Key Takeaways
- •The subcommittee reviewed ten bipartisan bills to reauthorize critical public health programs, including the Act for ALS, the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and the EARLY Act for breast cancer.
- •Sandra Abrevaya testified that reauthorizing the Act for ALS is essential for maintaining expanded access programs and building a foundational biomarker blood bank for neurodegenerative disease research.
- •Rep. Griffith (R, VA-9) questioned Holly Ahern on Lyme disease diagnostics, which she stated could reduce annual healthcare costs by billions through earlier detection and more accurate testing.
- •Rep. Pallone (D, NJ-6) argued that Republican budget cuts and the expiration of insurance tax credits undermine the public health goals that these bipartisan reauthorization bills seek to achieve.
- •Committee members will now work to finalize funding levels for community health centers and move the ten legislative proposals toward a full committee markup and eventual floor consideration.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing examined ten legislative proposals aimed at strengthening the nation’s public health infrastructure, with a primary focus on reauthorizing successful programs for rare diseases, preventative screenings, and community-based care. The subcommittee evaluated policies designed to accelerate research for neurodegenerative conditions, improve surveillance for vector-borne illnesses, and expand the role of community health centers in addressing chronic disease through nutrition and mental health integration. The session highlighted the tension between bipartisan support for specific disease-focused programs and broader partisan disagreements over federal healthcare spending and the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) policy agenda.
Key Testimony & Policy
The subcommittee considered several high-priority reauthorizations, most notably H.R. 8205, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies (ACT) for ALS Act. Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya, co-founders of I Am ALS, testified that the law has fundamentally shifted the research landscape by funding expanded access programs and creating a massive biobank of biomarkers, such as neurofilament light levels, which are critical for developing treatments for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. They emphasized that the program allows patients who do not qualify for traditional clinical trials to access investigational therapies.
Witnesses also advocated for H.R. 4348, the Kay Hagan Tick Act, and H.R. 3916, the EARLY Act. Holly Ahern, an associate professor at SUNY Adirondack, detailed the 2,300% increase in Lyme-carrying ticks in states like Ohio and argued that the Tick Act is essential for improving diagnostic accuracy and surveillance to prevent chronic "Long Lyme" infections. Dr. Rachel Brem of the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer testified in support of the EARLY Act, noting that breast cancer is increasingly diagnosed in women under 50, particularly Black women who face higher mortality rates. She argued that in the absence of standardized screening for younger women, the CDC-led education and outreach funded by the act are life-saving necessities.
The hearing also addressed the integration of preventative services into primary care. Jamie Ulmer, CEO of Healthcare Network, discussed the critical role of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in managing chronic conditions. He voiced support for the Ensuring Community Access to Health Services Act and a discussion draft regarding nutrition education, explaining that "warm handoffs" between primary care providers and nutritionists or behavioral health counselors significantly improve outcomes for diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, Amy Ronneberg of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) urged the passage of H.R. 5160, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act, to maintain the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, which has facilitated nearly 150,000 transplants.
Finally, the subcommittee reviewed the Digital Health Screeners Act of 2026. René Quashie of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) testified that the bill would codify recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance, providing regulatory clarity for developers of wearable wellness tools. He argued that these technologies serve as the "front lines" of healthcare by enabling early detection of conditions like atrial fibrillation.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
While the specific bills under consideration enjoyed broad bipartisan support, the hearing featured sharp exchanges regarding the broader healthcare landscape. Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D, NJ-6) and Rep. Greg Landsman (D, OH-1) criticized what they termed the "big ugly bill," alleging that Republican-led budget cuts and the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits would cause millions to lose coverage and lead to hospital closures. Rep. Pallone specifically criticized the administration for prioritizing military spending over Medicaid and Medicare.
Conversely, Republicans, led by Chairman H. Griffith (R, VA-9) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R, TN-1), focused on the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda. They emphasized addressing the root causes of chronic disease through nutrition and exercise rather than relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions. Rep. Earl Carter (R, GA-1) praised the leadership of "Secretary Kennedy" (referring to the HHS Secretary in this 2026 context) for shifting the focus toward well-care and prevention.
A significant point of contention arose regarding the funding of new initiatives. Rep. DeGette (D, CO-1) and Rep. Pallone expressed concern that the proposed nutrition education mandates for community health centers did not include additional appropriations, potentially straining existing FQHC resources.
