Candis King Hope for Sickle Cell Families Act

Bill Number: H.R. 8067
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated: 2026-04-14T13:58:13Z

AI-Generated Summary

H.R. 8067: Candis King Hope for Sickle Cell Families Act

Purpose

This bill aims to improve data collection on sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic blood disorder that causes severe pain and health complications, primarily affecting Black Americans and other minority groups. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to establish a grant program for states to gather nationwide data on SCD. It also requires reinstating certain CDC employees who were recently removed.

Key Provisions

Sickle Cell Data Collection Program (Sec. 2):
Awards grants to states to collect and maintain data on:
Incidence (new cases) and prevalence (total cases) of SCD.
Demographics (e.g., age, race, location) of people living with SCD.
Healthcare use patterns (e.g., hospital visits, treatments).
Promotes collaboration among grant recipients and CDC to standardize data collection methods, building on a prior CDC program.
Authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (authorization of funds; actual spending requires separate appropriations).
Reinstatement of CDC Employees (Sec. 3):
Requires HHS to reinstate "covered employees" from the CDC's Division of Blood Disorders and Public Health Genomics.
Covered employee: Anyone removed on or after January 1, 2025, due to agency actions (e.g., reduction in force—a legal process to cut staff—or reorganizations) that eliminated 3% or more of the division's employees within 60 days.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Expands and formalizes CDC's prior Sickle Cell Data Collection program by providing dedicated grant funding and emphasizing standardization.
Introduces a new mandate to reverse specific staff cuts at CDC's blood disorders division, overriding recent personnel actions under federal employment laws (e.g., Title 5 of U.S. Code governing federal workforce reductions).

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: CDC gains resources and staff for SCD surveillance, potentially improving disease tracking and response; HHS must comply with reinstatement, affecting budget and operations.
Citizens: Enhanced data could lead to better public health strategies, targeted treatments, and reduced disparities for ~100,000 Americans with SCD, especially in underserved communities.
No direct international impacts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

SCD patients and families: Primary beneficiaries through improved data-driven care.
State health departments: Eligible for grants to build surveillance systems.
CDC and HHS employees: Specific protections for reinstated staff.
Healthcare providers and researchers: Access to standardized national data.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Relies on Congress's spending power (authorizing funds) and oversight of executive agencies; reinstatement provision may challenge recent CDC personnel decisions, potentially leading to administrative or court disputes under federal employment rules.
Constitutional: Aligns with federal authority over public health but could raise separation-of-powers questions if seen as micromanaging agency staffing.
Political: Responds to 2025 CDC staff reductions; named after Candis King to honor advocacy for SCD families, signaling focus on health equity for minority groups.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

Recent Actions

2026-03-24: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
2026-03-24: Introduced in House
2026-03-24: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Candis King Hope for Sickle Cell Families Act — issued 2026-03-24 — PDF (3 pages)