BITE Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4980 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4980

 To establish a comprehensive national vector-borne disease prevention 
                                system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 15, 2025

  Mr. Gottheimer (for himself and Mr. Kean) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a comprehensive national vector-borne disease prevention 
                                system.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Battling Infections Transmitted by 
Ticks and Exposure Act'' or the ``BITE Act''.

SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL VECTOR-BORNE DISEASE PREVENTION SYSTEM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
shall establish and maintain a comprehensive national vector-borne 
disease prevention system.
    (b) Components.--The system described in subsection (a) shall have 
the following components:
            (1) A professional vector identification service, which 
        shall--
                    (A) include relevant information on ticks, 
                mosquitoes, and fleas as vectors of disease;
                    (B) be accessible by civilians and the Department 
                of Defense; and
                    (C) support data reporting that integrates human, 
                animal, and environmental data (commonly known as the 
                ``One Health'' approach).
            (2) An artificial intelligence-enhanced early warning 
        system, which shall--
                    (A) predict disease activity with weather, habitat, 
                and wildlife data; and
                    (B) deliver real-time, location-based risk alerts.
            (3) Insurance claims surveillance to detect outbreaks 
        earlier than traditional methods, which shall include 
        surveillance of claims made with private or public health 
        insurance.
            (4) Syndromic surveillance, which shall monitor emergency 
        room visits (including at civilian hospitals and military 
        medical treatment facilities) for vector-borne symptoms.
            (5) Comprehensive public education, which shall--
                    (A) deliver targeted prevention messaging; and
                    (B) inform the public by working with schools, 
                workplaces, media, and community organizations.
            (6) National strategic alignment, which shall--
                    (A) support a target of a 25 percent reduction in 
                Lyme disease by 2035; and
                    (B) enhance military readiness through early 
                detection and ecosystem health.
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