# 119-hr-5536: HEADACHE Act

119-hr-5536, HEADACHE Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-24).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5536
- As of: 2026-10-24
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5536
- Congress: 119
- Title: HEADACHE Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-19
- Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA)
- Cosponsors: 60
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-24

## Summary

**National Headache Disorders Initiative** would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate federal research, clinical care, data collection, and public awareness to speed diagnosis, expand treatment options, and reduce disparities for migraine and other headache disorders. - Families and patients would see a stronger focus on faster, more accurate diagnosis, improved care pathways that address comorbidities, and public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing stigma for groups like children, pregnant people, and older adults. - Caregivers and advocates would gain formal representation on a new Advisory Council through at least two patient advocate seats and a caregiver seat, so lived experience helps set priorities. - Clinicians and researchers would face efforts to grow the headache-focused workforce, prioritize fundamental and translational research, and update diagnostic and care protocols to improve outcomes. - Federal agencies would be required to share standardized headache disorder data with HHS for an annual report and a national plan, and the advisory body would include broad agency and nonfederal membership to guide coordination. - The initiative and advisory council would operate under a five year sunset, ending after five years unless renewed.

## Cosponsors (60)

- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6] (R-MO), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2] (D-NH), 2026-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19] (D-NY), 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5] (D-NJ), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2025-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7] (R-NJ), 2026-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3] (D-KS), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-10-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7] (R-PA), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2025-12-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY), 2025-12-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2026-01-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2026-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2026-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1] (D-IN), 2026-02-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2026-02-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2026-02-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2] (D-NM), 2026-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30] (D-CA), 2026-02-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2026-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2026-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2026-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2026-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2026-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11] (R-NY), 2026-04-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1] (R-NY), 2026-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] (R-PA), 2026-06-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2026-08-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2026-09-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- National push to improve headache care: benefit, medium. If enacted, HHS would run a new national effort on headache disorders. It would grow the clinical and research workforce and speed diagnosis. It would support new treatments and better care pathways for people with other health issues, too. It would build better national data and run public awarene…
- Advisory council on headache disorders: benefit, low. The bill would set up an advisory council to guide HHS on headache research, care, and services. Members would include federal agencies, patient advocates, caregivers, providers, and a researcher. The council would meet at least once a quarter for the first two years. It would also hold a yearly re…
- Defines which headache conditions count: benefit, low. The bill would define what counts as a headache disorder for this effort. It would include migraine, cluster, tension-type, CSF leak, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and new daily persistent headache. It would include headaches from long COVID and after brain injury. It would also cover child…
- Programs end after five years: cost, medium. All parts of this bill would expire five years after enactment. The national initiative and the advisory council would end unless Congress renews them. Households could see federal coordination and support for headache care stop at that point.

## Related bills

- 119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act
- 119-hr-1661: SAFE Act of 2025
- 119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains…

## Sources
- [119-hr-5536 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5536)

## Related
- [119-hr-2102: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2102)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-2550: Protect America's Workforce Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2550)
- [119-hr-1661: SAFE Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1661)
- [119-hres-70: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-70)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5536 (as of 2026-10-24).