In the Press...
TAPInto article on Smith's TICK Act'Lyme Cases Surge in NJ: New Bill Seeks $30M to Fight Back''Bipartisan TICK Act would dedicate $30 million toward research, public health training, and response programs as NJ faces one of the highest Lyme disease rates in the U.S.'
By Jim Lonergan
Published August 9, 2025 at 3:21 PM WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Lyme disease cases continuing to climb nationwide and New Jersey among the hardest-hit states, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced the reintroduction of the TICK Act—a bipartisan bill aimed at securing critical federal funding for the research, prevention, and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. The bill, formally named the Ticks: Identify, Control, Knockout Act, is co-sponsored in the House by Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), and Paul Tonko (D-NY), and is led in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). It dedicates $10 million for regional Centers of Excellence to expand research and train public health professionals, and an additional $20 million for grants to high-risk states to improve local prevention and outbreak response. “Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are exploding in the United States, particularly in my home state of New Jersey, where the CDC recorded over 7,000 new cases in 2023 alone,” said Rep. Smith, who co-chairs the House Lyme Disease Caucus. “The federal government can and must continue to support research into surveillance, treatments, and ultimately a cure for this debilitating disease.” Rep. Doggett echoed the urgency: “With Austin summers now stretching from April through November and temperatures rising across the country, tick-related illnesses like Lyme Disease are on the rise. The TICK Act is an important recommitment to our investment in research, education, treatment, and prevention of these dreaded diseases.” Rep. Kean emphasized the impact on families and communities. “No one should have to live with the constant worry of vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease, which affect thousands of Americans each year and pose serious threats to their health and well-being,” he said. What the TICK Act ProposesThe TICK Act seeks to bolster the nation's preparedness and response to tick-borne illnesses through a two-pronged funding approach. It would allocate $10 million for regional Centers of Excellence, where scientists and public health professionals would conduct advanced research and receive training to address emerging threats. These centers will also help track disease-spreading pathogens and evaluate public health interventions. In addition, the bill provides $20 million in federal funding to states most at risk for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases. These funds will support collaboration with federal agencies, strengthen local response systems, expand public awareness, and coordinate state-level data collection and disease control efforts. A Growing Concern in New JerseyNew Jersey continues to be a national hotspot for Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state reported more than 7,400 confirmed and probable cases in 2023—a significant rise that places it among the top five states with the highest incidence rates. The most affected counties include Monmouth, Ocean, Sussex, and Morris. Experts say rising temperatures, expanding deer populations, and suburban sprawl are contributing to the spread of ticks and tick-borne illnesses across the Garden State. The threat is no longer limited to hikers and campers; it now extends to everyday backyards and neighborhood parks. Since first taking up the cause in the early 1990s, Rep. Smith has authored multiple laws and amendments to address the Lyme disease crisis. His advocacy led to the creation of the CDC’s first-ever National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People, released in February 2024. This whole-of-government initiative aims to unify the nation’s response to growing threats like Lyme and anaplasmosis. “This legislation funds vital research into treatment and prevention of tick bites and enables states to better cooperate with the federal government to control outbreaks,” said Smith. “I am hopeful we can get this bill across the finish line and secure this critical funding.” Why It MattersWith nearly half a million Americans potentially diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, according to the CDC, the urgency for better diagnostics, treatments, and prevention strategies has never been higher. In states like New Jersey, where local residents regularly contend with high tick populations, the renewed TICK Act represents a major push to address what many public health officials see as a growing epidemic. This article was published on August 9, 2025 and can be found online at: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/gold-coast/sections/health-and-wellness/articles/lyme-cases-surge-in-nj-new-bill-seeks-30m-to-fight-back |