This is not an official government website.
© 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions legislation such as Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026, members such as Brett Guthrie.
Issued
July 20, 2026
house side of the record
People
3
Linked members mentioned in this section
Legislation
1
Bills and resolutions linked from this section
Committees
0
No linked committees in this section
Senate Holds
0
No hold activity linked here
Source Document
Connected Data
People mentioned
Bills and resolutions
Source Control
Reader mode is for comprehension. The linked government PDF is the official published source.
Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextACCELERATING ACCESS TO CRITICAL THERAPIES FOR ALS REAUTHORIZATION ACT
OF 2026
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 8205) to amend the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act to reauthorize the provisions of such Act through fiscal year 2031, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8205
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Accelerating Access to
Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF ACCELERATING ACCESS TO CRITICAL
THERAPIES FOR ALS ACT.
(a) In General.—Section 7 of the Accelerating Access to
Critical Therapies for ALS Act (Public Law 117-79) is amended
by striking “2026” and inserting “2031”.
(b) Grants for ALS Research.—Section 2(f) of the
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (21
U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended by striking “2026” and
inserting “2031”.
SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO PROGRAM FOR GRANTS FOR RESEARCH ON
THERAPIES FOR ALS.
(a) Renewal of Grants for Research on Therapies for ALS
Review.—Section 2(b) of the Accelerating Access to Critical
Therapies for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
“(4) Renewal of grants for research on therapies for als
review.—In reviewing applications for renewals of a grant
awarded under this section with respect to an investigational
drug, the Secretary shall request from the manufacturer or
sponsor, and assess, the enrollment, safety, and any
available efficacy data relating to the investigational drug
in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, or cure
of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.”.
(b) Reporting Safety Data.—Section 2(c) of the
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (21
U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking “and” at the end;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting “; and”; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
“(4) the entity seeking such grant will promptly report
any new and serious adverse events and safety information
that is considered to be unexpected with respect to the phase
3 trial to the grant-making institution, in addition to
complying with the safety reporting requirements under
section 312.32 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or
any successor regulations).”.
(c) Clarifying Participating Clinical Trial Definition.—
Section 2(e) of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies
for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
“(4) The term `phase 3', with respect to a clinical trial,
includes a phase 2/3 combined trial that begins enrollment
within a timeframe, determined by the Secretary through the
terms and conditions of the grant awarded under this
section.”.
SEC. 4. FDA RARE NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE ACTION PLAN.
Section 4 of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies
for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360aa note) is amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking “als and other
rare neurodegenerative disease action plan” and inserting
“fda rare neurodegenerative disease action plan”; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
“(c) FDA Rare Neurodegenerative Disease Action Plan.—
“(1) In general.—Not later than 18 months after the date
of enactment of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies
for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Commissioner of Food
and Drugs shall publish on the website of the Food and Drug
Administration an action plan that includes a description of
the actions that the Food and Drug Administration intends to
take during the 5-year period following publication of the
action plan with respect to the program enhancements, policy
development, regulatory science initiatives, and other
appropriate initiatives described in subsection (a).
“(2) Report.—Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies
for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Commissioner of Food
and Drugs shall publish on the website of the Food and Drug
Administration a report that describes the actions taken by
the Food and Drug Administration under the action plan
published under paragraph (1) and the extent to which such
action plan meets the requirements specified in paragraph
(1).”.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 8205.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8205 led by my colleagues, Representative Quigley and Representative Calvert.
H.R. 8205 reauthorizes the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act, which has supported critical research and development for ALS therapies. The ACT for ALS program has worked to expand access to key therapies for both individuals with ALS and those with other rare neurodegenerative conditions. It is imperative that we pass this bill today to continue advancing research and therapeutic development in the fight against this disease.
