,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #afeg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #bc 7legislative  
day1 ,may #bb71 #bjai,ms4 ,coll9s 7=    
h]self1 ,ms4 ,smi?1 & ,mr4 ,k+7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to provide assi/ance to     
combat ! escalat+ burd5 ( ,lyme disease 
& o!r tick & vector-borne diseases &    
disord]s4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,ticks3 ,id5tify1 ,control1
 & ,knock\t ,act or ! ,,tick ,act4  #b4 
,(fice ( ,ov]sight & ,coord9ation =     
,vector-,borne ,disease  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t
 ,! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices
 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is ,act z ! ,secret>y7   
%all e/abli% 9 ! ,(fice ( ! ,secret>y an
 ,(fice ( ,ov]sight & ,coord9ation =    
,vector-,borne ,diseases 7ref]r$ to 9   
?is ,act z ! ,(fice71 to be head$ by a  
director to be appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y4  
7b7 ,duties ( ! ,(fice  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!
 ,director ( ! ,(fice %all-- 7,a7 ov]see

 ! creation & ma9t5ance ( a national    
/rategy to address ,lyme disease1 & o!r 
tick & vector-borne diseases z provid$ =
 9 p>agraph 7#b72 &  7,b7 ov]see &      
coord9ate ,lyme disease & o!r tick &    
vector-borne disease & disord] programs 
& activities across ! ag5cies & (fices (
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices 
& o!r ,f$]al ag5cies outside ( !        
,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1 z 
appropriate4  7#b7 ,national /rategy    
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,director ( ! ,(fice   
%all provide = ! conduct ( an annual    
assessm5t ( ! progress ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 9 prep>+ = ! escalat+ burd5 ( ,lyme    
disease & o!r tick & vector-borne       
diseases & disord]s1 includ+ an         
assessm5t ( all ,f$]ally fund$ programs 
& activities relat$ to surveillance1    
diagnosis1 treatm5t1 education1 or      
prev5tion1 z well z implem5tation /eps1 
& recomm5dations = priority actions1 )  
appropriate b5*m>ks to measure progress1
 bas$ on ! assessm5t4  7,b7 ,non-f$]al  
p]spectives ,9 develop+ ! /rategy "u    

subp>agraph 7,a71 & ma9ta9+ x1 !        
,director %all consult ) non-,f$]al     
individuals ) appropriate exp]tise1 :i* 
may include--  7i7 epidemiologi/s )     
exp]i5ce 9 surveillance1 treatm5t1      
education1 or prev5tion ( vector-borne  
diseases2  7ii7 repres5tatives (        
national pati5t advocacy & rese>*       
organizations t focus on vector-borne   
diseases1 & ^? t focus specifically on  
tick-borne disease & h demon/rat$       
exp]i5ce 9 rese>*1 data collection1 or  
pati5t access to c>e2  7iii7 heal?      
in=mation te*nology exp]ts or o!r       
in=mation managem5t speciali/s2  7iv7   
cl9icians1 entomologi/s1                
vector-managem5t pr(essionals1 integrat$
 pe/ managem5t pr(essionals1 public     
heal? pr(essionals1 & o!rs ) exp]tise 9 
vector-borne disease1 includ+ ,lyme     
disease or o!r tick-borne diseases or   
disord]s2 &  7v7 rese>* sci5ti/s )      
exp]i5ce conduct+ translational rese>*  
or utiliz+ surveillance sy/ems =        
sci5tific rese>* purposes4  7c7         

,objective ( ! ,(fice ,9 c>ry+ out      
subsection 7b71 ! ,director ( ! ,(fice  
%all facilitate & "w to ensure !        
accompli%m5t ( ! foll[+ activities3     
7#a7 ,expansion & enhancem5t (          
epidemiological rese>* & basic1         
translational1 & cl9ical biological &   
biom$ical rese>*4  7#b7 ,expansion &    
improvem5t ( tick surveillance1 l9k+    
tick surveillance to surveillance (     
,lyme disease1 & report+ ( ,lyme disease
 & o!r tick- & vector-borne diseases1   
includ+ co9fections ) ag5ts ( m ?an "o  
tick or vector-borne diseases4  7#c7    
,developm5t ( effective diagno/ic te/s  
to accurately & timely diagnose ,lyme   
disease & o!r tick- & vector-borne      
diseases1 includ+ direct det5tion te/s4 
7#d7 ,developm5t ( treatm5ts to cure or 
improve ! lives ( ^? :o are infect$ )   
,lyme disease or o!r tick-& vector-borne
 diseases or :o suff] f a tick-induc$   
disord] 7su* z tick ,,pim programs74    
7#e7 ,address ! quality ( pati5t c>e1   
treatm5t af=dability1 & public aw>5ess (

