H.R. 1750 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned, Feb 27, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryFunds research on rare diseases in minority communities
This bill creates grants and programs through the Department of Health and Human Services to study and address rare diseases—conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people—that impact racial and ethnic minorities. It would support things like data collection, training health care professionals, scholarships for medical students, and public awareness campaigns. The bill also requires the government to report back to Congress on research gaps and barriers to treatment.
How it affects you
If you're a member of a racial or ethnic minority population dealing with a rare disease, this could eventually lead to more research, better information, and more doctors trained to help. Medical students who commit to serving patients with rare diseases might get scholarships or help paying off loans. For most other people, this is more about supporting the health care system to better serve these communities.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Feb 27, 2025)
Health Equity and Rare Disease Act of 2025 or the HEARD Act of 2025
This bill establishes Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants and other initiatives to address rare diseases or conditions (e.g., those affecting less than 200,000 people in the United States) in racial and ethnic minority populations.
For example, to advance such purposes, the bill establishes within HHS
• grants to public and private nonprofit entities for data collection and public outreach,
• grants to health professions schools to improve health care and minority representation in research regarding rare diseases and conditions,
• grants to tribal epidemiology centers and tribal and urban Indian health centers for research regarding rare diseases and conditions in tribal communities,
• scholarships and educational loan repayment for medical school students who agree to work as health care professionals serving populations with rare diseases or conditions,
• initiatives to coordinate research and other activities across the National Institutes of Health, and
• public health awareness and education campaigns.
Also, the bill requires HHS to submit various reports to Congress on topics including (1) the federal government’s research and public health activities regarding rare diseases or conditions in minority populations, (2) regulatory barriers to treating rare diseases in Medicare beneficiaries of color, and (3) strategies for research and development of treatments for rare diseases or conditions that disproportionately impact minority populations.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1750
A BILL
HEARD Act of 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) · Introduced Feb 27, 2025 · Health · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Feb 27, 2025: “Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.”
Sections
Sections · 11
- Sec. 1Short titleNo change
- Sec. 2NIH expansion, intensification, and coordination of research on rare diseases health equityNo change
- Sec. 3Collaborative comprehensive plan to address rare diseases and conditions in minority populationsNo change
- Sec. 4Grants to collect and analyze data on rare diseases and conditions in minority populationsNo change
- Sec. 5Physician training programs with respect to rare diseasesNo change
- Sec. 6Increasing minority representation in research on rare diseases and conditionsNo change
- Sec. 7Report to Congress on Federal efforts on rare diseases and conditions in minority populationsNo change
- Sec. 8Research and awareness campaigns with respect to rare diseases and conditions in minority populationsNo change
- Sec. 9FDA survey and report on clinical trial diversityNo change
- Sec. 10Tribal epidemiology center grant programNo change
- Sec. 11Medicare review and reportNo change