H.R. 4981 — Stamp Out Lyme Disease Act

This section states congressional findings on Lyme disease—including an estimated 476,000 annual U.S. cases diagnosed and treated (per CDC), diagnostic challenges due to diverse manifestations and unreliable tests, persistent symptoms in 10-20% of patients that can be chronic and disabling (per NIH and Tick-Borne Disease Working Group), and annual healthcare costs of up to $1.3 billion (per Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)—and directs the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal stamp (Lyme Disease Research Semipostal Stamp) to fund research on Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

This section directs the U.S. Postal Service to issue and sell a Lyme Disease Research Semipostal Stamp (i.e., a stamp sold at a premium of at least 15% above regular postage under 39 U.S.C. 416, with voluntary use by patrons), governed by the semipostal authority in 39 U.S.C. 416. All proceeds from stamp sales are transferred to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for Lyme disease research through payments at least twice a year, not subject to offset against other agency funding, with the stamp available to the public for at least six years beginning no later than 12 months after enactment.