Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) is proud to announce his support for and cosponsorship of H.R. 3073, the TICK Act.  Introduced by Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Representative Collin C. Peterson (MN-07), this legislation seeks to prevent the spread of tick-borne illness in the United States through data and scientific analysis.

“The high prevalence of Lyme disease in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a very serious matter, and efforts must be made on federal, state, and local levels to minimize its presence,” said Fitzpatrick. “This legislation would give researchers and government officials the tools and resources needed to ward off tick-borne illnesses.”

Specifically, the TICK Act would:

·         Establish an Office of Oversight and Coordination for Vector-Borne Disease at the Department of Health and Human Services.

·         Reauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease for five years at $10 million per year.

·         Authorize CDC grants at $20 million per year that would be awarded to state health departments to assist in the development of a public health infrastructure for Lyme disease.

The TICK Act enjoys the support of over 25 organizations and takes concrete steps to combat Lyme disease in American communities. CDC studies demonstrate that between 2004-2016, there was a 3.5-fold increase in vector-borne diseases in the United States. Data compiled by Quest Diagnostics shows that, in 2017, Pennsylvania had more positive tests for Lyme disease than any state in the nation, and nearly as many as were diagnosed in all of New England.

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