Sponsors (12)
The bill creates an optional semipostal stamp to raise supplemental, dedicated funds for NIAID Lyme disease research—boosting targeted research and public engagement without new taxes, but producing uncertain, likely modest revenues that may be reduced by administrative costs and are unreliable for long-term research planning.
Patients with persistent or late-stage Lyme disease and researchers: the bill creates a dedicated, supplemental funding stream for NIAID Lyme disease research using semipostal stamp proceeds, with semiannual transfers and a prohibition on using those proceeds to offset existing appropriations, improving targeted research resources and multi-year planning.
Taxpayers and mailers: the public can voluntarily support Lyme disease research without any new taxes by purchasing an optional semipostal stamp, enabling private contributions to public research.
Patients, researchers, and nonprofits: the semipostal stamp (offered for at least six years) raises public awareness of Lyme disease and creates a visible fundraising tool that can mobilize additional advocacy and donations.
Patients and researchers: revenue from voluntary semipostal stamp sales is likely to be small and unpredictable, limiting its usefulness as a stable, long-term funding source for large-scale research projects.
Patients, nonprofits, and taxpayers: USPS administrative costs and program rules could reduce net proceeds available for research and delay the stamp's availability, lowering the program's practical impact.
Taxpayers and mailers: buyers of the semipostal stamp implicitly subsidize research through a modest postage premium, which is an added cost to those who choose to participate.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates a semipostal postage stamp to raise voluntary funds for research on Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses. The United States Postal Service must offer the stamp within 12 months of enactment and keep it available for at least six years, with net proceeds sent regularly to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to support research. Net proceeds are to be transferred at least twice yearly to NIAID, may not be used to offset or reduce the institute’s federal appropriations, and the program is run under existing semipostal stamp law and regulations.
Introduced August 15, 2025 by Josh S. Gottheimer · Last progress August 15, 2025