{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senator-tina-smiths-bill-to-combat-lyme-disease-other-tick-borne-diseases-heads-to-presidents-desk/", "U.S. Senator Tina Smith\u2019s Bill to Combat Lyme Disease & Other Tick-Borne Diseases Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Tina Smith", "S001203", "www.smith.senate.gov", "tinasmith", "https://www.smith.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "Most recent data shows Minnesota recorded 3,551 cases in 2024 alone, a rate that has likely increased in recent years\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tina Smith\u2019s (D-MN) bipartisan bill to expand research, testing and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases is expected to become law after successfully passing both chambers of Congress. The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act passed the U.S. Senate in August and passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week, heading to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cWhen this bill soon becomes law, it will save lives and help people battling Lyme Disease and other tick-borne diseases,\u201d said Sen. Smith. \u201cMinnesota is proud to have more than 10,000 lakes and thousands of rivers. Unfortunately, as we venture outdoors, the number of Lyme disease cases in the state\u2014and states across the country\u2014goes on the rise. This bill will step up regional efforts at researching, testing and treating Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. We must cut down on tick-borne illnesses for the sake of Americans\u2019 health and well-being.\u201d\n\nThe bill, co-led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), was named in honor of former Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away on October 28, 2019, due to complications from the tick-borne Powassan virus.\n\nOver the past two decades, Minnesota has experienced a significant rise in tick-borne diseases. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, Lyme disease remains the state\u2019s most reported tick-borne illness, with 3,551 probable cases reported in 2024. In the same year, Minnesota also reported hundreds of cases of other tickborne diseases: 627 cases of anaplasmosis, 89 cases of babesiosis and 14 cases of Powassan virus disease.\n\nUsing a three-pronged approach, The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act will:\n\nContinue implementation and updates of the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This would support ongoing federal efforts to advance research, improve diagnostics and strengthen coordination on vector-borne diseases.\n\nReauthorize the Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease for five years. These centers support critical research, surveillance and public health efforts to address tick-borne diseases and other vector-borne threats.\n\nReauthorize CDC grants to state health departments to strengthen vector-borne disease prevention and response efforts. These grants would support surveillance, early detection and diagnosis, treatment efforts, public education, and partnerships to address Lyme disease and other vector-borne diseases.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senator-tina-smiths-bill-to-combat-lyme-disease-other-tick-borne-diseases-heads-to-presidents-desk/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.9712929390370846, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}