Cerebral Palsy Research Program Authorization Act of 2025
Summary
HB2178, the Cerebral Palsy Research Program Authorization Act of 2025, would amend the Public Health Service Act to create a federal cerebral palsy research program within the Department of Health and Human Services, administered through the CDC. The bill directs the Secretary of HHS, acting through the CDC Director and in consultation with other federal agencies and partners, to carry out research on the most promising approaches to diagnosis and treatment, factors that may reduce the prevalence of cerebral palsy, and the health care and societal costs associated with the condition.
The bill also authorizes public health surveillance, technical assistance to public and nonprofit entities, and evaluation of program activities, including effects on different demographic populations. It includes an education and training component for health professionals and the public on diagnosing cerebral palsy, understanding its causes, prevalence, and lifelong effects. The legislation authorizes $5 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out these activities.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new section to Title III of the Public Health Service Act and create a dedicated federal research authorization for cerebral palsy. It would expand CDC-related research, surveillance, and outreach activities and provide a specific appropriations authorization of $30 million over six fiscal years. The measure would primarily affect HHS, CDC, researchers, public health entities, and families and individuals affected by cerebral palsy, but it would not itself create direct benefits or mandates for private parties beyond the federal research and assistance framework.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally favorable, bipartisan support for the bill’s purpose. The bill was introduced by Representative Cohen with cosponsors from both parties, indicating cross-party interest in advancing cerebral palsy research. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, so there is no evidence of formal opposition in the available record.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of policy discussion, based on the bill text, could include the level of authorized funding, the scope of CDC-led research versus other federal agencies, and how the program’s effectiveness would be measured across demographic groups. However, no committee debate or recorded vote is available here to show that any of these issues were disputed by particular members or stakeholders.
Securing American Funding and Expertise from Adversarial Research Exploitation Act of 2025 Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 SAFE Research Act