YVN Summary
\n\nMost people would see no change unless they choose to buy a new stamp. The U.S. Postal Service would have to sell a Lyme disease research stamp. It would be a semipostal, which is a stamp sold at a higher price to raise money for a cause. Under current postal law, its price is regular postage plus at least 15%. Buying it is up to you.\n\nThe extra money would go to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Postal Service would first take out its own costs. The institute would use the money for research on Lyme disease and other illnesses spread by ticks. Payments would go out at least twice a year. The stamp money could not be counted when lawmakers set the institute's yearly funding. The stamp would go on sale within 12 months after the bill becomes law. It would stay on sale for at least 6 years.
","status":"COMMITTEE_CONSIDERATION","topics":["GOVERNMENT_OPERATIONS","ECONOMY","HEALTHCARE"],"introducedAt":"2025-08-15T00:00:00+00:00","latestActionAt":"2025-08-15T00:00:00+00:00","congressGovUrl":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4981","accountabilityFlags":{"your_money":["↑ Option to buy a Lyme research stamp — costs more than regular"]},"tldr":"A new, pricier stamp would raise money for Lyme disease research — buying it would be your choice.","summaryStandard":"v2","flagExplainers":{"your_money":["Post offices would sell a stamp priced at regular postage plus at least 15%. After the Postal Service covers its costs, the extra would pay for Lyme disease research. No one would have to buy it."]},"flagValence":{"your_money":["good"]},"needsResummary":false,"displaySummaryHtml":null,"rawStatusText":"Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.","chamber":"HOUSE","policyArea":"Health","legislativeSubjects":[],"lawStatus":null,"lawNumber":null,"latestActionText":"Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.","latestTextVersion":"Introduced in House","textVersionUsed":null,"dateAdded":"2026-10-21T00:00:00+00:00","summarizedAt":"2026-10-23T18:17:56+00:00","recordId":"617746fa-8a00-4022-806d-9963d8277ba8","feedIdentityKey":"119/hr/4981","websiteBillId":"HR-4981","yourvoiceSummary":"Most people would see no change unless they choose to buy a new stamp. The U.S. Postal Service would have to sell a Lyme disease research stamp. It would be a semipostal, which is a stamp sold at a higher price to raise money for a cause. Under current postal law, its price is regular postage plus at least 15%. Buying it is up to you.\n\nThe extra money would go to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The Postal Service would first take out its own costs. The institute would use the money for research on Lyme disease and other illnesses spread by ticks. Payments would go out at least twice a year. The stamp money could not be counted when lawmakers set the institute's yearly funding. The stamp would go on sale within 12 months after the bill becomes law. It would stay on sale for at least 6 years.","updatedAt":"2026-10-25T01:41:30.152881+00:00"}