Bill · S. 4494· Senate(119-S-4494)
American Cures Act
- Introduced
- 5/12/2026
- Last activity
- 5/12/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. (text: CR S2239)
- Sponsored by
- Richard Durbin
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The American Cures Act aims to prioritize funding for expanded and sustained national investment in biomedical research. The bill authorizes significant appropriations for the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense health program, and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program. These funds are scheduled to increase annually through fiscal year 2036. From fiscal year 2037 onward, annual increases will be tied to the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the act includes provisions to exempt these appropriations from sequestration.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this put more money into medical research?+10
The bill mandates massive, multi-year increases in funding for the National Institutes of Health and other research programs.
Does this help veterans get medical care?+5
The bill provides significant funding increases for the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program.
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?+5
The bill increases funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance public health capabilities.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill increases government spending through significant new annual appropriations for medical research programs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Biomedical Research Funding: The bill provides massive, multi-year funding increases for the National Institutes of Health (Section 2(a)(1)), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Section 2(a)(2)), the Department of Defense health program (Section 2(a)(3)), and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program (Section 2(a)(4)).
-
Protection of Research Funding: The act includes an exemption from sequestration (Section 2(d)), which aims to protect these specific appropriations from being reduced by sequestration orders issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
-
Inflation-Adjusted Sustained Investment: For fiscal years 2037 and beyond, the bill ensures that funding for all four programs is increased based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (Section 2(a)(1)(K), 2(a)(2)(K), 2(a)(3)(K), and 2(a)(4)(K)), which helps sustain the purchasing power of the appropriations.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly detailed within the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Increases Research Funding+10Improves Pandemic Preparedness+5Improves Veterans Healthcare+5Improves Healthcare Access+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+5Good For Seniors+3Good For Low Income Households+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+5
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-1
- 8/5/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. (text: CR S2239)
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland