Introduced in Senate — S. 4494

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4494

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 12, 2026

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Van Hollen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations

A BILL

To prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained national investment in biomedical research.

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 American Cures Act.

Sec. 2. Appropriations for Innovation

(a) In general

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated, and appropriated, out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the following:

(1) National Institutes of Health

For the National Institutes of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services—

(A)

for fiscal year 2027, $52,467,132,000;

(B)

for fiscal year 2028, $56,507,101,164;

(C)

for fiscal year 2029, $60,858,147,954;

(D)

for fiscal year 2030, $65,544,225,346;

(E)

for fiscal year 2031, $70,591,130,698;

(F)

for fiscal year 2032, $76,026,647,762;

(G)

for fiscal year 2033, $81,880,699,640;

(H)

for fiscal year 2034, $88,185,513,512;

(I)

for fiscal year 2035, $94,975,798,052;

(J)

for fiscal year 2036, $102,288,934,502; and

(K)

for fiscal year 2037 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount appropriated under this paragraph for the previous fiscal year, increased by the percentage increase (if any), during the previous fiscal year, in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

For the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Department of Health and Human Services—

(A)

for fiscal year 2027,$ 9,911,621,307;

(B)

for fiscal year 2028, $10,674,816,148;

(C)

for fiscal year 2029, $11,496,776,991;

(D)

for fiscal year 2030, $12,382,028,819;

(E)

for fiscal year 2031, $13,335,445,038;

(F)

for fiscal year 2032, $14,362,274,306;

(G)

for fiscal year 2033, $15,468,169,428;

(H)

for fiscal year 2034, $16,659,218,474;

(I)

for fiscal year 2035, $17,941,978,296;

(J)

for fiscal year 2036, $19,323,510,625; and

(K)

(3) Research, development, test, and evaluation program of the Department of Defense health program

For the research, development, test, and evaluation program of the Department of Defense health program—

(A)

for fiscal year 2027, $2,939,358,093;

(B)

for fiscal year 2028, $3,165,688,666;

(C)

for fiscal year 2029, $3,409,451,694;

(D)

for fiscal year 2030, $3,671,979,474;

(E)

for fiscal year 2031, $3,954,721,894;

(F)

for fiscal year 2032, $4,259,235,480;

(G)

for fiscal year 2033, $4,587,196,612;

(H)

for fiscal year 2034, $4,940,412,751;

(I)

for fiscal year 2035, $5,320,824,534;

(J)

for fiscal year 2036, $5,730,508,023; and

(K)

(4) Medical and prosthetics research program of the Department of Veterans Affairs

For the medical and prosthetics research program of the Department of Veterans Affairs—

(A)

for fiscal year 2027, $1,071,765,000;

(B)

for fiscal year 2028, $1,096,132,905;

(C)

for fiscal year 2029, $1,180,535,138;

(D)

for fiscal year 2030, $1,271,436,344;

(E)

for fiscal year 2031, $1,369,336,942;

(F)

for fiscal year 2032, $1,474,775,887;

(G)

for fiscal year 2033, $1,588,333,630;

(H)

for fiscal year 2034, $1,710,636,320;

(I)

for fiscal year 2035, $1,842,355,321;

(J)

for fiscal year 2036, $1,984,218,681; and

(K)

(b) Availability

Amounts appropriated under subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The term Centers for Disease Control and Prevention means the appropriations accounts that support the various institutes, offices, and centers that make up the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(2) Research, development, test, and evaluation program of the Department of Defense health program

The term research, development, test, and evaluation program of the Department of Defense health program means the appropriations accounts that support the various institutes, offices, and centers that make up the research, development, test, and evaluation program of the Department of Defense health program.

(3) Medical and prosthetics research program of the Department of Veterans Affairs

The term medical and prosthetics research program of the Department of Veterans Affairs means the appropriations accounts that support the various institutes, offices, and centers that make up the medical and prosthetics research program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(4) National Institutes of Health

The term National Institutes of Health means the appropriations accounts that support the various institutes, offices, and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health.

(d) Exemption of certain appropriations from sequestration

(1) In general

Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (2 U.S.C. 905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting after Advances to the Unemployment Trust Fund and Other Funds (16–0327–0–1–600). the following:

Appropriations under the American Cures Act.

(2) Applicability

The amendment made by this section shall apply to any sequestration order issued under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.) on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

(e) Budgetary effects

(1) Statutory paygo scorecards

The budgetary effects of this section shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(d)).

(2) Senate paygo scorecards

The budgetary effects of this section shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress).