A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set up a process for externally led, science-focused drug development meetings. It partners with the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration to convene at least four of these meetings every year focusing on rare diseases. A permanent steering committee will help recommend topics, plan meetings, and ensure various medical and patient experts are included. After each meeting, transcripts and summaries must be made publicly available on the Food and Drug Administration website. The Secretary must also incorporate meeting input into risk-benefit assessments when approving related drugs and report annually to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill facilitates the development and approval of drugs for rare diseases, potentially increasing access to treatments.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires public posting of meeting transcripts, recordings, and summary analyses.
- Scored +3
Does this put more money into medical research?
The bill authorizes funding for meetings to advance drug development science for rare diseases.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 770A(a) provides an opportunity for medical experts, drug sponsors, scientific organizations, and patient organizations to discuss challenges and identify scientific approaches for developing drugs for rare diseases. This could help advance treatment options to address unmet medical needs for patients.
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Section 770A(b)(2) mandates that the Foundation convene no fewer than four meetings each year, with each focused on a different rare disease or condition. This ensures continuous attention and regular collaboration on underserved medical conditions.
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Section 770A(b)(6) requires transcripts, recordings, and summary analyses of the meetings to be made publicly available on the Food and Drug Administration website within 180 days. This transparency allows the public and interested individuals to stay informed about drug development discussions.
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Section 770B(a) requires the Secretary to make public a brief statement describing how input from these meetings was incorporated into the risk-benefit assessment when approving or licensing a relevant drug. This holds officials accountable by showing how public and expert discussions directly influenced official decisions.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 770A(f) and Section 770B(d) authorize appropriations of $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for both the meetings and the required actions following the meetings. This creates a taxpayer-funded financial cost for these specific federal activities.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill facilitates the development and approval of drugs for rare diseases, potentially increasing access to treatments. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill authorizes funding for meetings to advance drug development science for rare diseases.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires public posting of meeting transcripts, recordings, and summary analyses. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates specific actions and reporting requirements for the Secretary of HHS and the FDA.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides funding to facilitate scientific discussion regarding drug development for rare diseases.
- 11/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/22/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 9/21/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/17/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Salud CarbajalDemocrat · California
Lloyd DoggettDemocrat · Texas
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Maggie GoodlanderDemocrat · New Hampshire
Sarah McBrideDemocrat · Delaware
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Lloyd SmuckerRepublican · Pennsylvania
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan