences to be held not later 
than 24 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
(4) CLINICAL OUTCOMES RESEARCH.—Such ac-
tivities include— 
(A) the establishment of epidemiological 
research objectives to determine the long term 
course of illness for Lyme disease; and 
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(B) determination of the effectiveness of 
different treatment modalities by establishing 
treatment outcome objectives. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 
purposes of carrying out this section, and for the purposes 
of providing for additional research, prevention, and edu-
cational activities for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. Such author-
ization is in addition to any other authorization of appro-
priations available for such purpose. 
SEC. 5. REPORTS ON LYME AND OTHER TICK-BORNE DIS-
EASES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the 
activities carried out under this Act. 
(b) CONTENT.—Reports under subsection (a) shall 
contain— 
(1) significant activities or developments related 
to the surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, education, 
or prevention of Lyme or other tick-borne diseases, 
including suggestions for further research and edu-
cation; 
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(2) a scientifically qualified assessment of Lyme 
and other tick-borne diseases, including both acute 
and chronic instances, related to the broad spectrum 
of empirical evidence of treating physicians, as well 
as published peer reviewed data, that shall include 
recommendations for addressing research gaps in di-
agnosis and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne 
diseases and an evaluation of treatment guidelines 
and their utilization; 
(3) progress in the development of accurate di-
agnostic tools that are more useful in the clinical 
setting for both acute and chronic disease; and 
(4) the promotion of public awareness and phy-
sician education initiatives to improve the knowledge 
of health care providers and the public regarding 
clinical and surveillance practices for Lyme disease 
and other tick-borne diseases. 
Æ 
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