H.R. 8205 · Where this bill is now
Passed both chambers
House: Passed Jul 22, 2026, by voice vote; Senate: Passed Sep 28, 2026, by voice vote
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExtends research funding for ALS treatments
This bill keeps funding going through 2031 for programs that help develop new drugs and therapies for ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and similar brain and nerve diseases. The National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration would continue giving grants for research, including studies on experimental drugs for people who can't join clinical trials. The bill also requires better tracking of drug safety and creates a five-year plan for the FDA to speed up development of new treatments and expand access to experimental drugs.
How it affects you
People with ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases may benefit from continued research into new treatments and faster access to experimental drugs. Researchers and medical institutions receiving these grants would have clear expectations about monitoring drug safety and reporting any serious problems. If you don't have ALS or work in this field, this bill doesn't directly change your daily life, though it does commit public funding to this research area.
Read the official summary (Reported to House, Jul 9, 2026)
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026
This bill reauthorizes through FY2031 and revises programs that support research and development of drugs and other therapies to address amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The bill reauthorizes
• grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for scientific research on investigational drugs to prevent or treat ALS for individuals not otherwise eligible for clinical trials,
• grants from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for research and development of therapies to prevent and treat ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, and
• a Public-Private Partnership including the FDA and NIH that supports development and regulatory review of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Also, the NIH, in considering renewal of its grants, must assess available information on the safety and efficacy of the investigational drugs. It must also require grantees to promptly report serious and unexpected adverse events associated with their investigational drugs.
Additionally, the FDA must publish a plan describing actions it will take over a five-year period to foster development of safe and effective drugs, and facilitate access to investigational drugs, that treat ALS and other rare neurodegenerative diseases. The FDA must also publish a report describing the actions it has taken under the plan.
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.
2nd SessionH. R. 8205
AN ACT
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) · Introduced Apr 6, 2026 · Health · 5 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 28, 2026: “Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5120)”