This bill would require the United States Postal Service to issue a Lyme Disease Research semipostal stamp. The stamp would be sold under the rules in section 416 of title 39, and the extra amounts collected from sales would be transferred to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to fund research on Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses. Proceeds must be transferred to NIAID at least twice a year and may not be used to reduce NIAID’s regular appropriations. The stamp must be available for at least six years and must be issued no later than 12 months after the bill becomes law. The bill text also lists findings from public health sources, including CDC estimates of about 476,000 diagnosed and treated Lyme disease cases each year, concerns about diagnosis and testing, NIH notes on some patients not being cured after treatment, estimates that 10–20% of patients may have persistent symptoms, and an estimated healthcare cost cited by Johns Hopkins.
Members of the public could buy a special stamp that collects an extra amount for Lyme disease research. The postal service sets the extra amount under existing rules. Money raised from the stamp sales would go to NIAID to support research on Lyme and related tick-borne illnesses. The bill says this money should not replace or reduce the regular funding Congress gives to NIAID.
No publicly available information on the total cost to the federal government or expected revenue from stamp sales is included in the bill text. The bill does say that proceeds from stamp sales will be transferred to NIAID at least twice a year and will not be counted as a reduction in NIAID’s appropriations.
The bill’s findings say Lyme disease is common and can be hard to diagnose, that some patients are not cured after treatment, and that a share of patients have chronic or disabling symptoms. Supporters frame the stamp as a convenient way for the public to contribute funds specifically for research at NIAID into Lyme and related tick-borne illnesses.
No publicly available information.