 ,lyme disease & o!r tick or            
vector-borne diseases4  7#f7 ,design &  
conduct cl9ical trials ( suffici5t size 
& duration to support cl9ical           
recomm5dations4  7#g7 ,sy/ematic        
docum5tation ( ! exp]i5ces ( heal? c>e  
pr(essionals 9 diagnos+ & treat+ tick- &
 vector-borne disease1 includ+ diagno/ic
 & treatm5t outcomes4  7#h7 ,developm5t 
& ma9t5ance ( "o or m regi/ries (       
pati5ts & _! exp]i5ces relat+ to        
exposure to1 diagnosis =1 & treatm5t (  
tick- & vector-borne disease1 includ+   
outcomes1 su* t ! confid5tiality &      
safety ( pati5t data is protect$4  7#i7 
,access to data & enable em]g+          
te*nologies to improve pati5t c>e1 %>+  
data ) rese>*]s & c>e provid]s4  7#aj7  
,coord9ation ) o!r ,f$]al dep>tm5ts to  
address tick- & o!r vector-borne        
diseases includ+ ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se1 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,agriculture1 !           
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy1 !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,int]ior1 & ! ,dep>tm5t (   
,homel& ,security4  7#aa7 ,coord9ation )

 ! ,tick-,borne ,disease ,work+ ,gr\p   
e/abli%$ "u section #bjfb ( ! #ba/      
,c5tury ,cures ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4      
#bhds7 to develop & implem5t            
recomm5dations4  7#ab7 ,coord9ation )   
int]national bodies to integrate & in=m 
! fight aga9/ ,lyme disease1 & o!r tick-
 & vector-borne diseases globally4  #c4 
,regional ,c5t]s ( ,excell5ce 9 ,tick & 
,vector-,borne ,diseases  7a7 ,9 g5]al  
,! ,secret>y1 9 coord9ation ) !         
,director ( ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control
 & ,prev5tion & ! heads ( o!r ag5cies z 
appropriate1 %all aw>d grants1          
contracts1 or coop]ative agreem5ts to   
eligible entities 7su* z in/itutions (  
high] education1 ,/ate1 tribal1 & local 
heal? dep>tm5ts1 associations1 or o!r   
appropriate entities7 = ! e/abli%m5t or 
support ( ,regional ,c5t]s ( ,excell5ce 
9 ,tick & ,vector-,borne ,diseases4 ,su*
 ,regional ,c5t]s %all be design$ to    
address ,lyme disease & o!r tick &      
vector-borne diseases by--  7#a7 build+ 
collaboration betwe5 academia & public  

heal? ag5cies = surveillance1 prev5tion 
& response to ,lyme disease & o!r tick &
 vector-borne diseases2  7#b7 provid+   
tra9+ = public heal? entomologi/s to    
deal ) ,lyme disease & o!r tick &       
vector-borne diseases2 &  7#c7 conduct+ 
appli$ rese>* to develop & validate     
prev5tion & control tools & me?ods1 & to
 anticipate & respond to outbreaks (    
,lyme disease & o!r tick & vector-borne 
diseases4  7b7 ,eligibility ,to be      
eligible to receive a grant1 contract1  
or coop]ative agreem5t "u ?is section1  
an entity %all prep>e & submit to !     
,secret>y an application at su* "t1 9   
su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* agreem5ts &    
in=mation z ! ,secret>y may require1    
includ+ a description ( h[ ! entity w-- 
7#a7 coord9ate1 z applicable1 ) exi/+   
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & tribal programs relat$ 
to ,lyme disease & o!r vector-borne     
diseases2  7#b7 exam9e1 evaluate1 &     
promote evid5ce-bas$ int]v5tions =      
individuals ) ,lyme disease & o!r tick- 
& vector-borne diseases1 includ+ ^? 9   

rural & und]s]v$ populations1 & ^? :o   
provide c>e = su* individuals2 &  7#c7  
prioritize activities relat+ to-- 7,a7  
exp&+ ef=ts1 z appropriate1 to implem5t 
evid5ce-bas$ practices to address ,lyme 
disease & o!r tick- & vector-borne      
diseases1 includ+ ?r\gh ! tra9+ ( ,/ate1
 local1 & tribal public heal? (ficials &
 o!r heal? pr(essionals on su*          
practices2  7,b7 support+ surveillance (
 vectors1 & e>ly detection & diagnosis (
 ,lyme & o!r tick- & vector-borne       
diseases1 includ+ improv+ ! quality &   
reliability ( diagno/ic tools at all    
/ages ( disease progression1 & develop+ 
a ,lyme disease te/ capable ( di/+ui%+  
betwe5 pa/ & active infections2  7,c7   
improv+ ! safety & efficacy ( any new1  
r5ew$1 or modifi$ human vacc9e = ,lyme  
disease1 o!r tick- & vector-borne       
diseases1 or a comb9ation ( su*         
diseases2  7,d7 develop+ a /&>diz$      
scre5+ protocol = ,lyme disease & o!r   
tick- & vector-borne diseases2  7,e7    
enhanc+ /udies & activities on tick     

