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August 4, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 526, S. 494.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 494) to establish a national plan to coordinate
research on epilepsy, and for other purposes.
which had been reported from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic, as follows:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “National Plan for Epilepsy
Act”.
SEC. 2. REVIEW TO IMPROVE EPILEPSY PROGRAMS, RESEARCH,
PREVENTION, AND CARE.
(a) In General.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) shall
review and, as necessary and appropriate, provide
recommendations to Congress regarding, and update existing
Federal programs, activities, and strategic plans related to,
epilepsy research, prevention, early identification,
diagnosis, and treatment for purposes of identifying and
addressing knowledge gaps and improving health outcomes
related to epilepsy.
(b) Content.—The review under subsection (a) shall
include—
(1) a review of findings from evidence-based research on
epilepsy, the status of ongoing, federally-funded research on
epilepsy, knowledge gaps related to epilepsy, and disparities
in populations with epilepsy;
(2) a review of Federal programs related to epilepsy
research, prevention, early identification, diagnosis, and
treatment, which shall include consideration of—
(A) gaps in, and opportunities for, coordination among such
programs;
(B) opportunities to inform global efforts to prevent,
diagnose, treat, and cure epilepsy, as appropriate;
(C) near- and long-term goals of such programs to improve
research, prevention, early identification, diagnosis, and
treatment of epilepsy; and
(D) the level of Federal investment in preventing,
diagnosing, treating, and curing epilepsy;
(3) consideration of opportunities to—
(A) improve collaboration between Federal agencies and
relevant stakeholders to address gaps in programs, research,
and services;
(B) eliminate knowledge gaps in research on epilepsy,
including a review of the impact of epilepsy on the health
and well-being of individuals with epilepsy and their
caregivers;
(C) improve early diagnosis and coordination of the care
and treatment of individuals with epilepsy;
(D) better prevent sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and
other epilepsy-related mortalities;
(E) improve surveillance of epilepsy; and
(F) support the development of new treatments, strategies,
and other approaches to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure
epilepsy or to enhance functioning and improve quality of
life for individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers; and
(4) a review of current public health strategies, and
consideration of additional evidence-based strategies,
related to epilepsy.
(c) External Input.—To inform the review under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall regularly convene and solicit input
from other Federal agencies, as appropriate, and relevant
stakeholders, including patient advocates and non-Federal
subject matter experts.
(d) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House
of Representatives a report on the findings of the review
conducted under subsection (a), including—
(1) a description of steps the Secretary took to solicit
stakeholder input pursuant to subsection (c) and a summary of
feedback received from, and needs identified by, such
stakeholders;
(2) recommendations to improve coordination and support of
Federal programs in order to better support people with
epilepsy, epilepsy research, and data collection, and
proposals for implementation of such recommendations, as
appropriate; and
(3) any changes to Federal programs, activities, or
strategic plans recommended by the Secretary based on the
review, and any statutory or other barriers that impede
implementation of such changes.
Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 494), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.