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119-hr-1750119th CongressWALLET

HEARD Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

Introduced

Summary

The HEARD Act of 2025 would expand federal rare-disease research with a sharp focus on health equity for minority populations. It would also push clinical-trial diversity, workforce training, and data-driven outreach to underserved communities.

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  • Patients and families: Would fund research, awareness campaigns, improved screening, and data collection to better understand rare diseases in minority and Tribal communities and close knowledge gaps.
  • Healthcare workers and clinics: Would create training, telehealth supports, loan-forgiveness, and scholarship programs to recruit and retain clinicians serving minority populations with rare diseases.
  • Research and federal coordination: Would establish an NIH framework and an interagency Coordinating Committee with CDC and FDA, require a comprehensive NIH plan within 1 year, finalize an interagency plan within 180 days, and deliver multiple reports to Congress within 2 years.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Loan relief and scholarships for rare-disease care

If enacted, eligible medical students could get up to $50,000 a year, plus inflation, toward student loans for each year they serve rare-disease populations. Students could also receive medical school scholarships if they agree to serve at least five years. These programs would follow National Health Service Corps rules unless inconsistent. Awards would depend on contracts and service terms.

National push on rare-disease equity research

If enacted, NIH would expand and coordinate rare-disease equity research. A committee would set a research and education plan within one year. The CDC would fund data and public education and report to Congress every two years, starting within two years. The FDA would review its policies and report within two years on improving trial data for minority groups.

Tribal grants for rare-disease research

If enacted, the Indian Health Service would fund Tribal Epidemiology Centers and Tribal and Urban Indian Health Centers. Grants would support culturally appropriate research and data on rare diseases in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Training and mentoring for rare-disease clinicians

If enacted, the government could fund schools and nonprofits to train clinicians on rare diseases in minority communities. Grants could support internships, mentoring, and telehealth training. Grantees would report on results, and the Secretary would report to Congress within two years.

Medicare review of rare-disease access

If enacted, HHS would review Medicare rules and report to Congress within 180 days. The report would identify rules that block beneficiaries of color from getting rare-disease care, including telehealth rules. It could include recommendations to fix barriers.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

WA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 8/29/2025

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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