Senator Collins Championed 5 of 15 Health Care Bills Signed into Law in 118th Congress

Washington, D.C. – In the 118^th Congress, there were 1,868 standalone health care bills introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Of those bills, 600 received Committee consideration, 53 passed at least one chamber of Congress, and 15 passed both chambers and were signed into law. U.S. Senator Susan Collins led or co-led 5 of those 15 bills to passage with strong bipartisan support. They are as follows:

• The National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization – A bill to reauthorize NAPA until 2035 and update language in recognition of the need to include underserved populations, including individuals with Down syndrome.

• The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (AAIA) – A bill to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health to submit an annual budget to Congress estimating the necessary funding to fully implement NAPA.

• The Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Reauthorization Act – A bill to authorize $33 million per year over the next five years to support Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence dedicated to promoting effective Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving interventions, as well as State Health Department cooperative agreements with the CDC to meet local needs in promoting brain health.

• Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Reauthorization Act – A bill to extend funding for five additional years for SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationwide. These grants support rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to address the opioid overdose epidemic.

• The Autism CARES Act of 2024 – A bill to authorize over $2 billion over the next five years for autism research and training programs, as well as required studies on how to increase the number of developmental behavioral pediatricians and on the aging process as a focus area of autism research activities. The bill will also create a new Autism Intervention Research Network for Communication Needs that will benefit autistic individuals who may be unable or limited in using speech or language to communicate.

“These five bills will combat some of the largest public health challenges of our time by enhancing care for individuals with Alzheimer’s, autism, and substance abuse issues through improved research funding, strengthened public health programs, and workforce development,” said Senator Collins. “They also provide critical support for rural EMS agencies in Maine, equipping them to better serve their communities and address the opioid epidemic. Together, these laws represent meaningful steps to improve health care access, services, and outcomes. Throughout my Senate service, health care, biomedical research, and rural workforce development have been among my greatest priorities and I am proud to have led to passage these bills that will benefit Maine families and communities across the state.”

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