Bills · HR 1497
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 1497AllergiesInfectious and parasitic diseases
NIH Reform Act
INTRO FEB 21· LAST ACTION FEB 21
READING
6MIN
COSPONSORS
6
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it significantly changes how the U.S. government organizes and conducts research on some of the most critical health challenges we face, such as pandemics, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. If this bill becomes law, it could lead to more specialized and potentially more focused research efforts by breaking down a broad institute into three distinct ones. This might mean clearer goals and accountability for each specific area.
Conversely, some might argue that splitting the institute could create silos, making it harder to coordinate research that spans across these related fields, like how the immune system responds to an infection or an allergen. The impact on how quickly and effectively the nation responds to future health crises, like new pandemics, could also be a significant consideration, depending on how well the new institutes collaborate. It's a question of whether specialization or broader integration serves the public health interest better.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Replaces the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) with three new, distinct institutes: the National Institute of Allergic Diseases, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Immunologic Diseases.
This provision fundamentally reorganizes how federal research is conducted in these critical health areas, potentially leading to more focused efforts for each disease category.
PROVISION 02
Requires the President to appoint the directors for each of the new institutes, with Senate confirmation, for 5-year terms (reappointable once).
This changes the leadership structure for these institutes, increasing presidential and congressional oversight and potentially impacting the leadership's scientific independence or political alignment.
PROVISION 03
Clearly defines the purpose and scope of research for each of the new institutes, transferring existing authorities from the former NIAID.
This ensures that all previous research responsibilities are distributed among the new entities, establishing their individual missions and preventing gaps in research coverage.
PROVISION 04
Terminates the position of the Director of NIAID upon enactment and directs the NIH Director to oversee the new institutes during the transition period.
This provision outlines the immediate operational changes and ensures continuous oversight of the research activities during the leadership transition.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 6
R· Texas
YRS IN OFFICE
7
BILLS LED
68
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 0 REP 6 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSFEB 21
Introduced in House
FEB 21
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 1497
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedFeb 21, 2025
Last actionFeb 21, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED FEB 21, 2025
House BillHR 1497AllergiesInfectious and parasitic diseases
NIH Reform Act
INTRODUCED FEB 21, 2025· LAST ACTION FEB 21, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
6 min
COSPONSORS
6
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
