Supporting the designation of the month of May as "Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month".

119th Congress Introduced by Don Bacon and 9 co-sponsors

Declares support for May as Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month to boost awareness, early detection, and public health readiness, not funding or mandates.

Submitted in House

Overview

Bill: H.Res. 1279

Session: 119th Congress

Title: Supporting the designation of the month of May as “Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month”

Type: House resolution (not a bill that would become law)

Introduced: May 13, 2026

Primary sponsor: Mr. Smith (NJ); co-sponsors include Mr. Doggett, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Gottheimer, and Mr. Mackenzie

Referral: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Purpose and Intent

Declares House support for designating May as “Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month.”

Seeks to champion awareness efforts and support development of improved clinical responses to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Aims to emphasize the importance of early detection, treatment, and public health preparedness to monitor and combat outbreaks.

Key Provisions and Provisions’ Implications

Formal designation: Encourages and supports observance of Lyme and tick-borne disease awareness during the month of May.

Public health emphasis: Highlights ongoing federal efforts to address Lyme disease through surveillance, education, and response coordination.

Recognition of existing federal actions:

Acknowledges the Kay Hagan Tick Act as establishing a national strategy to combat Lyme disease.
Notes the 2023–2024 federal activity, including DHHS roundtables and the LymeX Innovation Accelerator (public-private partnership).
Mentions the “No Time for Lyme” public awareness campaign.

No new mandatory funding, regulatory changes, or statutory mandates are attached to this resolution. As a resolution, it expresses the sentiment and does not create enforceable requirements.

Who/What Would Be Affected

Affects: Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the broader public by signaling support for Lyme and tick-borne disease awareness efforts.

Public health communities: Reinforces federal emphasis on awareness, education, and improved clinical responses.

Stakeholders (explicitly mentioned in reasoning): Public health officials, researchers, educators, advocates, and federal agencies involved in Lyme disease monitoring and response.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on May 13, 2026.

No accompanying appropriations or timelines required by the resolution.

As a resolution, its passage would symbolize congressional support and could influence ongoing or future public messaging and interagency coordination, but it does not mandate specific actions or funding.

Practical Takeaways

The resolution signals congressional backing for May as Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month.

It aligns with prior legislative and federal efforts to bolster surveillance, public education, and clinical readiness for Lyme disease.

Readers should note the distinction between a resolution (non-binding, symbolic) and a law that would authorize funding or create new requirements.