National Plan for Epilepsy Act
Sponsored By: Senator Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
Introduced
Summary
Establishes a federally coordinated national plan to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure epilepsy. This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to create and update an integrated National Plan, set up an expert advisory council, and publish regular assessments and recommendations through 2035.
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- People with epilepsy and families: Aims to improve early diagnosis, access to safer and more effective treatments, and efforts to reduce uncontrolled seizures. Epilepsy affects about 3 million adults and 456,000 children in the United States.
- Caregivers and low-income households: Directs the plan to address the financial and social impact of epilepsy and to recommend steps to reduce burdens on households; 53 percent of people with uncontrolled seizures live in households earning less than $25,000.
- Researchers and clinicians: Creates an Advisory Council of federal and nonfederal experts that must meet at least quarterly and report to HHS and Congress every two years with evaluations and priorities.
- Federal coordination and data: Requires HHS to coordinate epilepsy research and services across federal agencies, collect relevant federal data, solicit public input, and submit annual assessments and recommended actions to Congress.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Advisory council for epilepsy care
If enacted, HHS would create an Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services to advise the National Plan. The council would include officials from NIH, CMS, CDC, FDA, HRSA, the Defense Department, and the VA plus non‑federal experts and people with epilepsy. The council must meet at least quarterly and hold public meetings. It must report to the Secretary and Congress within 18 months and every 2 years after, and convene a broader federal/non‑federal research meeting within 2 years and every 2 years thereafter.
National epilepsy plan and reports
If enacted, the HHS Secretary would create a National Plan for Epilepsy to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure epilepsy. The plan would coordinate epilepsy research and services across all federal agencies and include an estimate of federal investment. The Secretary must do a national assessment not later than 2 years after enactment and then annually. The Secretary would send Congress yearly reports with priority actions, implementation steps, and progress. Federal agencies must share epilepsy data to help produce the assessments and reports.
Epilepsy program ends December 2035
If enacted, the section creating the National Plan for Epilepsy and its duties would stop being effective on December 31, 2035. On that date the reporting requirements, the advisory council duties, and the data‑sharing rules created by the plan would end. This could reduce federal coordination and supports for people with epilepsy and their caregivers after 2035.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]
MO • R
Cosponsors
Amy Klobuchar
MN • D
Sponsored 2/10/2025
John Boozman
AR • R
Sponsored 2/10/2025
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 2/10/2025
Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
OH • R
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
IA • R
Sponsored 10/1/2025
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Shelley Capito
WV • R
Sponsored 10/20/2025
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 10/27/2025
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 12/2/2025
Raphael Warnock
GA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 12/17/2025
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 1/29/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
ME • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]
WV • R
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 5/11/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov