Stop CMV Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5435
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-27T08:06:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Stop CMV Act of 2025 aims to promote early detection of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common viral infection that can pass from mother to baby during pregnancy and cause hearing loss, developmental delays, or other serious health issues in newborns. By adding screening requirements to federal public health law, the bill seeks to ensure newborns are tested, results are tracked, and education is provided to improve health outcomes.
Key Provisions
- Newborn Screening Mandate: Hospitals and other healthcare facilities must offer or administer a test for congenital CMV to all infants 21 days old or younger. This is not strictly mandatory for all facilities but is encouraged through federal standards and funding.
- State Responsibilities: Each state's top health official (chief executive officer for health) must develop standards for testing, recording results, tracking cases, follow-up care, and educating parents or guardians about the results. If a state fails to do so within two years of the bill's enactment, the federal Discretionary Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (Advisory Committee) will create and implement these standards.
- Federal Oversight and Approval: The Advisory Committee reviews and approves state standards, drawing on practices from other states, existing newborn screenings for genetic conditions, and scientific evidence.
- Grants and Funding:
- The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides grants to states that adopt approved standards; states then distribute funds to healthcare facilities for testing. Funding is authorized for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awards grants or agreements to states for building data systems on CMV and for educating healthcare providers, patients, and the public on prevention, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment (including online resources).
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) must expand or create research programs on new screening methods, interventions, diagnostics, prevention strategies (like awareness campaigns), treatments during and after pregnancy, and vaccine development.
- Expansion of Advisory Committee Role: The committee's duties are updated to include overseeing CMV screening activities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Part A of Title XI of the Public Health Service Act (which covers maternal, infant, and child health programs) by inserting a new section (1116A) specifically for CMV screening, building on the existing framework for newborn screenings of heritable disorders like metabolic conditions.
- Expands the Advisory Committee's responsibilities under section 1111 to include CMV-related activities, making CMV the focus of a new federal public health initiative alongside other screenings.
- Introduces time-limited federal funding (2025–2026) and fallback federal standards if states do not act, which is a proactive shift from purely voluntary state-led newborn screening programs.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HRSA, CDC, and NIH will see increased workloads and budgets for grants, technical assistance, data systems, education, and research, potentially leading to better-coordinated national efforts on infant health but straining short-term resources.
- On Citizens: Newborns and families benefit from earlier CMV detection, enabling timely interventions like antiviral treatments or hearing aids, which could reduce long-term disabilities. Parents gain access to clear information on test results, though implementation may vary by state.
- On Healthcare and Public Health: Hospitals face new testing protocols, but grants ease costs; states must update systems, promoting uniformity in CMV management nationwide. No direct international impacts, as this is a domestic public health measure.
- Overall, the bill could lower healthcare costs over time by preventing CMV-related complications, though initial setup may require adjustments in state budgets.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Newborns and Families: Primary beneficiaries, as screening identifies at-risk infants early.
- Healthcare Providers and Facilities: Hospitals and clinics must implement testing and follow standards, with grant support.
- State Health Departments: Responsible for developing and enforcing procedures, potentially needing new staff or systems.
- Federal Agencies: HRSA (funding distribution), CDC (data and education), NIH (research), and the Advisory Committee (oversight).
- Researchers and Advocacy Groups: Gain opportunities for CMV-focused studies and public awareness, including groups pushing for CMV screening like those representing parents of affected children.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal involvement in public health without overriding state authority, as states lead implementation with federal backstops; ensures compliance through Advisory Committee approval, promoting evidence-based standards. No mandates on private facilities, avoiding potential enforcement challenges.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate public health and fund interstate programs; respects federalism by allowing state flexibility while providing national uniformity.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Reps. Lawler, Landsman, and Ross) signals broad support for infant health initiatives. Could set precedent for adding other conditions to newborn screening panels, influencing future public health funding debates. Short-term authorizations (2025–2026) may require reauthorization, tying into broader budget politics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
Cosponsors (11)
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17], Rep. Alford, Mark [R-MO-4], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-17: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-09-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop CMV Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-17 — PDF (6 pages)