To my fellow Americans living with ALS and their caregivers, Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to let them know that I recognize their resilience and their commitment to a better future for themselves and other patients with ALS. Mr. Speaker, I want them to know that I stand with them, and I ask that my colleagues do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, about 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS every year. It is a disease that causes the nervous system to stop working and die, leading to muscle weakness and eventually paralysis. Essentially, when someone gets the diagnosis, it is a death sentence.
passed in 2021 and unleashed incredible Federal resources to improve our understanding of this relentless disease in search of a cure. It revolutionized the way FDA uses real-world evidence to foster the development of ALS therapeutics and gave patients a chance to try investigational drugs for rare neurodegenerative diseases.
access promising new therapies, and our preeminent biomedical research institutions can continue to work towards a cure. This reauthorization will provide the continuing statutory basis for the great work that the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act began, and it couldn't come at a better moment.
We have seen immense research progress in the 5 years since passage. Health Subcommittee members here today heard from Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya in our hearing on this bill a few months ago when they told us with no uncertainty how important it is for people facing down this cruel disease that we keep this momentum going.
leadership on the original Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act and this reauthorization is saving and improving lives. I thank them for putting us on the path of finding a cure for ALS.
Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Colorado for her kind remarks.
Mr. Speaker, several years ago, a Chicagoan named Brian Wallach came to my office and shared the fact that he was just diagnosed with ALS, a devastating disease that steals a person's ability to move or speak.
ALS was 2 to 5 years. When Brian came to visit us in Congress, that was the reality he was facing.
Abrevaya. Sandra's life changed overnight, too when she became an ALS caretaker. Since then, she cofounded a company to improve the care of people living with ALS.
advance ALS research and access to treatments. After meeting with Brian and Sandra, I was convinced that ALS was not incurable. The research was just underfunded. I was moved by their dedication to each other and the cause.
by neurodegenerative disease. I lost my father to Parkinson's. However, since I started working on the first Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act, there hasn't been one Member of Congress whom I talked to who didn't have a personal story or know the impact of one of these diseases.
Therapies for ALS Act broke through the bitter politics that can divide this place. I believe we have the opportunity to do that again today.
with ALS to access promising therapies. They have created new methods for researchers to share their work and sustain critical natural history studies.
secure over $350 million in Federal funding for these programs. Today, we are voting on a bill to extend these programs for 5 more years.
today's vote shows that Congress hears you and we are here for you and that, every once in a while, we break through. At those moments, I am proud to serve here.
To Brian who is still with us fighting the disease and Sandra: Thank you for your tireless advocacy and big dreams.
with me in the House, and Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Murkowski for their work in the Senate.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote “yes.”
{time} 1620
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I will mention Brian and Sandra testified before our committee. When I was first elected to Congress, the Ensor family from Bullitt County, Kentucky, came to see me, and I got to know Mitch. I went to his funeral services, unfortunately. I was touched by his family, which is why this bill is important to me.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage everybody to vote for this bill. There may be a procedural call on this bill. This bill will pass this week. I look forward to seeing it pass, being sent to the Senate, and hopefully signed into law very soon.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act, H.R. 8205, legislation that will reauthorize programs that support research and development of drugs and other therapies to address ALS.
into law a little less than five years ago. As a Co-Chair of the bipartisan ALS Caucus, I saw first-hand the effort to get that landmark legislation across the finish line was the result of the passion and detepnination of the ALS advocacy community.
access to new investigational drugs and grants for research of this terrible disease. Working with my Appropriations Committee colleagues, the ALS Caucus, and ALS advocates, we have been successful at making historic investments into these programs.
In Fiscal Year 2022, Congress invested nearly $30 million in ACT for ALS programs. That number increased nearly 200 percent in Fiscal Year 2025 to $86 million—nearly matching the $100 million authorization cap enshrined into law. Since the initial passge, the law has demonstrably sped infrastructure, access, and targeted progress.
better tools, data, and collaboration. ALS patients and families are relying on us not to lose momentum and to build upon hopeful progress and someday find a cure for this devastating illness.
Representative Quigley, for their work. I want to give my heartfelt appreciation, once again, to the ALS advocacy community and the families who have been forever changed by ALS. I urge all of my colleagues to stand with these families, give them hope, and pass the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yakym). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8205, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.