July 23, 2026
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
To amend the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act to reauthorize the provisions of such Act through fiscal year 2031, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Reauthorization of Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
(a) In general
Section 7 of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (Public Law 117–79) is amended by striking 2026
and inserting 2031
.
(b) Grants for ALS research
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
.
Sec. 3. Improvements to program for grants for research on therapies for ALS
(a) Renewal of grants for research on therapies for ALS review
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) 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.
(b) Reporting safety data
Section 2(c) of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360ee note) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2)(B), by striking and
at the end;
(2)
in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(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).
(c) Clarifying participating clinical trial definition
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:
(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.
Sec. 4. FDA rare neurodegenerative disease action plan
Section 4 of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (21 U.S.C. 360aa note) is amended—
(1)
in the section heading, by striking ALS and other rare neurodegenerative disease action plan
and inserting FDA rare neurodegenerative disease action plan
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following:
(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).