BITE Act
Reps. Gottheimer and Kean Introduce BITE Act to Fight Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illnesses
The BITE Act was recently introduced and is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is considered active. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
The bill has support from both parties and addresses a growing health concern, but it is in the early stages and must compete with other health priorities for funding.
Key Points
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Veterans could benefit indirectly from a better national understanding of vector-borne diseases, which may have gone undiagnosed during their service. The bill's surveillance improvements and public education efforts could help veterans identify symptoms and seek treatment for conditions they may have contracted while serving in high-risk environments.
Programs
Disabilities
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
2 articlesNJ legislation proposed as tick-related ER visits rise
New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer proposed the BITE Act to create a national system alerting people on their phones if they enter high-risk tick areas. The bill comes as tick-related emergency room visits reach their highest levels since 2017.
Why this tick season is different—and what parents need to know
The CDC issued an early public advisory in spring 2026, noting that ER visit rates for tick bites are the highest they've been since 2017. Experts emphasize the need for better data and rapid testing as Lyme disease cases continue to rise nationwide.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
BITE Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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