HEALTHY BRAINS Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 7779

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2026-05-14T08:07:42Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The HEALTHY BRAINS Act of 2026 aims to address environmental factors contributing to neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which involve the progressive loss of brain cells) by requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a dedicated program. This program focuses on research, training, and sharing health information to better understand, prevent, and manage these diseases through studying environmental risks like exposure to toxins.

Key Provisions

• Program Establishment: HHS must set up a program to conduct and fund research, training, and public information efforts on environmental risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, including toxins like volatile organic compounds (chemicals that evaporate easily), particulate matter (tiny air pollutants), per- and polyfluorinated substances (long-lasting chemicals in products like non-stick coatings), and heavy metals in air, water, food, and soil.
• Research Scope: Studies must examine how these toxins interact with disease development, early warning signs before symptoms appear, and strategies to prevent or slow disease progression. Additional research may cover occupational exposures (work-related risks), social factors affecting health, historical and emerging risks, multiple causes of disease, disease patterns across communities, gene-environment interactions, and biological mechanisms of brain damage from toxins.
• Coordination and Reporting: HHS must coordinate efforts across its agencies to avoid overlap and expand funding for relevant research centers. The Secretary must submit biennial reports on findings to key congressional committees, post them online, and include them in existing HHS reports.
• Collaborative Centers: HHS will fund research centers (called Collaborative Centers for Neurodegenerative Disease Environmental Research) at universities, medical facilities, or similar entities. These centers must:
• Conduct basic (fundamental science), applied (practical applications), and clinical (patient-focused) research on environmental risks and disease progression.
• Use population-based methods (studying groups of people) and interdisciplinary approaches (combining fields like biology, environmental science, and public health).
• Coordinate with HHS programs and partners like researchers, doctors, nonprofits, patients, and caregivers.
• Optional Center Activities: Centers may offer training and stipends for scientists and health professionals, provide education to doctors and the public, create a nationwide data system for patient and population data, establish an information clearinghouse on environmental risks, and run a national education program.
• Funding and Duration: Centers receive support for up to 5 years, renewable for additional 5-year periods after peer review. The bill authorizes $50 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to fund the entire program.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill adds a new section (409K) to Part B of Title IV of the Public Health Service Act (a key law governing federal health research). It introduces a specific, coordinated focus on environmental factors in neurodegenerative diseases, which were not previously mandated at this level. It expands HHS's role in funding and integrating environmental health research centers, requires new reporting mechanisms, and ties this work to broader HHS efforts without altering unrelated provisions.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: HHS will need to allocate resources for program management, coordination, and funding centers, potentially increasing administrative workload but enhancing expertise in environmental health. Congressional oversight through reports could influence future budgeting.
• On Citizens: Improved research may lead to better understanding of everyday environmental risks, enabling prevention strategies (e.g., safer exposure limits), earlier disease detection, and treatments that slow progression, benefiting those at risk or affected by neurodegenerative diseases.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though research findings could inform global health standards or collaborations on environmental toxins, indirectly supporting U.S. leadership in public health science.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: Primarily HHS (including the National Institutes of Health for research funding) and congressional committees on health and appropriations.
• Researchers and Institutions: Universities, medical centers, and research entities that can apply for Collaborative Center grants.
• Health Professionals and Patients: Doctors, scientists, patients with neurodegenerative diseases, and caregivers who gain from training, education, and new data systems.
• Communities and Nonprofits: Populations exposed to environmental risks (e.g., in polluted areas), advocacy groups, and organizations focused on brain health or environmental protection.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill strengthens federal authority under the Public Health Service Act to fund targeted health research without creating new regulatory powers; it emphasizes voluntary collaborations and peer-reviewed extensions, ensuring accountability.
• Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with federal powers, as it falls within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and promote general welfare through health initiatives.
• Political: It promotes bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from both parties) for underfunded areas of medical research, potentially advancing environmental health priorities amid growing concerns over aging populations and pollution. The fixed funding authorization may spark debates on long-term appropriations but avoids mandating spending.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

Cosponsors (12)

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-03: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2026-03-03: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-03: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Harmonizing Environmental Analyses and Launching Therapeutic Hubs to Yield Bolstered Research And Innovation in Neurological Science Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-03 — PDF (9 pages)