WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 8205 · 119th Congress

Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026

Sent to PresidentHealth
IntroducedApr 6, 2026
Passed HouseJul 22, 2026
Passed SenateSep 28, 2026
To PresidentOct 26, 2026
Became lawNot yet

How this bill changes the law

Sourced

H.R. 8205 would change 3 sections of existing law. Read from the bill text in its final form, as sent to the President.

Public Law 117-79 An earlier law, changed directly

21 U.S.C. 360ee

21 U.S.C. 360aa

What the words would change: every change, in place (9)

Today's wording of each part of the law, with what would be struck out and added. Each change also gives the bill's own instruction, word for word.

  1. Public Law 117-79changedby H.R. 8205 Sec. 2(a)

    The bill says: Section 7 of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (Public Law 117–79) is amended by striking "2026" and inserting "2031".

  2. 21 U.S.C. 360ee(f)changedby H.R. 8205 Sec. 2(b)

    The bill says: Section 2(f) of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended by striking "2026" and inserting "2031".

  3. 21 U.S.C. 360ee(b)added (4)by H.R. 8205 Sec. 3(a)

    (4) Renewal of grants for research on therapies for ALS review.— In reviewing applications for renewals of a grant awarded under this section with respect to an investigational drug, the Secretary shall request from the manufacturer or sponsor, and assess, the enrollment, safety, and any available efficacy data relating to the investigational drug in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, or cure of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

    The bill says: Section 2(b) of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

  4. 21 U.S.C. 360ee(c)(2)(B)changedby H.R. 8205 Sec. 3(b)

    The bill says: in paragraph (2)(B), by striking "and" at the end;

  5. 21 U.S.C. 360ee(c)(3)changedby H.R. 8205 Sec. 3(b)

    The bill says: in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting "; and"; and

  6. 21 U.S.C. 360ee(c)added (4)by H.R. 8205 Sec. 3(b)

    (4) the entity seeking such grant will promptly report any new and serious adverse events and safety information that is considered to be unexpected with respect to the phase 3 trial to the grant-making institution, in addition to complying with the safety reporting requirements under section 312.32 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

  7. 21 U.S.C. 360ee(e)added (4)by H.R. 8205 Sec. 3(c)

    (4) The term "phase 3", with respect to a clinical trial, includes a phase 2/3 combined trial that begins enrollment within a timeframe, determined by the Secretary through the terms and conditions of the grant awarded under this section.

    The bill says: Section 2(e) of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

  8. 21 U.S.C. 360aachangedby H.R. 8205 Sec. 4(1)

    The bill says: in the section heading, by striking "ALS and other rare neurodegenerative disease action plan" and inserting "FDA rare neurodegenerative disease action plan"; and

  9. 21 U.S.C. 360aaadded (c)by H.R. 8205 Sec. 4(2)

    (c) FDA rare neurodegenerative disease action plan.—(1) In general.— Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall publish on the website of the Food and Drug Administration an action plan that includes a description of the actions that the Food and Drug Administration intends to take during the 5-year period following publication of the action plan with respect to the program enhancements, policy development, regulatory science initiatives, and other appropriate initiatives described in subsection (a).(2) Report.— Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall publish on the website of the Food and Drug Administration a report that describes the actions taken by the Food and Drug Administration under the action plan published under paragraph (1) and the extent to which such action plan meets the requirements specified in paragraph (1).

    The bill says: by adding at the end the following:

From the bill's official text on GovInfo and the U.S. Code, latest edition, which may not yet show changes made since.

What it does

Sourced

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.

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Reported to House, Jul 9, 2026).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

Sourced
  1. 2026-10-26Presented to President.Library of Congress
  2. 2026-09-28Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5120)Library of Congress
  3. 2026-07-22Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.Library of Congress
  4. 2026-07-09Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 119-733.Library of Congress
  5. 2026-04-06Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