biology1 disease ecology1 &             
surveillance1 & tick managem5t2 &  7,f7 
support+ o!r relevant activities        
id5tifi$ by ! ,secret>y or ! ,director (
 ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control &         
,prev5tion1 z appropriate4  7c7         
,consid]ations ,9 aw>d+ grants1         
contracts1 & coop]ative agreem5ts "u ?is
 section1 ! ,secret>y %all consid]1     
among o!r factors1 :e!r ! entity--  7#a7
 provides s]vices to rural areas or o!r 
und]s]v$ populations2  7#b7 is able to  
build on an exi/+ infra/ructure (       
s]vices & public heal? rese>*2  7#c7 is 
locat$ 9 an area ) a high preval5ce1 or 
9 any area pr$ict$ to h a high          
preval5ce1 ( ,lyme disease or o!r tick- 
& vector-borne diseases2 &  7#d7 has    
exp]i5ce ) conduct+ rese>* relat$ to    
,lyme disease & o!r tick- & vector-borne
 diseases4  7d7 ,au?orization (         
appropriations ,= ! purpose ( c>ry+ out 
?is section1 !re are au?oriz$ to be     
appropriat$ #aj1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal  
ye>s f #bjba ?r\gh #bjbf4 ,am\nts       

appropriat$ %all be allocat$ "u ?is     
section to diseases 9 a mann] t         
proportionately mat*es ! disease burd5 (
 ^? diseases 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :i* %all
 be reassess$ & adju/$ annually4  #d4   
,coop]ative agreem5ts ) ! ,c5t]s =      
,disease ,control & ,prev5tion  7a7 ,9  
g5]al ,! ,secret>y1 9 coord9ation ) !   
,director ( ! ,c5t]s = ,disease ,control
 & ,prev5tion & ! heads ( o!r ag5cies1 z
 appropriate1 %all ent] into coop]ative 
agreem5ts betwe5 ! ,c5t]s = ,disease    
,control & ,prev5tion & heal? dep>tm5ts 
( ,/ates1 political subdivisions (      
,/ates1 & ,indian tribes & tribal       
organizations1 to address ,lyme ,disease
 & o!r tick- & vector-borne diseases1 & 
to support ! developm5t & implem5tation 
( evid5ce-bas$ rese>*1 int]v5tions1 &   
treatm5t ) respect to--  7#a7 educat+ & 
in=m+ ! public1 bas$ on evid5ce-bas$    
public heal? rese>* & data1 ab\t ,lyme  
,disease & o!r vector-borne diseases2   
7#b7 support+ e>ly detection &          
diagnosis2  7#c7 support+ prev5tion2    

7#d7 improv+ treatm5t2  7#e7 support+   
c>e plann+ & managem5t = individuals )  
,lyme disease & o!r tick- & vector-borne
 diseases2 &  7#f7 support+ o!r relevant
 activities id5tifi$ by ! ,secret>y or !
 ,director ( ! ,c5t]s = ,disease        
,control & ,prev5tion1 z appropriate4   
7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to ent]
 into a coop]ative agreem5t "u ?is      
section1 an entity describ$ 9 subsection
 7a7 %all prep>e & submit to ! ,secret>y
 an application at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 
& conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,secret>y   
may require1 includ+ a plan t           
describes--  7#a7 h[ ! applicant        
proposes to develop or exp& programs to 
educate individuals ?r\gh p>tn]%ip      
engagem5t1 work=ce developm5t1 guidance 
& support = programmatic ef=ts1 &       
evaluation ) respect to ,lyme disease & 
o!r tick- or vector-borne diseases1 & h[
 ! applicant proposes to support o!r    
relevant activities id5tifi$ by !       
,secret>y or ! ,director ( ! ,c5t]s =   
,disease ,control & ,prev5tion1 z       

appropriate2  7#b7 ! mann] 9 :i* !      
applicant w coord9ate ) ,f$]al1 tribal1 
& ,/ate programs relat$ to ,lyme        
,disease & o!r vector-borne diseases1 & 
appropriate ,/ate1 tribal1 & local      
ag5cies1 z well z o!r relevant public & 
private organizations or ag5cies2 &     
7#c7 ! mann] 9 :i* ! applicant w        
evaluate ! effectiv5ess ( any program   
c>ri$ out "u ! coop]ative agreem5t4  7c7
 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,= !    
purpose ( c>ry+ out ?is section1 !re are
 au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ #bj1jjj1jjj 
= ea* ( fiscal ye>s f 7#bjba ?r\gh      
#bjbf74 ,am\nts appropriat$ %all be     
allocat$ "u ?is section to diseases 9 a 
mann] t proportionately mat*es ! disease
 burd5 ( ^? diseases 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 
:i* %all be reassess$ & adju/$ annually4