I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2526
To establish a Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 23, 2005
Mrs. KELLY (for herself, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. 
BRADLEY of New Hampshire, Mr. WOLF, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. ENGLISH of 
Pennsylvania, Mr. SWEENEY, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, 
and Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To establish a Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee, 
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 ‘‘Tick-Borne Disorders 
Advisory Committee Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Lyme disease is a common but frequently 
misunderstood illness that, if not caught early and 
treated properly, can cause serious health problems. 
(2) Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is 
transmitted by a tick bite. Early signs of infection 
may include a rash and flu-like symptoms such as 
fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. 
(3) Although Lyme disease can be treated with 
antibiotics if caught early, the disease often goes un-
detected because it mimics other illnesses or may be 
misdiagnosed. Untreated, Lyme disease can lead to 
severe heart, neurological, eye, and joint problems 
because the bacteria can affect many different or-
gans and organ systems. 
(4) Despite 17 years of Federal funding, there 
is still no test that can accurately determine infec-
tion and then prove bactericidal cure so that proper 
treatment is adequately achieved. Persistence of 
symptomatology in many patients without reliable 
testing makes treatment of patients more difficult. 
(5) If an individual with Lyme disease does not 
receive treatment, such individual can develop severe 
heart, neurological, eye, and joint problems. 
(6) Although Lyme disease accounts for 90 per-
cent of all vector-borne infections in the United
States, the ticks that spread Lyme disease also 
spread 
other 
disorders, 
such 
as 
ehrlichiosis, 
babesiosis, and other strains of Borrelia. All of these 
diseases in 1 patient makes diagnosis and treatment 
more difficult. 
(7) Although tick-borne disease cases have been 
reported in 49 States and the District of Columbia, 
about 90 percent of the 20,000 cases have been re-
ported in the following 10 States: Connecticut, 
Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Delaware, and 
Wisconsin. Studies have shown that the actual num-
ber of tick-borne disease cases are approximately 10 
times the amount reported due to poor surveillance 
of the disease. 
(8) Persistence of symptomatology in many pa-
tients without reliable testing makes treatment of 
patients more difficult. 
(9) According to studies, Lyme disease costs 
the 
Nation 
between 
$1,000,000,000 
to 
$2,000,000,000 each year in increased medical 
costs, lost productivity, prolonged pain and suf-
fering, and costly delays in diagnosis and inappro-
priate treatment.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF A TICK-BORNE DISORDERS AD-
VISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF COMMITTEE.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
there shall be established an advisory committee to be 
known as the Tick-Borne Disorders Advisory Committee 
organized in the Office of the Secretary. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Committee shall advise the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services and the Assistant 
Secretary for Health regarding how to—
(1) assure interagency coordination and com-
munication and minimize overlap regarding efforts 
to address tick-borne disorders; 
(2) identify opportunities to coordinate efforts 
with other Federal agencies and private organiza-
tions addressing tick-borne disorders; and 
(3) develop informed responses to constituency 
groups regarding the Department of Health and 
Human Services’ efforts and progress. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) APPOINTED MEMBERS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
point voting members to the Committee from 
among the following member groups: 
(i) Scientific community members.
(ii) Representatives of tick-borne dis-
order voluntary organizations. 
(iii) Health care providers. 
(iv) Patient representatives who are 
individuals who have been diagnosed with 
tick-borne illnesses or who have had an im-
mediate family member diagnosed with 
such illness. 
(v) Representatives of State and local 
health departments and national organiza-
tions who represent State and local health 
professionals. 
(B) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that an equal number of individuals are 
appointed to the Committee from each of the 
member groups described in clauses (i) through 
(v) of subparagraph (A). 
(2) EX
OFFICIO
MEMBERS.—The Committee 
shall have nonvoting ex officio members determined 
appropriate by the Secretary. 
(d) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The Assistant Secretary for 
Health shall serve as the co-chairperson of the Committee 
with a public co-chairperson chosen by the members de-
scribed under subsection (c). The public co-chairperson 
shall serve a 2-year term and retain all voting rights.