Wolf backs Lyme disease legislation

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) who represents part of western Prince William County and Manassas is pushing legislation to increase awareness, knowledge, and transparency on Lyme disease issues.

“As I travel throughout my congressional district, I am often struck by the lack of knowledge about Lyme by both patients and medical providers, even though this area has long been at the center of a Lyme epidemic,” Wolf was quoted as saying in a press release.

Wolf and two others have joined Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)  on H.R. 2557, to require the secretary of Health and Human Services to create an advisory committee charged with advising federal agencies on priorities related to Lyme and tick-borne disease issues.

The legislation goes now to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee would ensure coordination and communication among federal agencies, a broad range of medical professionals, and patients. The committee would meet at least twice a year, and submit an annual report of its activities, through the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the director of the National Institutes of Health.