S 2398: Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act

S 2398 in plain English: This bill reauthorizes federal programs through FY2030 that help the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fight diseases spread by ticks, mosquitoes, and other vectors. It continues funding for a national strategy, regional research centers, and partnerships with state, local, and tribal health departments.

Stated purpose

To reauthorize through 2030 the CDC's programs that work to prevent and respond to diseases spread by ticks, mosquitoes, and other vectors, including a national strategy, regional research centers, and support grants to health departments.

Key points

• Reauthorizes CDC vector-borne disease programs through FY2030
• Continues grants for regional centers of excellence focused on tick- and mosquito-borne diseases
• Maintains cooperative agreements with state, local, and tribal health departments to build response capacity

Arguments supporters make

• Tick- and mosquito-borne diseases like Lyme disease are a serious and growing public health problem, and continuing these programs keeps proven prevention and response tools in place.
• Funding regional centers of excellence and local health departments builds the expertise needed to detect outbreaks faster and protect communities before diseases spread.
• Reauthorizing an existing, bipartisan program is a low-risk way to maintain public health work that is already underway rather than starting from scratch.

Arguments opponents make

• Reauthorizing programs without a thorough review of their results means taxpayer money could continue flowing to efforts that may not have demonstrated clear effectiveness.
• Extending federal programs through 2030 adds to long-term government spending commitments at a time when many argue the federal budget needs tighter controls.
• Some critics may argue that vector-borne disease response is better handled and funded at the state and local level, with less dependence on a centralized federal strategy.

Tradeoffs

Continuing these programs sustains federal investment in public health infrastructure for vector-borne diseases, but requires ongoing federal spending and keeps decision-making authority at the federal level rather than leaving it fully to states and localities.

Current status in Congress: To president.

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