Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today introduced legislation to address the long COVID crisis that is affecting more than 22 million adults and 1 million children across the United States – and millions more around the globe. The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act of 2024 provides $1 billion in mandatory funding per year for 10 years to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support long COVID research, the urgent pursuit of treatments, and the expansion of care for patients across the country.
Joining Sanders on the legislation are Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
“For far too long, millions of Americans suffering from long COVID have had their symptoms dismissed or ignored – by the medical community, by the media, and by Congress,” said Sanders. “That is unacceptable and has got to change. The legislation that we have introduced finally recognizes that long COVID is a public health emergency and provides an historic investment into research, development, and education needed to counter the effects of this terrible disease. Congress must act now to ensure treatments are developed and made available for Americans struggling with long COVID. Yes. It is time for a Long Covid Moonshot.”
While millions of adults and children are already living with long COVID, these cases are on the rise as symptoms can impact anyone who has been previously exposed to COVID-19 – regardless of age or severity of the initial infection. Symptoms can include fatigue, cognitive impairment (commonly referred to as brain fog), muscle or joint pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sleep difficulties, mood changes, and more. For many, these symptoms have interfered with child care, exercise, the ability to work, and social activities – disruptions that can also impact mental health.
Estimates show that 2 to 4 million Americans are out of work due to long COVID. For many, the change in job status can also affect health insurance, further complicating treatment options.
The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act would establish a new research program within the NIH to better understand, prevent, diagnose, manage, and treat long COVID and related conditions. The legislation would also:
- Require the NIH to establish a long COVID database, advisory board, and a new grant process that would accelerate clinical trials.
- Fund information gathering and public health education.
- Require any new treatments developed by the NIH to be reasonably priced so that every patient can receive it.
- Fund multidisciplinary long COVID clinics that provide comprehensive, coordinated care – especially in underserved, disproportionately-impacted communities.
- Develop and implement best practices for clinical care and social services.
As chair of the HELP Committee, Sanders led a hearing in January on the long COVID crisis to hear directly from patients, researchers, and health care providers on the major impact of long COVID on their lives, their work, and their communities. Before releasing the legislation, Sanders also sought input from patients and the medical community on how the legislation could be improved and strengthened.
This legislation is endorsed by more than 45 organizations, including: Mount Sinai Health System, Infectious Diseases Society of America, National Partnership for Women and Families, Solve M.E., Long COVID Alliance, #MEAction, Body Politic, Patient-Led Research Collaborative, COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project, and Marked by COVID.