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Cosponsors

  • Alma S. Adams D-NC-12
  • Robert B. Aderholt R-AL-4
  • Mark Alford R-MO-4
  • Mark E. Amodei R-NV-2
  • Rep. Jake Auchincloss D-MA-4
  • Rep. Don Bacon R-NE-2
  • Joyce Beatty D-OH-3
  • Rep. Stephanie I. Bice R-OK-5
  • Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis R-FL-12
  • Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. D-GA-2
  • Suzanne Bonamici D-OR-1
  • Rep. Mike Bost R-IL-12
  • Nikki Budzinski D-IL-13
  • Rep. Janelle S. Bynum D-OR-5
  • Ken Calvert R-CA-41
  • Troy A. Carter D-LA-2
  • John R. Carter R-TX-31
  • Sean Casten D-IL-6
  • Rep. Emanuel Cleaver D-MO-5
  • Rep. Steve Cohen D-TN-9
  • Rep. Tom Cole R-OK-4
  • Rep. Herbert C. Conaway D-NJ-3
  • Rep. J. Luis Correa D-CA-46
  • Rep. Angie Craig D-MN-2
  • Rep. Jason Crow D-CO-6
  • Danny K. Davis D-IL-7
  • Rep. Donald G. Davis D-NC-1
  • Madeleine Dean D-PA-4
  • Suzan K. DelBene D-WA-1
  • Scott DesJarlais R-TN-4
  • Mario Diaz-Balart R-FL-26
  • Rep. Debbie Dingell D-MI-6
  • Rep. Chuck Edwards R-NC-11
  • Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick R-PA-1
  • Rep. Valerie P. Foushee D-NC-4
  • Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino R-NY-2
  • Rep. Josh Gottheimer D-NJ-5
  • Adelita S. Grijalva D-AZ-7
  • Michael Guest R-MS-3
  • Jahana Hayes D-CT-5
  • Rep. James A. Himes D-CT-4
  • Jeff Hurd R-CO-3
  • Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson D-IL-1
  • David P. Joyce R-OH-14
  • Rep. Marcy Kaptur D-OH-9
  • Rep. Robin L. Kelly D-IL-2
  • Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy D-NY-26
  • Rep. Young Kim R-CA-40
  • Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi D-IL-8
  • Rep. Darin LaHood R-IL-16
  • Rep. Nick LaLota R-NY-1
  • Rep. Greg Landsman D-OH-1
  • John B. Larson D-CT-1
  • Rep. George Latimer D-NY-16
  • Julia Letlow R-LA-5
  • Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA-8
  • Rep. Seth Magaziner D-RI-2
  • Tracey Mann R-KS-1
  • Rep. Doris O. Matsui D-CA-7
  • Rep. Sarah McBride D-DE
  • Rep. Michael T. McCaul R-TX-10
  • Analilia Mejia D-NJ-11
  • Rep. Carol D. Miller R-WV-1
  • Rep. Tim Moore R-NC-14
  • Rep. Gwen Moore D-WI-4
  • Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
  • Rep. Jay Obernolte R-CA-23
  • Rep. Scott H. Peters D-CA-50
  • Chellie Pingree D-ME-1
  • Josh Riley D-NY-19
  • Rep. Deborah K. Ross D-NC-2
  • Rep. David Rouzer R-NC-7
  • John H. Rutherford R-FL-5
  • Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar R-FL-27
  • Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon D-PA-5
  • Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky D-IL-9
  • Rep. Bradley Scott Schneider D-IL-10
  • Kim Schrier D-WA-8
  • Rep. Pete Sessions R-TX-17
  • Rep. Terri A. Sewell D-AL-7
  • Brad Sherman D-CA-32
  • Rep. Adam Smith D-WA-9
  • Eric Sorensen D-IL-17
  • Melanie A. Stansbury D-NM-1
  • Greg Stanton D-AZ-4
  • Thomas R. Suozzi D-NY-3
  • Rep. Glenn Thompson R-PA-15
  • Rep. Mike Thompson D-CA-4
  • Rep. Rashida Tlaib D-MI-12
  • Rep. Paul Tonko D-NY-20
  • Ritchie Torres D-NY-15
  • Lauren Underwood D-IL-14
  • Rep. David G. Valadao R-CA-22
  • Rep. Jefferson Van Drew R-NJ-2
  • Marc A. Veasey D-TX-33
  • Rep. Eugene Simon Vindman D-VA-7
  • Tim Walberg R-MI-5
  • Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman D-NJ-12
  • Rep. Randy K. Sr. Weber R-TX-14
  • Rep. George Whitesides D-CA-27
  • Rep. Joe Wilson R-SC-2
  • Rep. Robert J. Wittman R-VA-1
  • Rep. Steve Womack R-AR-3