Organizations Mentioned
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Discussed regarding its updated guidance on digital health tools and its role in the ACT for ALS partnership to accelerate drug development. - Consumer Technology Association (CTA): Represented by René Quashie, the group advocated for the Digital Health Screeners Act and the development of industry standards for wearables. - Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer: Represented by Dr. Rachel Brem, the foundation’s mission was cited as being directly aligned with the EARLY Act’s focus on young women. - National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP): CEO Amy Ronneberg testified on the organization's management of the federal stem cell registry and the need for reauthorization. - I Am ALS: Co-founders Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya provided testimony on how the organization’s advocacy led to the original ACT for ALS legislation. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Identified as the lead agency for the education and outreach programs authorized under the EARLY Act and the Tick Act. - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Mentioned in the context of funding community health centers and its recent investments in nutrition services.
What's Next
Members indicated that the subcommittee would continue to refine the language of the community health center nutrition and mental health drafts. Rep. Robin Kelly (D, IL-2) noted that the Secretary of Health and Human Services is scheduled to testify before the committee the following week, where members intend to follow up on budget cuts and the implementation of the MAHA agenda. Several witnesses urged swift passage of the reauthorization bills before the end of the 119th Congress to avoid lapses in program authority.
Transcript
Subcommittee will come to order. The chair recognizes himself for a five-minute opening statement. Today we will examine policy proposals to improve public health. Public health initiatives are essential to improvising health outcomes, lowering long-term costs and moving towards a healthier nation. Investments in initiatives such as disease surveillance, community-based programs and health education enable more effective responses to both everyday health challenges and emerging threats. Early detection saves lives. By prioritizing prevention, we can help individuals make informed choices and empower them to act sooner. Over time, these efforts also help reduce strain on our healthcare system by decreasing avoidable hospitalizations and emergency care. Today we will be discussing 10 bills that address the public health and wellness of our country. One of these bills is HR 4348 led by Representative Chris Smith from New Jersey and Representative Doggett of Texas. This bill would reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, which developed a national strategy to address vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease, improve surveillance, and coordinate federal programs. Representative Smith has been a Lyme champion for decades as New Jersey is one of the states most impacted by the disease. The bill is named after Senator Kay Hagan, who unfortunately passed away from complications of a tick-borne virus, and if I can say it right, Powassan virus. Tick-borne illnesses are spreading quickly in our country. There are many tick-borne illnesses and we have only scratched the surface in understanding these diseases that continue to have devastating impacts on our communities. Virginia consistently reports some of the highest annual rates of Lyme disease in the United States with my district of Southwest Virginia and Southside Virginia having some of the highest rates of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. Virginia Tech in my district is doing research on Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses in our various communities. We will also be discussing HR 8205, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies Act for ALS, the ALS Act led by Representative Ken Calvert from California and Representative Quigley from Illinois, would reauthorize the Act for ALS program. That supports initiatives to accelerate research and expand access to investigational treatments for people living with ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Although progress has been made, there is still no cure for ALS. I have known a number of people, it appears that I live in a hotspot. One of my mentors, former House of Delegates member Raymond R. Robrecht, died from ALS in 1994. A swimming friend of mine in the Roanoke Valley, Rob Lawson, died from his battle with ALS in 2022. And Eric Dane, best known as Dr. Sloan, aka McSteamy in the show Grey's Anatomy, came to many of our offices last year to advocate for ALS and share his experience. Unfortunately, he lost his battle with the disease earlier this year. We hear these heartbreaking stories too often in our communities, and this is regrettably the reality for many who are diagnosed with rare diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. I trust reauthorizing this bill can help bring hope to those families afflicted by these diseases. Another bill is HR 3747, the Accelerating Access to Dementia and Alzheimer's Providing Training Act led by Representative Balderson from Ohio and Representative Barragán from California. This legislation would reauthorize a program that helps increase access to specialty care services in rural and underserved areas by training clinicians through Project ECHO models of which there are multiple in Virginia. Even though the language of some of the community health center bills are still being negotiated, I would be remiss not to mention the critical role community health centers play in supporting our nation's health. Many of the other bills we will examine place a strong emphasis on prevention, physical activity, nutrition education, research and innovation, workforce development, and other initiatives to uplift our nation's public health. I am eager to hear from our witnesses about how we can improve outcomes across the country. And now I yield back and now recognize subcommittee's ranking member Representative DeGette of Colorado for her five-minute opening statement.
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