Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-08-06

KAY HAGAN TICK REAUTHORIZATION ACT

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On 2026-08-06, Senator Susan M. Collins (R-ME) delivered a floor speech titled "KAY HAGAN TICK REAUTHORIZATION ACT" in the Senate.

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KAY HAGAN TICK REAUTHORIZATION ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 129 (Thursday, August 6, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 129 (Thursday, August 6, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4494-S4495] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] KAY HAGAN TICK REAUTHORIZATION ACT Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I will soon ask that the Senate pass S. 2398, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act. The Tick Act was approved by the Senate HELP Committee more than a year ago with strong bipartisan support. I am proud to have authorized the original Tick Act in 2019 with my colleague Senator Tina Smith. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens Federal efforts to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. The Tick Act essentially has three parts: First, it reauthorizes funding for the CDC's four Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases; second, it extends grants to State and local public health departments to help them treat, test for, and conduct public education [[Page S4495]] campaigns about ticks and other vector-borne diseases; and, third, it requires HHS to implement its national strategy to combat vector-borne diseases. Our bill is named after our former colleague Senator Kay Hagan. Kay, with whom I had the pleasure of serving, passed away in October of 2019 at the age of 66 from complications of a deadly tick-borne illness known as the Powassan virus. It is my hope that reauthorizing the Tick Act will help prevent future tragedies such as this one. Tick-borne diseases are a major public health concern, and the incidents have exploded over the past 20 years. Each year, the State of Maine has hit a new record high in the number of cases of Lyme disease. Last year, Maine reported 4,257 cases. Undoubtedly, that understates the number of cases because many are not reported. But that amount alone is more than double the number of cases reported in my home State just 6 years ago. Current projections show that 2026 will yet again be a record-setting year. This is a record that we do not want to set. The Lewiston Sun Journal reported just last week that every community in Maine's Franklin County faces a high risk of tick encounters for this season. Nevertheless, I am encouraged that we are making progress, and we have made progress in the 6 years since this law was first enacted. For example, a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research. It has always struck me, as I run, that every year my beloved Labrador retriever can get a vaccine for tick diseases and yet we cannot--we humans cannot-- and I am hoping this clinical trial will be successful, and it will make a real difference. Reauthorizing the Kay Hagan Tick Act would allow crucial projects, such as that research and others across the United States and public education campaigns--which are so important in teaching people what to do if they have a tick bite--that will all be allowed to continue. I want to thank Senator Smith for partnering with me on this reauthorization, and I would note that we have 21 bipartisan cosponsors. I urge all of my colleagues to support this lifesaving legislation. Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 154, S. 2398. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2398) to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italics, as follows: S. 2398 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, This Act may be cited as the ``Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act''. SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS. (a) National Strategy and Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases.--Section 317U of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group established under section 2062 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 284s) and other individuals, as appropriate'' and inserting ``appropriate individuals''; (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``in coordination with'' and inserting ``acting through''; and (3) in subsection (f), by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''. (b) Enhanced Support to Assist Health Departments in Addressing Vector-borne Diseases.--Section 2822(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-32(c)) is amended by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''. Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be considered and agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. Ms. COLLINS. I know of no further debate on the bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the bill? Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass? The bill (S. 2398), as amended, was passed. Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S2398, S2398

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KAY HAGAN TICK REAUTHORIZATION ACT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 129 (Thursday, August 6, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 129 (Thursday, August 6, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4494-S4495] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] KAY HAGAN TICK REAUTHORIZATION ACT Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I will soon ask that the Senate pass S. 2398, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act. The Tick Act was approved by the Senate HELP Committee more than a year ago with strong bipartisan support. I am proud to have authorized the original Tick Act in 2019 with my colleague Senator Tina Smith. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens Federal efforts to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. The Tick Act essentially has three parts: First, it reauthorizes funding for the CDC's four Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases; second, it extends grants to State and local public health departments to help them treat, test for, and conduct public education [[Page S4495]] campaigns about ticks and other vector-borne diseases; and, third, it requires HHS to implement its national strategy to combat vector-borne diseases. Our bill is named after our former colleague Senator Kay Hagan. Kay, with whom I had the pleasure of serving, passed away in October of 2019 at the age of 66 from complications of a deadly tick-borne illness known as the Powassan virus. It is my hope that reauthorizing the Tick Act will help prevent future tragedies such as this one. Tick-borne diseases are a major public health concern, and the incidents have exploded over the past 20 years. Each year, the State of Maine has hit a new record high in the number of cases of Lyme disease. Last year, Maine reported 4,257 cases. Undoubtedly, that understates the number of cases because many are not reported. But that amount alone is more than double the number of cases reported in my home State just 6 years ago. Current projections show that 2026 will yet again be a record-setting year. This is a record that we do not want to set. The Lewiston Sun Journal reported just last week that every community in Maine's Franklin County faces a high risk of tick encounters for this season. Nevertheless, I am encouraged that we are making progress, and we have made progress in the 6 years since this law was first enacted. For example, a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research. It has always struck me, as I run, that every year my beloved Labrador retriever can get a vaccine for tick diseases and yet we cannot--we humans cannot-- and I am hoping this clinical trial will be successful, and it will make a real difference. Reauthorizing the Kay Hagan Tick Act would allow crucial projects, such as that research and others across the United States and public education campaigns--which are so important in teaching people what to do if they have a tick bite--that will all be allowed to continue. I want to thank Senator Smith for partnering with me on this reauthorization, and I would note that we have 21 bipartisan cosponsors. I urge all of my colleagues to support this lifesaving legislation. Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 154, S. 2398. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2398) to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italics, as follows: S. 2398 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, This Act may be cited as the ``Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act''. SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS. (a) National Strategy and Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases.--Section 317U of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-23) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group established under section 2062 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 284s) and other individuals, as appropriate'' and inserting ``appropriate individuals''; (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``in coordination with'' and inserting ``acting through''; and (3) in subsection (f), by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''. (b) Enhanced Support to Assist Health Departments in Addressing Vector-borne Diseases.--Section 2822(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hh-32(c)) is amended by striking ``2021 through 2025'' and inserting ``2026 through 2030''. Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be considered and agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was agreed to. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time. Ms. COLLINS. I know of no further debate on the bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the bill? Hearing none, the bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill pass? The bill (S. 2398), as amended, was passed. Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado. ____________________ Referenced legislation: S2398, S2398