HEADACHE Act
Sponsored By: Representative Trahan
Introduced
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.
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- 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.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
National push to improve headache care
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 awareness to cut stigma. It would coordinate with other federal and global efforts.
Programs end after five years
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.
Advisory council on headache disorders
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 research meeting starting within two years of enactment.
Defines which headache conditions count
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 children, pregnant women, and older adults.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Trahan
MA • D
Cosponsors
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 9/19/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 10/31/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/10/2025
Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/30/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 2/11/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/17/2026
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 4/13/2026
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/28/2026
LaLota
NY • R
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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