<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Freestyle Script";
panose-1:3 8 4 2 3 2 5 11 4 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"PT Sans";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:ABeeZee;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:inherit;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.m-7832577199845911846apple-style-span
{mso-style-name:m_-7832577199845911846apple-style-span;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle23
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle24
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle25
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle26
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle27
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle28
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle29
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle30
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1779981800;
mso-list-template-ids:-1217648342;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1917594029;
mso-list-template-ids:-74267714;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>If my son can do it so can all of us!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Marc<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:keithimlay@kpiconsultingit.com">keithimlay@kpiconsultingit.com</a> <<a href="mailto:keithimlay@kpiconsultingit.com">keithimlay@kpiconsultingit.com</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, June 02, 2019 4:41 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Marc Imlay' <<a href="mailto:ialm@erols.com">ialm@erols.com</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> RE: Keith read this contact your US Senators about supporting the TICK Act<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Senator Warner, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I met you once walking out of Columbia Firehouse in Old Town and think you are a great Senator! Please consider this important legislation if you have not already...<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>This bipartisan act was just introduced.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="https://www.lymedisease.org/tick-act-introduced/" target="_blank">https://www.lymedisease.org/tick-act-introduced/</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>************************<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Just sent this to my Senator… <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Freestyle Script";color:#1F497D'>Keith P. Imlay<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>KPI Consulting LLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>P: 703-328-8389 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:KeithImlay@KPIConsultingIT.com">KeithImlay@KPIConsultingIT.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Marc Imlay <<a href="mailto:ialm@erols.com">ialm@erols.com</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, June 2, 2019 3:34 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:KeithImlay@KPIConsultingIT.com">KeithImlay@KPIConsultingIT.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Keith read this contact your US Senators about supporting the TICK Act<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Hi Keith,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>This bipartisan bill, for $100 million to fight Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, deserves support. We can also recommend that current approaches that help be mentioned in the legislation. I described the approach today by National Wildlife Federation about the benefit of reintroducing opossums in back yards, for example. <span style='color:#959595'><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div><div><div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>From: "Liz McDowell, MNPS" <<a href="mailto:lmcdnativeplants@hughes.net" target="_blank">lmcdnativeplants@hughes.net</a>><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Subject: contact your US Senators about supporting the TICK Act<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Date: May 27, 2019 at 9:35:41 AM EDT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>To: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Howdy All,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>This bipartisan act was just introduced.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="https://www.lymedisease.org/tick-act-introduced/" target="_blank">https://www.lymedisease.org/tick-act-introduced/</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Please contact your US Senator & ask for their support.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=MD" target="_blank">https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=MD</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Please spread the word to your members & organizations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Anyone who loves the outdoors needs to support this.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Liz<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Liz McDowell, Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Western Mountains Chapter of <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Maryland Native Plant Society<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>301-895-3686<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></div></div></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:22.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:#4A4A4A'>News<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:#959595'><img border=0 width=118 height=118 style='width:1.2291in;height:1.2291in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D51962.027EEE20" alt="LymeDisease.org avatar"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:2.25pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"ABeeZee",serif;color:#424953'>News<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"ABeeZee",serif;color:#424953'><a href="https://www.lymedisease.org/tick-act-introduced/"><i><span style='font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#00A4DA;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none'>LymeDisease.org</span></i></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:21.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:21.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:21.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:21.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:21.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:21.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#4E4E4E'>24<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#4E4E4E'>MAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"inherit",serif;color:#4E4E4E'>2019<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:#959595'>Bill calls for $100 million to fight Lyme and other tick-borne diseases<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:#959595'><img border=0 width=286 height=300 style='width:2.9791in;height:3.125in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D51962.027EEE20" alt="TICK Act introduced"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>In a bipartisan effort to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, of Maine, and Tina Smith, of Minnesota, today introduced the Ticks: Identify, Control, and Knockout (TICK) Act.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>If passed, it would be the highest amount ever approved for the fight against tick-borne diseases.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>Click below to watch Senator Collins introduce the measure on the Senate floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>“To knock out Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, we need a unified approach with leadership at the federal level and resources at the local level,” said Senator Collins.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>“These diseases present grave risks to our public health and serious harm to our families and communities. The sooner we acknowledge these risks and coordinate our effort to overcome them, the better for all of us. The TICK Act does just that by applying a three-pronged public health approach to address Lyme and other vector-borne diseases, and I urge our colleagues to join us in supporting this important bill.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>“Minnesotans are eager to get outside after a long winter. Unfortunately, the number of Lyme disease cases in the state—and states across the country—is on the rise. Our bipartisan bill aims to reduce the number of cases by establishing an effort to target, prevent, and treat Lyme disease,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>“We made sure to collaborate with universities and public health agencies, and our bipartisan bill is supported by a coalition of researchers, medical professionals, and government officials from across the country. We hope our colleagues join us so we can quickly take up and pass this bill.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>Using a three-pronged approach, the TICK Act would:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>1. Establish an Office of Oversight and Coordination for Vector-Borne Disease at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The office would develop a national strategy to prevent and treat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, expand research, and improve testing, treatment affordability, and public awareness. The Office would also coordinate with other federal departments to address these diseases, including the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Interior, Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>2. Reauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease for five years at $10 million per year. Funding for these centers, which was allotted in 2017, expires in 2021. These Centers have led the scientific response against tick-borne diseases, which now make up 75 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S. There are five centers located at universities in New York, California, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>3. Authorize CDC Grants at $20 million per year that would be awarded to State Health Departments to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness. These awards would help states build a public health infrastructure for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases and amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'>In 2016, Congress took a critical step forward with the enactment of the 21st Century Cures Act, which created a federal Tick-Borne Diseases Working Group. This Working Group released its first report in November 2018, which created several recommendations for next steps. With the findings of this report in mind, this legislation puts key recommendations into practice.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;background:white;vertical-align:baseline'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"PT Sans",serif;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><div id=DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0 style='border:none;border-top:solid #D3D4DE 1.0pt'><tr><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;border:none;padding:9.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:windowtext'><a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=icon" target="_blank"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=46 height=29 style='width:.4791in;height:.302in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif" alt="https://ipmcdn.avast.com/images/icons/icon-envelope-tick-round-orange-animated-no-repeat-v1.gif"></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=470 style='width:352.5pt;border:none;padding:9.0pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#41424E'>Virus-free. <a href="https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=link" target="_blank"><span style='color:#4453EA'>www.avast.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>