Recognizing Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) as a serious feeding and eating disorder and acknowledging the urgent need to advance awareness, early identification, research, and equitable access to care.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1365 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1365

  Recognizing Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) as a 
 serious feeding and eating disorder and acknowledging the urgent need 
  to advance awareness, early identification, research, and equitable 
                            access to care.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2026

 Ms. Velazquez (for herself, Mr. Tonko, and Ms. Norton) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Recognizing Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) as a 
 serious feeding and eating disorder and acknowledging the urgent need 
  to advance awareness, early identification, research, and equitable 
                            access to care.

Whereas Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a clinically 
        recognized feeding and eating disorder, as defined in the Diagnostic and 
        Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), characterized by a 
        persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs;
Whereas ARFID is not associated with body image disturbance, but instead may 
        involve sensory sensitivities, lack of interest in eating, or fear of 
        aversive consequences such as choking, vomiting, severe allergic 
        reactions, or gastrointestinal distress;
Whereas ARFID results in clinically significant medical and functional 
        impairment, including substantial nutritional deficiencies, impaired 
        growth and development, dependence on enteral feeding or nutritional 
        supplementation, and marked psychosocial disruption;
Whereas ARFID commonly emerges in early childhood and may persist into 
        adolescence and adulthood without timely recognition and intervention;
Whereas converging scientific evidence demonstrates that ARFID has a strong 
        biological and genetic basis, with the Child and Adolescent Twin Study 
        in Sweden finding the heritability as high as approximately 79 percent;
Whereas ARFID is associated with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism 
        spectrum disorder;
Whereas children who have ARFID are 14 times more likely to have autism and 11 
        percent of autistic children meet the criteria for ARFID;
Whereas ARFID may develop or intensify following traumatic or fear-based eating 
        experiences, including choking, vomiting, severe allergic reactions, or 
        other adverse gastrointestinal events;
Whereas ARFID affects individuals across all racial, ethnic, gender, and 
        socioeconomic backgrounds, and current scientific evidence does not 
        establish ARFID as a disorder limited to or primarily affecting any 
        single demographic group;
Whereas disparities in recognition, diagnosis, and access to care persist due to 
        variations in awareness, screening practices, and availability of 
        specialized multidisciplinary services;
Whereas lack of awareness among health care providers, educators, and the public 
        contributes to delayed diagnosis, mischaracterization of symptoms, and 
        barriers to evidence-based treatment; and
Whereas early identification within pediatric and primary care settings, 
        including during routine developmental and well-child evaluations, 
        coupled with standardized screening and timely referral to 
        multidisciplinary feeding, nutritional, and behavioral health 
        specialists, can help alleviate long-term medical and developmental 
        harm: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder 
        (ARFID) as a serious feeding and eating disorder that results 
        in clinically significant health and developmental 
        consequences;
            (2) acknowledges the urgent national need to improve early 
        recognition, accurate diagnosis, and access to appropriate, 
        multidisciplinary care for individuals affected by ARFID;
            (3) supports the advancement of research to further define 
        the biological, genetic, and neurodevelopmental underpinnings 
        of ARFID and to develop effective, evidence-based 
        interventions;
            (4) calls upon Federal agencies, States, territories, and 
        localities to strengthen early screening practices, clinical 
        training, and referral pathways within pediatric and primary 
        care systems;
            (5) urges educational institutions to implement appropriate 
        accommodations and supports for students affected by ARFID, 
        including within school meal environments, consistent with 
        applicable Federal and State laws; and
            (6) supports the expansion of community-based, 
        multidisciplinary services, including feeding therapy, 
        nutrition services, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and 
        behavioral health care, to ensure equitable access for affected 
        individuals and families.
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