Courtney Legislation to Advance Critical Lyme Disease Research Passes

Statement

Congressmen Joe Courtney (CT-2) announced today the House approved his legislation to combat Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses, adopted as part of the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6), a broader bill to strengthen medical research and innovation which passed today by a vote of 344 to 77.

"Tick-borne illnesses are especially prevalent in eastern Connecticut, affecting thousands of residents. Just last year, more than 1,700 people in our state were diagnosed with confirmed cases of Lyme Disease--which is just one of the many diseases transmitted by ticks in the United States," Congressman Courtney said. "Inclusion of tick-borne illnesses in the 21st Century Cures Act will help accelerate research into treatments and cures for these diseases. Along with my Republican colleague Chris Gibson, I am pleased we were able to break through Washington's partisan gridlock to advance this long-overdue effort, moving us closer to a cure for those infected with tick-borne illnesses, which are chronic and debilitating for far too many Americans."

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