Bill > HR1750

This bill, known as the Health Equity and Rare Disease Act of 2025 (HEARD Act), aims to improve research, education, and support for rare diseases that disproportionately affect minority populations. The bill establishes a comprehensive approach by creating a new coordinating committee within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand and coordinate research on rare diseases in minority communities. The legislation mandates the development of a detailed research plan that includes studying the causes, epidemiology, and impacts of rare diseases across different racial and ethnic groups. It provides for multiple initiatives, including grant programs to collect and analyze data, physician training programs, scholarship and loan repayment programs for healthcare professionals working with rare disease populations, and efforts to increase minority representation in medical research. Additionally, the bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a survey on clinical trial diversity and requires reports to Congress on federal efforts related to rare diseases in minority populations. The bill also includes provisions for public awareness campaigns, research support for Tribal Epidemiology Centers, and a review of Medicare barriers that might inhibit access to treatment for minority beneficiaries. Overall, the legislation seeks to address significant healthcare disparities and improve understanding and treatment of rare diseases in underserved communities.