I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10210 
To establish a national plan to coordinate research on epilepsy, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 21, 2024 
Mr. COSTA (for himself and Mr. MURPHY) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To establish a national plan to coordinate research on 
epilepsy, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Plan for Epi-
lepsy Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
(1) Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes re-
curring and unprovoked seizures and affects people 
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of all ages, affecting nearly 3,000,000 adults and 
456,000 children in the United States. 
(2) Epilepsy and seizures can develop in any 
person at any age. One in 26 people will develop a 
form of epilepsy in their lifetime, with people from 
all demographic groups and walks of life being im-
pacted. 
(3) In approximately half of all cases of epi-
lepsy, the underlying cause of the disease is un-
known. 
(4) Epilepsy is a spectrum disease comprised of 
many diagnoses and an ever-growing number of rare 
epilepsies. There are many different types of sei-
zures and varying levels of seizure control. 
(5) Over 30 percent of people with epilepsy live 
with uncontrolled seizures. 
(6) Individuals with epilepsy have a 3-times 
higher risk of early death than the general popu-
lation and that risk is even higher for individuals 
with uncontrolled seizures. 
(7) Thirty-two percent of adults with epilepsy 
are unable to work. 
(8) Fifty-three percent of individuals with un-
controlled seizures live in households earning less 
than $25,000 per year. 
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(9) Health care costs associated with epilepsy 
and seizures exceed $54,000,000,000 per year in the 
United States. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL PLAN FOR EPILEPSY. 
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘SEC. 320C. PROGRAMS RELATING TO EPILEPSY. 
‘‘(a) NATIONAL PLAN FOR EPILEPSY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a national project, to be known as the ‘National 
Plan for Epilepsy’ (referred to in this section as the 
‘National Plan’), to prevent, diagnose, treat, and 
cure epilepsy. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the National 
Plan, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) establish, maintain, and periodically 
update an integrated national plan to prevent, 
diagnose, treat, and cure epilepsy; 
‘‘(B) provide information, including an es-
timate of the level of Federal investment in pre-
venting, diagnosing, treating, and curing epi-
lepsy; 
‘‘(C) coordinate research and services re-
lated to epilepsy, across all Federal agencies; 
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‘‘(D) encourage the development of safe 
and effective treatments, strategies, and other 
approaches to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure 
epilepsy or to enhance functioning and improve 
quality of life for individuals with epilepsy and 
their caregivers; 
‘‘(E) improve the— 
‘‘(i) early diagnosis of epilepsy; and 
‘‘(ii) coordination of the care and 
treatment of individuals living with epi-
lepsy; 
‘‘(F) review the impact of epilepsy on the 
physical, mental, and social health of individ-
uals living with epilepsy and their caregivers; 
‘‘(G) solicit public comments and consider 
consensus recommendations from collaborations 
in the epilepsy community; 
‘‘(H) coordinate with international bodies, 
to the degree possible, to integrate and inform 
the global mission to prevent, diagnose, treat, 
and cure epilepsy; 
‘‘(I) carry out an annual assessment on 
progress of the activities described in this sub-
section; and 
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‘‘(J) carry out other such activities as the 
Secretary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(b) ANNUAL ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of the National Plan for Epi-
lepsy Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall 
carry out an assessment of the Nation’s progress in pre-
paring for and responding to the escalating burden of epi-
lepsy. Such assessment shall include— 
‘‘(1) recommendations for priority actions; 
‘‘(2) a description of the steps that have been, 
or should be, taken to implement such recommenda-
tions; and 
‘‘(3) such other items as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
‘‘(c) ADVISORY COUNCIL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish and maintain an Advisory Council on Epilepsy 
Research, Care, and Services (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘Advisory Council’) to advise the Sec-
retary on epilepsy-related issues. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Council 
shall be comprised of— 
‘‘(A) representatives appointed by the Sec-
retary from relevant Federal departments and 
agencies, including— 
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‘‘(i) the National Institutes of Health; 
‘‘(ii) the Centers for Medicare & Med-
icaid Services; 
‘‘(iii) the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention; 
‘‘(iv) the Food and Drug Administra-
tion; 
‘‘(v) the Health Resources and Serv-
ices Administration; 
‘‘(vi) the Department of Defense; 
‘‘(vii) the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs; and 
‘‘(viii) the Office of Minority Health; 
and 
‘‘(B) expert non-Federal members ap-
pointed by the Secretary that reflect the diver-
sity of epilepsy, including— 
‘‘(i) 4 individuals, each of whom is liv-
ing with a different type of epilepsy; 
‘‘(ii) 2 family caregivers for individ-
uals with epilepsy; 
‘‘(iii) 2 licensed or accredited health 
care providers supported by a relevant pro-
fessional medical society, including at least 
1 epileptologist or neurologist; 
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‘‘(iv) 2 biomedical researchers with 
epilepsy-related 
expertise 
in 
basic, 
translational, or clinical population science 
or drug development science; and 
‘‘(v) 3 representatives from 3 separate 
nonprofit organizations directly connected 
with epilepsy that have demonstrated expe-
rience in epilepsy research or epilepsy pa-
tient care and other services. 
