HR 4473: BIRD Health Act of 2025

Overview

Bill Number: HR 4473

Title: BIRD Health Act of 2025

Status: Introduced in House

Introduced: July 16, 2025

Purpose and Intent

The BIRD Health Act of 2025 aims to establish a comprehensive national strategy to monitor, prevent, and respond to outbreaks of zoonotic diseases - illnesses that can spread from animals to humans. The bill is motivated by the increasing frequency and severity of zoonotic disease events, which pose significant public health and economic risks. The legislation seeks to improve coordination between federal agencies, state/local governments, and the private sector to enhance disease surveillance, accelerate research and development of countermeasures, and strengthen preparedness and response capabilities.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Zoonotic Disease Monitoring and Response Center (ZDMRC) within the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as the lead federal agency for zoonotic disease prevention and control
• Mandates the development of a National Zoonotic Disease Action Plan to guide federal efforts in surveillance, risk assessment, research, and emergency response
• Establishes grant programs to support state and local public health departments in enhancing zoonotic disease monitoring and response infrastructure
• Requires the ZDMRC to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior, and other relevant agencies to integrate animal and human health data for early detection of outbreaks
• Provides funding for the accelerated development and stockpiling of vaccines, therapeutics, and other medical countermeasures against priority zoonotic pathogens

Affected Parties and Impacts

The BIRD Health Act would impact a wide range of stakeholders, including:

• Federal, state, and local public health agencies responsible for disease monitoring and emergency response
• Veterinary and animal health organizations involved in zoonotic disease surveillance
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies conducting research and development of medical countermeasures
• Healthcare providers and facilities that would be on the frontlines of treating zoonotic disease cases
• The general public, who would benefit from improved preparedness and resilience against future zoonotic outbreaks

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

The BIRD Health Act was introduced in the House of Representatives on July 16, 2025 and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration. If passed by the House, the bill would then need to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President before taking effect. The legislation calls for the ZDMRC to be established within 180 days of enactment and for the National Zoonotic Disease Action Plan to be developed within one year.