{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senator-tina-smiths-legislation-to-combat-lyme-disease-other-tick-borne-diseases-becomes-law/", "U.S. Senator Tina Smith\u2019s Legislation to Combat Lyme Disease & Other Tick-Borne Diseases Becomes Law", "2026-09-30", "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 has been signed into law by the President. The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act passed the U.S. Senate in August, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in mid-September.\n\n\u201cThe number of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses has been rising at an alarming rate. This law 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 said Sen. Smith. \u201cThis law will save lives, especially in states like Minnesota, where tick populations have been rising.\u201d\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\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\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.\n\nThis will 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.\n\nThese 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.\n\nThese grants will support surveillance, early detection and diagnosis, treatment efforts, public education, and partnerships to address Lyme disease and other vector-borne diseases.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"]], "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-legislation-to-combat-lyme-disease-other-tick-borne-diseases-becomes-law/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6674937903881073, "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"}