‘‘(3) MEETINGS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Advisory Council 
shall meet at least once each quarter. 
‘‘(B) MEETINGS WITH OTHER EXPERTS.— 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enact-
ment of the National Plan for Epilepsy Act, 
and every 2 years thereafter, the Advisory 
Council shall convene a meeting of Federal and 
non-Federal organizations to discuss epilepsy 
research. 
‘‘(C) PUBLIC MEETINGS.—All meetings of 
the Advisory Council shall be open to the pub-
lic. 
‘‘(4) REPORTING.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of the National Plan for 
Epilepsy Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Advi-
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sory Council shall provide to the Secretary and Con-
gress a report containing— 
‘‘(A) an evaluation of all federally funded 
efforts in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and 
curing epilepsy, and the outcomes of such ef-
forts; 
‘‘(B) recommendations for priority actions 
to better coordinate, expand, and better support 
Federal programs in order to better support 
people with epilepsy, epilepsy research, and 
data collection; 
‘‘(C) recommendations to— 
‘‘(i) provide effective, timely, and re-
sponsive diagnosis treatment and care to 
improve health outcomes and quality of 
life; 
‘‘(ii) foster research and innovation 
leading to more effective treatments and 
potential cures for epilepsy; 
‘‘(iii) strengthen data and information 
systems including better surveillance of 
epilepsy; 
‘‘(iv) increase public awareness about 
epilepsy and reduce stigma and discrimina-
tion; 
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‘‘(v) eliminate access to care dispari-
ties experienced by individuals with epi-
lepsy; 
‘‘(vi) prevent sudden unexpected death 
in epilepsy and other epilepsy-related mor-
talities; 
‘‘(vii) reduce the financial impact of 
epilepsy on families living with epilepsy; 
‘‘(viii) prevent epilepsy and promote 
healthy behaviors; 
‘‘(ix) increase access to expert and 
specialized care for people with epilepsy; 
and 
‘‘(x) an evaluation of the implementa-
tion of the National Plan, and its out-
comes. 
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary shall annu-
ally submit to Congress a report that includes— 
‘‘(1) an evaluation of all federally funded efforts 
in epilepsy research, prevention, diagnosis, treat-
ment, clinical care, and institutional-, home-, and 
community-based programs, and the outcomes of 
such efforts; 
‘‘(2) recommendations for— 
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‘‘(A) priority actions based on the most re-
cent assessment submitted by the Secretary 
under subsection (b) and the recommendations 
contained in the most recent report of the Advi-
sory Council under subsection (c)(4); 
‘‘(B) priority actions to improve all feder-
ally funded efforts in epilepsy research, preven-
tion, diagnosis, treatment, clinical care, and in-
stitutional-, home-, and community-based pro-
grams; and 
‘‘(C) implementation steps to address pri-
ority actions described in subparagraphs (A) 
and (B); and 
‘‘(3) a description of the progress made in car-
rying out the National Plan. 
‘‘(e) DATA SHARING.—Agencies both within the De-
partment of Health and Human Services and outside of 
such Department that have data relating to epilepsy shall 
share such data with the Secretary as necessary to enable 
the Secretary to complete the reports described in sub-
section (d). 
‘‘(f) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to be effective 
on December 31, 2035.’’. 
Æ 
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